Which structure in Europe do you most admire, like, or find inspiring?

I think the cathedrals are the most memorable. Of course, they were generally designed to be awe-inspiring. Some of my favorites are the Duomos in Florence and Orvieto, Italy.

In Florence, it is so imposing, just almost envelops its surroundings, and is so solidly planted in the earth it almost overwhelms. I once read a quote that it looks like a huge space ship that landed in the middle of the city. The pink and green and white panels on the exterior are very unusual and intriguing. The interior is strangely austere and I have not found it inviting. The climb up the inside to the lantern is memorable.

In Orvieto, the experior is so light and lovely with its golden mosaic facade and the interior with its bands of dark and light stones is beautiful. The light inside enhances the effect. The series of frescoes over the altar of the life of Christ are lovely. The side chapel with the Signorelli frescoes are breathtaking in their scope.

domed buildings; the pantheon, duomo in florence and st peters in the vatican to name a few.

charnees, I found your description of the duomo interesting. I quite dislike the rest of the building and love the dome. Your focus was on everything but the dome

The other architectural feature I love are flying buttresses such as in the Notre Dame.

There are so many beautiful buildings in Europe, but I'd have to say that the Karlskirche in Vienna is one of my favorites. Also another church by Fischer von Erlach, the Collegiate church in Salzburg. They're both just gorgeous, but not over the top as are many baroque churches.

York Cathedral. Stunningly beautiful in its use of stark white.

The cathedral in Prague with its beautiful stained glass windows.

The British Parliament for what it represents.

The exterior of the Duomo in Florence.

St. Mark's Bascilica in Venice

The interior of the small church in Rome designed by Boromini.

I saved the best for last-the Alhambra.

I like the churches too - especially those with dramatic trompe l'oeil ceilings.

I admire and find inspiration in the buildings that speak to progress and genius. The Effiel Tower represents the technology of the day and it's beautiful but it means so much more. I can miss a train in Belgium if the station is a cast iron building. These represent the begining of the industrial revolution and kept so many people employed, while making lots of money for other. That was monumental. Just like the cathedrals that are amazing when you stop and consider they are built on sweat, muscle and compression. Awe inspiring when I consider that the architects and developers knew they would never see their finished project.

I love the half timbered houses give me a feeling of comfort. People have perserved and loved these houses for centuries. Again they represent the prosperity of the time, they've withstood and moved into a new time. Plus, I love finding whole streets of them, leaning in and talking to each other. It's just charming.

There are churches that are really impressive to me, not so much because of size but the feel of them. I like the churches and cathedrals that I can feel people had walked in with faith.

Yeah, I know. It'd be nice if I spelled Eiffel correctly

St. Stephens Basilica in Budapest. Clean new looking interior, neo-classical design symmetrical bell towers, vivid colors and the most beautiful red marble ever!

Sagrada Familia; the inspiration in its design, the motives behind the individuals who continue to contribute time and effort to her construction, and its awesome beauty.

Not structures in the strict sense of the word: the mosaics in Ravenna, Italy, and the prehistoric cave paintings in the Dordogne (I know there are other cave paintings, but those are the ones that I've seen).

Pont du Gard. A stark reminder, in the middle of of the countryside (now), of what Rome engineering accomplished.

There are so many beautiful structures. Some impress by sheer scale (Hagia Sofia), as well as beauty. Others evoke some sense of life (the peacefulnes created by the repetition of designs and materials in the Alhambra).

For me, the most spectacular or emotionally moving:

San Marco in Venice, especially when it has been raining or is foggy or misty, then the sun shines. First it is mysterious, then ethereal, then the sun comes and it absolutely glitters. Coming from the far side of the piazza, seeing it that way for the first time makes your heart stop. It seems unreal. It, to me, is the symbol of all the wonders of Venice and I think about all the Venetians who have lived their whole lives with that facade to inspire them.

Sagrada Familia. Fantastic and Fantastical. All of Gaudi's work is so powerful and broad in scope. The organic shapes with spiraling heights makes it feel as if he connects earth to heaven and lets us live in between. I would love to live in one of his houses (apartments).

The Greek temples in Agregento are stunning and amazing. Makes you really think about how great a civilization had been reached during those times.

Then, a very small, but wonderful masterpiece, is the Teatro Olimpico, in Vicenza by Palladio. By contrast to the big cathedrals, it is intimate. The contrast of the complex and colorful stage to the simple stark seating arena is perfection in design.

The Toledo Cathedral. Coming up under the transparente behind the high altar and looking up makes my jaw drop every time. It is beautiful and so real looking. Makes you believe in devine gifts.

The Acropolis

The church next door.

Admittedly indistinguishable to most people from England's 8,000 other fully-functioning medieval churches. But attend the Xmas Eve midnight service, realise your predecessors have been making exactly the same short walk for 1,400 years to attend almost exactly (give or take the odd change in language and gender of celebrant) the same service on exactly the same spot, and wondering just as much during the gospel why those Judaean sheep were such wimps they needed looking after while our neighbours' are happily bleating away untended outside.

And you wouldn't swap it for all the St Mark's, Salisbury cathedrals, or Santa Maria Maggiores (well, possibly I might for Santa Maria Maggiore...) in the world.

I am a big Art Nouveau fan and love the florid lines of that style as well as the sometimes squarish and linear touches, especially in the Secession movement of Vienna. The building that took my breath away was the Kirche am Steinhof, last commission of Otto Wagner on the grounds of a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Vienna. Stunning!

Viaducts from Roman to the Millau with particular emphasis on the great UK rail viaducts of the 1800s.

I think that the Eiffel Tower inspires me to rise to greater heights.

Hey flann,

>wondering just as much during the gospel why those Judaean sheep were such wimps they needed looking after...<

Because back in those days there were wolves, mountain lions and other unpleasant critters.

I most dislike the outrageous pyramid at the Louvre.

Which structure in Europe do you most admire, like, or find inspiring?

Sophia Loren in 1960s.

Which structure in Europe do you most admire, like, or find inspiring?

Sophia Loren in 1960s.
_____
I believe the scaffolding is now collapsing.

certainly not Sophia Loren in 2011....
she looks now as a pizza forgotten in the oven...

"Because back in those days there were wolves, mountain lions and other unpleasant critters."

So why couldn't the Judaeans do to the unpleasant critters what my predecessors did?

There are limits to biodiversity. Putting up with wolves goes beyond them.

Park Guell
When the taxi stopped in front, I felt a jolt of pure joy...something one must have experienced as a child when presented with a new toy.
I went back on several occasions and enjoyEd the visits, but that first emotional reaction to
"just" a park was surprising, delightful and memorable.

Bastides in France. They were such an interesting concept and so many lovely ones remain. A bonus is that most of them had covered markets, many of which still remain also.

That would be a duchamp memorial you find in so many places in western Europe when you need urgent relief or whatever.

http://www.invisiblebooks.com/fountain.jpg

The Tor in Glastonbury, England. You put in a little work to get to the top and are rewarded with a beautiful 360 view. I'd love to take a yoga class up there inside the ruin looking out from the doorway.

Hey flann,

>So why couldn't the Judaeans do to the unpleasant critters what my predecessors did?<

Because, unlike your ancestral home a small island, the Judean hills were open to migrations by all sorts of critters.

In addition to the famous cathedral in major cities, I would add:


The Carthusian Monastery (Certosa) of Pavia Italy – not far from Milan, includes small cloisters with 122 arches framed by beautiful terracotta moldings. Tranquil grounds for the devout.


Also, the old cathedral in Syacusa Sicily build around the remains of a Greek Temple whose strong Doric columns still support the structure.

I loved the stone circles in Ireland...

Seemed so other-worldly and ancient and in such beautiful settings.

The Duomo in Florence. We walked up the Via Cavour from our hotel, I could see a part of the Baptistry as we got closer and then, BAM! at the end of the street in the Piazza is the Duomo right there up close and personal! Wow, I had seen pictures but to see the pink and green marble structure actually in person was amazing!

The stone bridge in Ronda, Spain still in use and the Acqueduct in Segovia, which was used until about 15 years were both built by the Romans. An extraordinary accomplishment.

The Dome in Florence which shows that grace and structure can be one. I also admire Brunelleschi for not succumbing to the powers that be.

The work of Gaudi. It is fantasical and odd and does not always work as architecture and art but must be admired for the imgiantion. I also despise the scupltures of the Passion Facade which are not in keeping with the caprice of Gaudi. Additionally the new AVE from Madrid passes near the Cathedral and may harm the foundation.

The French use of light on their Churches and along the Seine.

The original renovation of the d'Orsay was a model for the transformation of a public space. I do not know when we will see the new renovations as we have no plans to re-visit Paris as of now.

Is there a more spectacular setting for a theatre than the Greek ancient theater in Taormina with Etna in the background? The view must have been distracting for the play goers.

As so often happens with this kind of thread, the responses of others remind you of your own reactions to various sites/buildings/wonders. Danon, your reaction to Parc Guell was exactly how I felt upon my first view of the Kirche am Steinhof. And Audchamp, you're so right about d'Orsay. Sometimes renovations can be every bit as wonderful and innovative as the building of something entirely new. Enjoying this thread very much. Hope we get more responses.

Which structure in Europe do you most admire, like, or find inspiring?

Hadrian's Wall

I think because I saw a picture when I was very young, about the time I was also very enamored of maps and remember tracing a few of Europe. Actually traveling to the location, I Had to see it, touch it.

Pictures of similarly ancient structures--or the much older ones--for some reason don't "call" to me, but this one still does.

I couldn't include any religious structure due to the hypocrisy practiced in them. I just don't recognise them as attractive places.

Palladio's Rotonda in Vicenza had a huge impact on British Georgian architecture and for that I can be thankful.

The most inspirational structure?

Hadrian's Wall : It kept the English out for many years until James finally conquered them. I wonder how long some of our contemporary civil engineering firms would take to build a wall 20ft high 20ft wide and 70 miles long?

Least inspirational ?

Our new parliament building... bloody waste of non-tax payers money.

http://www.edwud.com/2007/08/13/scottish-parliament-buildings-edinburgh/

Even Travel Lodge would have had this refused by planning.

Not a "structure", but the sense of place and the sense of enclosure of Piazza San Marco makes it my favorite place in the world.

Well, there are some very fine buildings all over Europe...but I shall mention one building, which is not exactly beautiful, but I find very interesting nevertheless. It is Santiago Calatrava's Twisted Torso building at Malmo, Sweden. The reason, I am mentioning this building is because, I designed a very similar building during my days in the architecture college, some 25 years back. When I designed the building, my professors and classmates said that it was impossible to build it. When I saw this building coming up during the last 5 or 7 years, I felt happy....atleast someone....and a very deserving architect, has build it...if not me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turning_Torso

Notre Dame du Haut
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

at 47.704484,6.620259

another fantastic project by Calatrava

It always reminds me why I like Spain so much

http://kam.hubpages.com/hub/Calatrava_in_Toronto

The Colosseum, I could almost hear the lions, and see the staged naval battles.

danon, thanks for those pictures. Now I know I have to go to toronto. Also reminds me that I loved the Calatrava winery Ysios in Rioja. I'd seen pictures but they can't do it justice. It, too, took my breath away.

You are welcome Julie...it is my favorite destination in the city...
There is a" feel" about the place ( like many others) best experienced in person.

For me 2 structures come to mind: The Eiffel Tower at night, on the hour when it's sparkling(simply magical,it made me cry)and Stonehenge which until I saw it I had no idea I would enjoy it so much.

I love cozy, winding, small-doored, lumpy-floored Irish pubs. And I like soaking up the atmosphere, history and old plaster smell of the Pantheon.

York Minster whether staring up at the heights or quietly enjoying evensong and remembering thousands of others who have sat or stood in this place worshipping the same God.

Basilica du Sacre Coeur in Paris. My second favourite is the Place des Vosges and the surrounding buildings. To me, they both have a special magic to them, I think for the reasons others have described, I can imagine people going about their business for many, many generations.

The place that moved me the most was the Hypogeum in Malta. There is something awesome (in the true sense of the word) in observing such perfect work from thousands of years ago and seeing the red ochre swirls still visible.

St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow is one of my favorite buildings in the world, just for the pure visual joyousness of it. (Quite a contradiction to its supposed history of the architect being blinded so that he couldn't build another.)

And the bleached bones of the Parthenon are amazing in their symmetry and beauty.

Roman acquaducts...the Pont du Gard was the first I saw, and we really loved the one in Spoleto...