PHOTOS: Incredible Infrastructures Around The World
Bridges, buildings, dams, and museums, there is unique infrastructure all around the world; if you know where to look! Interesting architecture and innovative means of travel are just the beginning.
From the indoor rain vortex in Jewel Changi Airport to the suspension railway cruising over the streets of Germany, these designs have such individuality it is hard not to gaze in wonder.
Circular Village Settlements In Denmark
Located just outside of Copenhagen, Denmark is the unique village of Brøndby Haveby.
The circular community was built back in 1964 and according to architect Erik Mygind, in an interview with OpenCulture, was meant to be "the traditional patterns of the 18th-century Danish villages, where people would use the middle as a focal point for hanging out, mingle and social interchange between neighbors."
Beipanjiang Bridge
The Duge Bridge, also known as the Beipanjiang Bridge, opened to the public on December 29, 2016. Standing at 1,850 feet tall, the Duge Bridge is the 14th tallest in the world.
It connects Xuanwei city, Yunnan, and Shuicheng County, Guizhou, and shortens a person's commute between the two places from five hours to only one.
Norway's Storseisundet Bridge
Located on the Romsdal Peninsula in western Norway, the Storseisun Bridge is quite something to behold. The longest of eight bridges that make up what's known as the Atlantic Road, the bridge is part of one of the country's official national tourist routes.
The 850-foot bridge took six years to complete.
Magdeburg Water Bridge
Located near Magdeburg, Germany, the Magdeburg Water Bridge is a navigable aqueduct that spans the Elbe River. At 3,011 feet wide, this particular canal bridge is the largest in all of Europe!
Work on the bridge began back in 1997, and it wasn't completed until 2003. It cost a whopping $528 million to construct.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge In Tampa, Florida
The current Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa, Florida, opened in 1987 and stands a whopping 430 feet tall. A little over four miles across, the bridge is a toll road that has drives paying $1.50 to cross.
Tall enough to allow big boats to cruise underneath it without issue, the bridge sometimes closes when there are high winds, as it sways from side to side!
Laguna Garzón Bridge
Located over the Laguna Garzón in Uruguay is the unique Laguna Garzón Bridge. The construction of the bridge was completed on December 25, 2015, and the imaginative design is thanks to Rafael Viñoly.
The interesting circle design was to make it so drivers had to slow down, as they would most likely speed on a straight-away.
Wuppertal Suspension Railway
The Wuppertal Suspension Railway is the oldest electric elevated railway in the entire world, beginning operations in 1901! Located in Wuppertal, Germany, the hanging cars cruise over the street, making for an interesting mode of transportation.
There is one line with 20 stations around the city. On average, the daily rides are around 82,000.
Habitat 67 Complex In Montreal, Canada
Habitat 67 Complex In Montreal, Canada, was built for Expo 67 at the World Fair in 1967 by architect Moshe Safdie.
Located on the Saint Lawrence River, the complex is said to be a national landmark for not only the city of Montreal but for the entire nation of Canada.
Longkamp Highway Ecoduct
Located in Longkamp, Germany, the Longkamp Highway Ecoduct was built in order to grant safe passage for wildlife across the busy road. It has proven to be a great resource, as it minimized the number of accidents for both animals and humans, drivers and pedestrians.
More countries are beginning to adopt these green bridges for wildlife.
Tasmania's Gordon Dam
The Gordon River Dam is located in South West Tasmania, Australia, on the Gordon River. Construction was completed in 1978, and the dam has since been used to generate hydroelectric power.
The dam is a whopping 650-feet long, 460-feet high, and is the fifth-tallest dam in all of Australia.
The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel
Completed in 1962, the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel is located in Colorado Springs and has become a fantastic example of modernist architecture.
Originally, the modernist design was very controversial, but it has since won the American Institute of Architects' National Twenty-five Year Award and been named a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
Beijing National Stadium
The Beijing National Stadium, aptly known as the Birds Nest, is located in Beijing, China, and was used during the 2022 Winter Olympics. The massive stadium holds 80,000 people, even though it held a record number of 89,102 people during the Nigeria vs. Argentina Olympic Soccer match in 2008!
It was designed by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.
Tokyo Highway Interchange
With a lot of cars on the road that causes congestion, the city of Tokyo, Japan, created this unique highway interchange with the hope that it would decrease traffic.
The "Y" shape of the road looks confusing, but for residents of the city, it has proven to be very useful with traffic flow.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Built in 1864, the Clifton Suspension Bridge was both designed and constructed by William Henry Barlow and John Hawkshaw. Located across the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, the bridge connects Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset.
This particular bridge has been used for various cultural events, including the Olympic Torch handover in 2012.
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum
The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum is one of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's landmarks. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer and structural engineer Bruno Contarini, the museum's interior holds a collection of 1,217 works of art collector João Sattamini.
Its unique design has often been compared to that of a UFO, as it looks like a spacecraft.
Twin Sails Bridge
The Twin Sails Bridge spans the Backwater Channel in Poole, Dorset, England. Historically, the bridge hasn't been all that great, as it breaks down and has technical issues every few years.
In fact, Twin sails Bridge has become a kind of humorous topic for those who live close to it since it cost millions of dollars to construct and always seems to be out of commission.
Guggenheim Museum In Spain
Located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain, the Guggenheim Museum is one unique structure. Designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, the museum is one of the largest in the country.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, architectural critic Paul Goldberger called it "one of those rare moments when critics, academics, and the general public were all completely united about something."
Veluwemeer Aqueduct
The Veluwemeer Aqueduct opened up in 2002 and is located over Veluwemeer lake in Harderwijk, Netherlands. The unique design allows all types of travel to occur without incident.
Not only can boats cross over the waterway, but cars have passage via an underwater pass, and there's even a pedestrian crossing on either side of the waterway.
Atocha Train Station Botanical Garden
The central plaza of the Atocha Train Station in Madrid, Spain, is anything but boring. With traditional yet beautiful architecture, the main feature of this particular train station is the botanical garden located right in the center of everything.
The garden houses over 7,000 plants of 400 different species from Asia, North and South America, and Australia.
Supertree Grove In Singapore's Gardens By The Bay
One of the most interesting designs in Singapore is the Supertree Grove in Singapore's Gardens By The Bay. In the entire garden, there are 18 supertrees that range in height from 82 feet to 160 feet.
Pretty much gorgeous vertical gardens; the supertrees look amazing at night, changing color and illuminating the gardens.
Philharmonie Of Paris Concert Hall
The Philharmonie Of Paris Concert Hall is definitely a unique building. Constructed in 2015, the concert hall is able to seat 2,400 patrons and is dedicated to symphonic concerts, jazz, and other world music.
Originally, the cost of the concert hall was thought to be around $179 million, but it wound up being $407 million!
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Located in downtown Los Angeles, California, the Walt Disney Concert Hall opened in 2003 and seats 2,265 people. Its main function is to showcase the Los Angeles Master Chorale as well as the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra.
To get started on the construction of the music venue, Lillian Disney donated $50 million to the city of Los Angeles as a tribute to her father.
Soumaya Museum
The Soumaya Museum is located in Mexico City, Mexico, and is the home to over 66,000 works, including 19th- and 20th-century Mexican art and sculptures from Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica.
Designed by Fernando Romero, the building is constructed with 16,000 hexagonal aluminum tiles over its six floors. It cost $70 million to complete.
Alamillo Bridge
Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Alamillo Bridge in Seville, Andalusia, Spain, was completed in 1992. The bridge spans the body of water called the Canal de Alfonso XIII and allows access to the peninsula La Cartuja.
While the bridge is quite something to behold, it has been criticized over the years for its lack of support beams.
Templo Bahá'í de Sudamérica
The Templo Bahá'í de Sudamérica is a worship temple located in Santiago, Chile. Opened in 2016, the structure is quite unique. It is comprised of nine arched "sails," all made of cast glass and marble.
Designed by Canadian architect Siamak Hariri, the temple has won numerous awards from various architectural organizations.
Inguri Dam
Located on the Enguri River in Tsalenjikha, Georgia, the Inguri Dam is picturesque and absolutely massive. Standing 891 feet tall, the hydroelectric dam is the second largest in the entire world.
Designed in 1961, the dam was not completed and fully operational until 1978. Then, in 2015, it was included on a list of cultural heritage of Georgia.
Chemosphere
Designed by John Lautner in 1960, the Chemosphere house is unlike anything else in Los Angeles, California. Looking like a UFO about to take off from the tree line, the home was once called the "the most modern home built in the world" by Encyclopedia Britannica.
In 2004, it was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.
The Rain Vortex In Jewel Changi Airport
The Changi Airport in Singapore is a marvel. Not only is there a botanical garden, but there is also a Skytrain that runs throughout the airport.
Those lucky enough to cruise along the terminals will see a whole lot of the lush greenery and the Rain Vortex, a massive indoor waterfall that stands 131-feet tall!
Saint Petersburg Metro Station
The doors of the Saint Petersburg Metro in Russia opened its doors on November 15, 1955. With the unique architecture and stunning designs throughout the metro, it is considered one of the most elegant stations in the world.
On a typical day, the metro services an average of two million passengers!
Lotus Temple
Located in Delhi, India, the Lotus Temple is a gorgeous building and a Baháʼí House of Worship. The unique building is comprised of 27 free-standing marble-clad "petals" artfully constructed to look like a blooming lotus flower.
Unsurprisingly, the Lotus Temple is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city.
