Three Architectural Masterpieces Everyone Should Know

While many older buildings have to make way for newer projects, certain edifices will stand largely untouched for thousands of years. One such example is, of course, the Cheops Pyramid in Giza, and another, the Göbelki Tepe in south-west Turkey, which began construction a whole 12 000 years ago. But which examples of modern architecture will we leave behind for future generations? It is, of course, impossible to know for certain, but in this article, we offer our best predictions.

Katsura Imperial Villa - Kyoto, Japan

The first villa on our list already boasts several hundred years of history, so calling it ‘modern’ may seem a bit of a stretch. However, there is a particular reason for its inclusion in this article: its inestimable influence on much of modern architecture. Despite being constructed in 1645, at the behest of the imperial Katsura family, the villa’s architecture is considered to be truly ground-breaking, and a major source of inspiration for many of the 20^th century’s foremost architects. Even a cursory glance reveals similarities with modern homes, such as its open floorplan. The Katsura Imperial Villa is today considered one of Japan’s finest national treasures.

Villa Savoye - Poissy, France

In 1931, construction was completed on what would become one of the most iconic examples of modern architecture. Villa Savoye, located in the small town of Poissy, just outside Paris, was designed by Swiss architect Le Corbusier on behalf of the Savoye family who wished to use it as their summer residence. Le Corbusier was one of the most prominent figures in the functionalist school which was quickly gaining ground in the Europe of the 1920s and 30s, and Villa Savoye is seen as a particularly influential design, emblematic of the movement. The building’s characteristic pillars extend the garden underneath the building itself and, by not allowing the rafters to sit atop load-bearing walls, an open floorplan could be created even here. Today, the villa operates as a museum and is open to the general public.

Fallingwater - Pennsylvania, USA

One of the most iconic landmarks in the USA, and one of our personal favourites, Fallingwater was designed in 1935 by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The edifice was to be the weekend residence of businessman Edgar J. Kaufmann and, as its name suggests, was built atop a waterfall. Upon its completion, the home was featured in Time Magazine, who deemed it a “most beautiful job” and, in 2007, it was given the title of ‘best all-time work of American architecture’ by the American Institute of Architects. Like Villa Savoye, Fallingwater has also been turned into a museum and, in the summer of 2019, was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.