Last Updated on August 10, 2022 by
“Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light.”
Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier is perhaps the most righteous person to say such motivational words. They speak to many designers and architects in the field who desires to design a truly iconic building. Many architects in the field aspire to design a building that holds the potential to remain a legacy long after they are gone.
The question that arises here is what factors serve right by the most iconic designs in the world?
For some architects, the answer lies in innovation and creativity in design and 3D Architectural renderings. For others, it is the inspiration that paves the way for their passion for creating a truly iconic design that is remembered through time.
The buildings that are considered to have a groundbreaking design contains something that had not been seen before. For Burj Khalifa, it is its unparalleled height. For Le Corbusier, it is the Iconic Notre Dame du Haut, a modernist design for a church.
Where pure innovation and inspiration are essential in crafting an iconic design, there are many properties that seem to create iconic architecture that is widely recognized as iconic. In this post, we are going to discuss some of the most important aspects of architectural design.
Table of Contents
1. Uniqueness
Throughout architectural history, every design is known for its uniqueness. Take the pyramids as an example; the Eifel Tower or perhaps the Sydney Opera House— the most distinguishable buildings can be drawn with a single line upon a page.
Some designs start as unique but result as an ordinary style becoming all-pervasive — the classic example being the ever-famous Empire state building and the Chrysler. A unique design is defined by its stroke, which describes the passion and creativity of the designer.
2. Simplicity in design
Following on with the uniqueness of the architectural designs, another common trait found in famous buildings is the simplicity in design. Take the example of the Twin Towers by Minoru Yamasaki, which is a versatile design.
A singular and striking gesture of the design can make a building highly memorable — think of the smooth form of Lord Foster’s St. Mary Axe, also known as Erotic Gherkin, is a fantastic example along with the Twin Towers.
However, not all iconic designs are simple. A famous example that breaks every rule of architecture is Frank Gehry’s, Guggenheim Bilbao. It can be said that this building design is not denied a place in the list of most iconic places in the world.
3. Perfect symmetry
Think The Empire State Building, the Burj Khalifa, the Taj Mahal, and the Bahai Lotus Temple— all these buildings have one thing in common, i.e., asymmetrical design. They all leave a lasting impression on the minds of the tourists enabling them to have the experience of a lifetime.
It takes a brave architect to take on a challenge to break the order. In this respect, there is one such architect known to do that. Daniel Libeskind is one of a kind architect known for the Military History Museum in Dresden known for its controversial effect.
4. A Poetic Metaphor
Throughout time, architecture is realized as a symbol to represent a person, a region, or a city. Take the example of Gateway Arch in St. Louis, designed by Eero Saarinen. It is considered as a masterpiece representing the expansion of the United States and is described as a patriotic design.
Another excellent example of a poetic metaphor is the PATH terminal designed by Santiago Calatrava that describes a bird taking flight. This multilayered design is the description of peace, freedom, and adventure, which are the key elements of the American Dream.
5. The use of material
From the Stone Pillars of the Parthenon to the Concrete shells of Felix Candela, there is a design that is exposed to communicate with nature. Many architects among the renowned have encouraged using material as their strength, letting their design be linked with nature.
6. Creating with courage
According to the artist, Henri Matisse said that “creativity takes courage.” Every architect working in the field known this all too well. Breaking away from the conventional ways of design take courage. This is something that Lloyd Wright knows all too well. His design of Falling Waters is an amazing example of a courageous design located at the center of the wooded site.
Wright expected this design to be placed beside the waterfall, but it ended up right on top of it, creating a moment of architectural drama. It is widely recognized because of the beautiful site and an iconic residential building on the planet.
7. Keeping in mind the context
A great example of an architectural context can be derived from the emotive extension to the Jewish museum in berlin, which illustrates the turbulent and tragic journey of the Jews through history.
8. A compliment to a backstory
While many architects aspire to create a design that resonates with the surrounding, there are also structures that have a beautiful backstory and context, which is reflected in the design. A great example of such a structure is the Taj Mahal, which is said to be a representation of the love of the Mughal king towards his wife.
9. The client makes it all possible
Design is not just dependent on the architects to produce, but it is the client that approves the project to move on to construction. As Fran Silvestre says: “behind a good project comes a great client,” and he could not be more right.
The pursuit of every iconic design requires the enthusiasm of the client that motivates the architect to do their job perfectly. The design of a building is as important as the engineering aspect of a building. Where inspiration and creativity can help in crafting a great design, these nine aspects of architecture are also an important part. For an architect, the design of the building must be done with precision, and the vision of the client to move to construction.
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