City God Temple--Guo Sun

City God Temple is the ancient walled city, in Shanghai, China. It was a very busy and crowded classical architectural complex.

City God Temple is not just the large temple complex, but also the traditional district of commerce in the city, surrounding the temple.Temple is over hundred years tourist area and crowded places, because there was a famous business district. Here lies the towers commodity wholesale shopping mall and comprehensive, and very much gold shop, jewelry store, more numerous dining old, where you can also buy a variety of Shanghai native. 

Temple tourist area in the center of the old city in the east of Huangpu District, which is less than one kilometer south of the Bund, Shanghai. Here is the beginning of the tour visitors will go to the place, where you can fully appreciate the Shanghai's history, culture and folk customs, and taste the authentic Shanghai snacks and local cuisine, and every night, colorful landscape lights on the antique buildings also here to become a night landscape.

Cody Duke- OU College of Law

This is the entrance to the OU College of Law. This is my dream destination and start to my career, hopefully. I have been inside of here a few times and stand in awe every time because of what it represents in my eyes, a good solid start to life. The building itself is beautiful from the inside to the outside and you do not even have to be close to the building to see the wonderful detail and magnificent structures and faces to the building. This is one of my favorite buildings on campus and in the state.

OU Football Stadium - By: Jacob McCants

OU Football Stadium

This building means a lot to me because it is a symbol of southern football, history, and championships. When I moved schools from in the north, hockey was the major sport to watch and play growing up as a kid. I experienced my first major college football game in this stadium and have enjoyed going to the games in the time I have been a student at OU. I am really excited for this new season to start. 

By: Jacob McCants

Basilica de Sacre Coeur - Emad Shariff

Sacré-Cœur

This building is located on the highest point in Paris, the Basilica is considered one of the greatest landmarks of the French nation. It embodies the conservative side of the French people, It was completed in midst of WWI, in the year 1914.

New Century Global Center - Emad Shariff

Emad Shariff

New Century Global Center

This building has the 2nd largest surface area of any building on earth. It is a multipurpose building, a mall, a theater, a hotel, an amusement park and a swimming beach are all in this massive building. This building is in Chengdu, China.

The Atomium - Emad Shariff

Emad Shariff

The Atomium

   The Atomium is a building built in Belgium that consists of several steel spheres that are connected be steel tubes. The building was built for the 1958 expo in Brussels. The building stands at around 102 m tall. There are nine spheres in total, each one with a different theme. 

Twin Cities Kanong Yang

I'm not sure what this building is called but its one in downtown Minneapolis. I love how its rustic looking and so much details to the building. The tri part design of the building and the way it flows is pretty. Its very appealing to the eyes and caught me at first sight. 

Royal Palm Miami Kanong Yang

Gorgeous hotel in Miami; like many hotels there, they have a restaurant at floor and rooms above. I like how the design split it where you distinguish both parts. I like how they design the restaurant where they have circle cuttings to the square making it not so boring and it keeps going. The court yard is absolutely astonishing looking out over the beach. The landscape and designs makes it relaxing and comforting.

Castle Rising - Austin Heyne

 

Shortly after moving to Thetford, England as a child, the first medieval castle that we visited was Castle Rising in Castle Rising Norfolk. Though it is nothing extraordinary to look at the castle has some interesting features. It was originally created as a military fortification and hunting lodge although it was never attacked. The keep itself was not very strong defensively as it had large glass windows and poor defensive placement but the surrounding area was landscaped into formidable Motte-and-Bailey configuration. In recent years a lot of restoration has been done to the keep but at the time I saw it, it was largely still ruins. Inspired by this castle, ancient ruins quickly became one of my favorite things to see in Europe.

Cinderella's Castle (WDW, FL)--Erika Graham

One building that I’ve always been in love with is Cinderella’s Castle in WDW. I grew up watching Disney films and taking family vacations to Disney World, so the building itself is very nostalgic to me. The castle evokes a feeling of enchantment from all who see it and embodies the very definition of childhood. You really do feel like you’re living in an imaginary world while you’re there—and I guess, in essence, you are. I love all of the little details like the pointed gothic arches, stained glass windows, and the royal blue conical spires. There’s nothing quite like a Walt Disney building.

Fountain Place - Arin Little

This skyscraper, located in Dallas, Texas,  is made of green glass and is built in a prism like shape.  One of its  most notable features is that depending on the location you are viewing it from, it appears to have a different shape.This building has always been fascinating to me because it shows how drastically different something can appear if you just switch your viewpoint. It is a reminder to approach life from a variety of angles, so that you can appreciate the bigger picture.

Dorms OU Eduardo Louzada

Dorms OU 

     The Dorms. Well, the Dorms is a history of love. Why? I really like the form and design of the building and the cafeteria also is really beautiful. I lived there since August of the last Year. I take a lot of nice pictures just because I was impressed with this building. 

     In every season the campus has its beauty. The building Adams is the only one that seems different but still looking nice for me. It really inspire me. This is why I have a lot of pictures for them. 

Eduardo R.H. Louzada Traditions Square East

Traditions Square East 

     What should I said about these buildings? Well, in the first moment I taught that the Traditions was amazing. But when you look whit critical eyes you see that it can be much better. I like the form of the buildings but seem like it was not well designed. Seem like they didn't think about facilities and friendly buildings for young people. 

      It still a good place to live and inspire me every day. Although the live room is so dark, it is a good place to watch the games of Brazil in this word cup. The pool is really nice with the form of I don't know, with curve lines? For me looks interesting. Also has the sones that is not stones, are speakers. Nice! 

Eduardo R.H. Louzada Museum National of Republic

Museum National of Republic 

     It is really beautiful and different the design of this building. It is a inspiration peace of art and take us to the future and present in the same time. The form of circle keep the attention of the people who go there. The museum is also really nice inside. 

     The place is used to show the work of many artists. Was built in Brasilia, The capital of Brazil. Was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Usually it is used to show works that are important issues for society. I never went to Brasilia but I will and it is the first place that I have to go. 

Eduardo R. H. Louzada Building Niemeyer.

 Building Niemeyer

     

     This building takes the name of your architect. Its name is Niemeyer and was designed by Him. Was built in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The curve lines is a trademark of Niemeyer. The building has a modern style and the sinuous lines remember the mining saws. Belo Horizonte is located in Minas Gerais. The building inspire me in many ways. How the building can change all the environment around it?Oscar Niemeyer answer this question designed many amazing buildings. 

Eduardo Rodrigues H. Louzada Sao Francisco de Assis Church

Sao Francisco de Assis Church

     The Sao Francisco de Assis Church  was inaugurated in 1943. Was built in Belo Horizonte by Oscar Niemeyer. This church inspire me and everyone that has the chance to go there. It is a beauty construction made by one of the most famous architect in Brazil. Oscar Niemeyer is considered the architect of the century. He win notoriety when designed buildings with curve lines in concrete previously unthinkable. 

Campus Lodge Apartment Complex- Chase Ossenkop

For the duration of my Sophomore year I lived in the Campus Lodge apartments with some of my best friends. We were really excited to move into our apartment because it would be our first time to live in an apartment and be completely on our own. The complex had a ski lodge theme and all the buildings looked nice and consistent. Once we moved into our apartment, we were slightly disappointed. The tiles were discolored and the furniture was not very nice. Along the dining area wall there is crown molding in the middle of the wall for no reason, it is pretty ugly. Also, the living room does not let in much natural light at all. It can get pretty dark in there. However, we made the best out of it by buying our own furniture and decorating the rooms really nice. Spending a year in this apartment complex has been an overall great experience. I have some great memories with my friends in our apartment and at our pool. Even though these buildings are kind of ugly on the inside, I am glad I got to spend the past year here making memories.

Barnes & Noble in Southlake, Texas- Chase Ossenkop

This Barnes & Noble is located in Southlake Town Square in Southlake, Texas. To most people it may seem like just another store among the plethora of stores that are located in Town Square, but this one has special meaning to me and my friends. Town Square is a place that people from my hometown area go to hangout on the weekends because there is a movie theater, shopping, and several restaurants. This Barnes & Noble served as our meeting ground every time that we went and hung out. We would meet in the back of the store by the music before we went out into the Square for the night. This is also the building that I went to for all of the midnight releases for the Harry Potter series. Needless to say, I have several great memories in this building and whenever I drive by it I am reminded of the fun times I have had in and around this building. The building itself is not that impressive, it is the location and memories that it holds that give this building meaning and beauty.

White's Chapel United Methodist Church- Chase Ossenkop

White's Chapel United Methodist Church is a church located in Southlake, Texas. After moving to the area after kindergarten, my family spent several weeks looking for a church to attend. Eventually, we found this church. We started going every Sunday and pretty soon we felt at home. The community was amazing and we got involved with groups and activities that the church provided. My family ended up spending a lot of time in this building and I have some very fond memories of the hours we spent here each week. This is also where I got Confirmed and where we go to Easter and Christmas services with some of our extended family. Every time I see this building, my mood brightens. It is a beautiful building, not only for the memories it holds, but it is also a work of art. The building has a large sanctuary with huge stained glass windows and windows in the dome to let natural light in. The building expands to the left into the kids area and the connecting wing is actually the original chapel, which I think is really cool. Walking inside this building is like a breath of fresh air.

Camden Yard - John Kim

This is a picture of the house that I will live in next school year. It is right off Berry on Camden Way which is why it is named after the Orioles home stadium. I am really excited about living in this house. The garage was converted into a new bedroom so there will be a total of four bedrooms and 2 living rooms. It is really spacious inside and there are big windows in it to allow plenty of light in. There is also a basement/tornado shelter inside the house. It is made of concrete and has two hanging wall beds and a hanging light bulb. Needless to say it is kind of creepy. There is a lot of space in the backyard so we can do a lot of things back there. It will be my home for at least the next year and I am really excited to be living here this upcoming year.

International Manga Museum--Devon Triebold

The International Manga Museum in Kyoto, Japan, is a building that is extremely well-suited for its purpose. While it is a museum that has formal exhibits and activities, much of the space is devoted only to collections of books. In this way, it functions almost like a library; visitors to the museum can grab books of the shelves and read them. The lawn seen here is one place to take books and read them; there are some chairs and tables (although not very many) within the museum as well.

I visited this building on a day when it was raining, and there were still a lot of people visiting the museum. One thing I remember is that the building does a fantastic job of guiding visitors through the different exhibits and collections, to the point where you don't really need a map or a guide to see what the museum has to offer. It also has a very calming and welcoming atmosphere. While I only meant to spend two or three hours there, I ended up staying for four or five.

Disney World (The Magic Kingdom)- Orlando, FL. By: Noha Shariff

Of course without comparison the Magic Kingdom is one of the most notable yet underestimated architectural spaces made in history. The idea of building a place that resembles fantasy is pretty difficult in my opinion. Almost all the of people who visit Disney World can agree on the fact that captures the wonders and imagination of our childhood dreams. What I like about these Disney parks is the fact that all the buildings are actual sized not just miniature doll houses to play with. The castles, rides, and shops are huge, nothing in the park is made with ease. I really do believe that the Disney World and all its other branches should be architecturally appreciated.

Musei Vaticani, Rome. By: Noha Shariff

I know I posted a lot of buildings in Rome, but Rome Basically has incredible structures and historical art. The views I saw in this visit was amazing, I can't understand how great it was, I was able to see the Micheal Angelo famous ceiling painting along with the last supper and many other historic arts. The plaza before you get to the museum is breathtaking, especially that we went in the christmas time we were able to see many wonderful decorations. I like how so close you can get to the Vatican City without really being in the Vatican City.

Roman Temple- Rome, Italy. By: Noha Shariff

I wasn t sure what exactly the name of this building is, but it is known that it was very recently built as a symbol of the Roman legacy, the statues were even very poorly made that the gold paint was very quickly gone. At the same time the building was incredibly built. The height and width of the thing is massive. The visitors are able to take a breathtaking view from the roof of it, what a view it was.

Trevi Fountain- Rome Italy. By: Noha Shariff

The Trevi Fountain in Rome must be one the most magnificent fountains in history. The size and detail of the fountain is beyond expression. When I went to the plaza around the fountain the place held many nice stores and gelato (italian ice-cream) shops, that addition was great to the beautiful atmosphere. Architecture isn't always about buildings sometimes fountains and parks depends almost entirely on architectural experience. The notion you get by just standing in front of the statue filled fountain is incredible, and I believe if the architect was able to achieve that then they have done their job. 

J. Colton Hill - Yellow Treehouse Restaurant

Yellow Treehouse Restaurant

This is the Yellow Treehouse Restaurant in Auckland New Zealand.  Its architects were Peter Elsing and Lucy Gauntlett. This Restaurant sits up in a 40 meter Redwood tree.  It was constructing with lumber slats that were milled on site for specific design per poses.  The design allows for efficient usage of natural light.  The building looks almost like a large glowing onion to me.  It is a very interesting building.  Its dimensions are 12 meters in height and 10 meters in width.  It is an eighteen person cafe style restaurant.The actual kitchen and bathrooms are located on the ground, and there is a beautiful view for customers to enjoy while eating their meals.

Containerized Housing Unit - Daniel Hale

This is a row of Containerized Housing Units that I lived in while I was deployed to Iraq.  While the name stuck, I don't believe these were converted shipping containers, but rather more like a mobile home without any insulation or drywall on the interior.  The floors were plywood, and mine had a bunch of holes I covered with duct tape, and sheet metal on the exterior.  Definitely not the best type of living for a desert environment in terms of comfort and efficiency.  The walls would still be warm to the touch well into the night during the summer.  But they were long and easily accommodated two people with plenty of personal space on each side of the unit.  It could have been much worse.

Tuckers Tower - Lake Murray - Steve Kennedy

Tuckers Tower, Lake Murray, South Central Oklahoma.

Built in 1933, this legendary "Oklahoma Castle" was based on pictures of European castles taken by World War I veteran and then local legislator Fred Tucker. Located prominently on a rocky crag off the south shore of Lake Murray, Tuckers Tower seems to soar over the clear waters. It remains one of the most fascinating places to go in Oklahoma.

The tower is 65 feet tall and is roughly shaped like a truncated obelisk, resembling the form of an ancient castle stronghold. The structure was built by WPA crews of the 1930’s. The primary material used was the hand-quarried bluish-gray limestone found in the Ardmore Basin where the lake now lies.

Interesting side note:  Governor William H. “Alfalfa Bill” Murray was truly one of Oklahoma’s more lively politicians. He was well known for his excessive use of executive orders, martial law, and his opposition to New Deal programs established to offset the Great Depression. Murray was vehemently opposed to federal control. Still, while he spent a great deal of time trying to thwart many of the New Deal programs, he left alone the one that allowed for the construction of Tuckers Tower and the lake that surrounds it.

In truth, had it not been for former Governor William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray, Oklahoma tourism would have lost two of it's most popular Oklahoma Attractions: Lake Murray State Park and Tuckers Tower.

I used to frequent Lake Murray for skiing as a teenager.  I remember seeing Tucker Tower for the first time and thinking, wow, what is this?  The photos of its walkway and entry are how I remember approaching it for the first time.  Tucker Tower – one of Oklahoma’s unique architectural treasures!

Chrysler Building - Scott Vo

Built in 1930, this building is one of my favorites in New York City. It is inspirational because it is in the middle of Midtown and that area is amazing. It is next to great places and you can see everything "touristy" from above. Central park, Grand Central Station, and Times Square can be seen from up there. It is my favorite because of the top structure. The arches that extend all the way down is amazing and I like the layering of glass. The points in the arches are beautiful.

Marland Mansion - Ponca City - Steve Kennedy

The Marland Mansion, built between 1925-1928, is a Mediterranean Revival-style mansion significant for its architecture. The structure was designed by John Duncan Forsyth for the Oklahoma oilman, congressman, and eventual governor, E.W. Marland.  The house features 55 rooms, including 10 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, 7 fireplaces, and 3 kitchens. It takes 861 light bulbs to light the mansion.  It represents a display of wealth at the peak of the oil boom in Ponca City.  It went on to be declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977.

Interestingly, E.W. Marland is known as the father of modern benefits.  He started helping his employees during the beginning and growth years of his little company, known as Conoco.

I have toured the mansion and found it pretty amazing.  I remember the fox hunting room in the lower level where large breakfasts would be served before hunts.  The colors of the room made me think I was in an English fox hunting room, from which the design was inspired.

Today it can be toured, group and corporate functions are held there, and it is a popular sight for weddings.  – Definitely and Oklahoma treasure.

Chicago Kanong Yang

This was taken when I went to Chicago and we were walking down the pier. I absolutely love this building, its unique and I never really seen one like it. I like how its a continuous flow and its not square. I looks like part of a ripple. This is one of my favorite in Chicago.

J. Colton Hill --- Stanley Hotel , Estes Park, CO

The Stanley Hotel

This is the Stanley Hotel located in Estes Park, CO built in 1909. Estes Park is located an hour and a half drive northwest of Denver.  It is at the foot of the Rocky Mountain National Park.

The architect, Freelan Oscar Stanley, was also the owner of this hotel. He was a cofounder along with his brother of the Stanley Motor Company famous for making the Stanley Steamer automobiles in the early 20th century.  Stanley visited Estes Park and decided to build a summer home for himself and close friends.  He developed health issues that required him to move to Estes Park permanently for the clean mountain air.  The hotel was the first fully electric hotel in the region.  Stanley had a generator plant built specifically for this hotel.  

This hotel is most famously known for being the place where Stephen King received his inspiration to write the book The Shining.  The Stanley is also one of the most haunted buildings in North America.  Many guests come to the hotel to try to hunt for ghosts that haunt rooms on the second and fourth flour. 

This building has been used in movies including Dumb and Dumber. It is the hotel where Harry and Lloyd stayed in "Aspen".  You might remember the bar scene where Lloyd waited on Marry Swanson to join him for a drink.  That particular bar and restaurant is on the first floor of the Stanley Hotel.

The Hotel is built in the side of a mountain and has appropriate architecture engineering to let the building shift with the shift of the mountain.  

Here is a picture of the bracings in the basement of the Hotel:

The Stanley is a classy hotel featuring a very large front porch area where guests can sit and visit while enjoying the scenic view of the Estes Park Valley:

The hotel hosts many weddings, conferences, and other events each year.  It is a beautiful hotel full of history and character.  

Devon Energy Center Norman -Zach Brinlee

The Devon Energy Center here at OU is a relatively new building on campus.  The construction of this building and other buildings like it on campus appeal to me.  I like the conservative brick look with a modern touch.  The open 5th floor study area is a place that you can go to have peaceful outside study session but without the sun or wind that you get from being outside.  On the inside they use natural lighting very well with windows that run from top to bottom of the building.  This building reminds me of great times and horrible, I have had many of my majors classes here that I enjoy.  On the other hand I have spent the night here many times studying, so these nights are not my favorite memories.