How long did it take to build Cologne Cathedral?
Construction of Germany's Cologne Cathedral started in 1248 and was not finished until 1880, more than 600 years later.
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Architecture Facts
Architecture facts and facts about architectures, from the Random Facts shelf.
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Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa lean?
The Leaning Tower of Pisa started tilting during construction in the late 1100s because it was built on soft, unstable soil.
What is special about the dome of Florence Cathedral?
Filippo Brunelleschi's dome on Florence Cathedral, finished in the 1430s without traditional wooden supports, is still the largest brick and masonry dome ever built.
How long was the Great Pyramid the tallest structure in the world?
The Great Pyramid was the tallest human-made structure in the world for about 3,800 years, until England's Lincoln Cathedral spire surpassed it in the early 1300s.
How many blocks make up the Great Pyramid?
The Great Pyramid is made of about 2.3 million stone blocks, many weighing several tons each.
What did the Great Pyramid originally look like?
The Great Pyramid was originally covered in smooth, polished white limestone casing stones that made it shine in the sun. Most were later removed for other buildings.
Is the Texas Capitol taller than the US Capitol?
The Texas State Capitol in Austin is taller than the US Capitol in Washington, DC.
What is the tallest tower in the world?
Tokyo Skytree, at 634 meters, is the tallest tower in the world.
What is special about the Pantheon's dome?
The Pantheon in Rome, completed around 125 AD, still has the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world.
Who designed Washington, DC?
French-born engineer Pierre L'Enfant designed the original street plan for Washington, DC.
What are hutongs?
Hutongs are Beijing's traditional narrow alleyways.
What is the "Pope's revenge"?
When sunlight hits the ball of Berlin's TV Tower, it reflects in the shape of a cross, which Berliners nicknamed the "Pope's revenge."
What is the tallest freestanding structure in Europe?
Moscow's Ostankino Tower is the tallest freestanding structure in Europe.
What is the Cairo Tower shaped like?
The Cairo Tower is designed to look like a lotus plant.
What is Amsterdam built on?
Much of Amsterdam is built on wooden piles. The Royal Palace alone rests on 13,659 of them.
Why are Amsterdam's houses so narrow?
Amsterdam's houses are narrow because property taxes were once based on width, and many have hooks on top for hoisting furniture.
Who designed the Sea Organ?
The Sea Organ was designed by Croatian architect Nikola Bašić.
Did Michelangelo design St. Peter's Basilica?
Michelangelo designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
Who designed the Burj Khalifa?
The Burj Khalifa was designed by architect Adrian Smith at the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
What style is the Hoover Dam?
The Hoover Dam is decorated in the Art Deco style.
Does the Parthenon have straight lines?
The Parthenon has almost no perfectly straight lines. Its builders used subtle curves to make it look straighter to the eye.
What were ziggurats?
Ziggurats were huge stepped temple towers built in Mesopotamia.
What is the Great Bath?
The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro is one of the earliest known public water tanks.
What happens at Chichén Itzá on the equinox?
During the equinoxes, shadows on the pyramid at Chichén Itzá look like a serpent slithering down the steps.
What was Persepolis?
Persepolis was a ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire.
When was Multnomah Falls Lodge built?
Multnomah Falls Lodge was built in 1925.
What is Vista House?
Vista House, built in 1918, overlooks the Columbia River Gorge.
Is there a Frank Lloyd Wright house near Silver Falls?
Frank Lloyd Wright's Gordon House is in Silverton.