Off Topic Favourite architecture and engineering thingys

I always think two buildings which stand out in London for their amazingly detailed architecture are the Natural History Museum and the St Pancras Station & Hotel buildings. For a more 'off the wall' style building Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham is well worth a visit...

 

I have to admit to loving the Natural History Museum. I was also lucky enough in a previous career to have been allowed to have access to the FCO building in Horseguards. Not just the exterior of these buildings but also the interior décor as well.
Have also see the Taj Malah in Agra - it was back in 2001. An ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658), to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal

 

I might also add the Hindhead Tunnel as a fairly recent piece of engineering - especially as it has been made to look as though it has been there for a number of years

 

Tate Modern Building on the South Bank for the sheer scale of original turbine hall from it's previous incarnation as a power station. It goes to show how old buildings can be regenerated into modern attractions.......The extension to the old building is also a great piece of architecture ......

 

The very same mate.

 

Limoges Train Station, France.
I often use this station when I visit France. Always amazed how stunning the inside is.

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By the way, there's another bridge, also built by Brunel, not far from the one at Moulsford which is called "silly bridge". It was built in two colours and goes nowhere!!

 

This isn't something that I would normally recommend for a bite to eat etc but if you ever find yourself in Oporto go and visit Mcdonalds.......yes really as the interior is stunning art deco.....

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The coffee and croistants aren't bad either....

 

The HongKong and Shanghai Bank Building in Hong Kong. They were building it in 1983 when I started working there. As a child, obviously. Brilliant. Ground floor is open to the elements with a huge escalator at a weird angle due to Feng Shui, which is a load of bollocks.

 

Have to take my hat off to Weatherspoons. They have left the exterior and interior alone as much they could. Obviously they have toput their name but check on the website and it is good to see the interior hardly untouched. A friend of mine has said that they have also converted a court house as well in the north somewhere.
Oh and importantly - 4 pints of beer and change from a tenner!!!!!!

 

Best building I have been in has to be burj khalifa
Cost me £80 to go up it but it was incredible

The tram stations also in Dubai brilliant

But I would never go there again ever
The poverty gap is horrible

https://goo.gl/images/bNrs1Z

 

As a mark of respect to the hundreds if not thousands of men who actually carried the materials and for want of a better word “built” his bridges, may I suggest that Mr Brunel would be more accurately described as designer...

 

I worked on the Tsing Ma Bridge which was one of the crossings needed for the new airport when it was built in the mid nineties. I knew when I was on it that it would be the best job I ever had and it has proved to be.

I still remember the odd fact like the length of the bridge at 1377m and our contract value.

 

You didn't book before you went then mate?
When we went up there was only rich locals going up at no notice and thus £80. Fantastic views though aren't they?

 

It's a fabulous building isn't it mate. I was incredibly fortunate enough to have a lunch one day in the private dining room at the top. They were our bankers when I worked on the bridge previously mentioned and I was invited along with some local business people. They all wanted to hear about the project so I felt very privileged.

 

Nice one. For a time when I lived in HK it was my local branch, used to enjoy going in there to pay a cheque in. Never got that high up though. The architecture in HK was generally functional rather than inspiring, it looked great because of the setting, the water and the mountains. The bank building really stood out as something designed.

 

This thread has given me itchy feet to go travelling again............

 

I went back last summer. Have you been back recently yourself?

 

Didn’t book at all and also stayed at 6 star place which I had the experience of a bloke following me around asking me if I wanted a steak or burger every 45 minutes
Watched QPR on the biggest tv screen I have seen from my room as it was on the beach . Spent the evenings with the staff after a few days both my partner and I hated Dubai and have never returned

There is however some very cool buildings