The New Wonders of the World

The ‘7 wonders of the world’ are famous ancient landmarks, which you may know, or at least, recognise from photos. They include ancient structures such as the Great Pyramid of Giza or the Statue of Zeus at Olympia.

In more recent times, the 7 wonders of the world have included structures such as the Great Wall of China, Stonehenge and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In the present, we think there’s room for some new wonders of the world. Architects have created some impressive buildings which will be recognised for years to come!

The Shard (London)

The Shard in London is one you’re sure to have heard of before. This giant structure came to life when it opened it’s doors in 2013. According to the Guardian, Europe’s highest building has 11,000 glass panels, 44 lifts and a public gallery 309.6 metres above London! 20% of the steelwork is from recycled sources, as an eco-friendly development. We know they used a good fire retardant paint on the steel, to help protect the building along with anti-corrosive metal paint to preserve the steelwork. Safety is a key part in buildings of this scale. The Shard was created to reflect the irregular nature of the site, with the ‘shards’ of glass pointing up towards the sky. This modern wonder is a standout landmark in London now, with incredible views – worth a visit.

Burj Khalifa (Dubai)

The Burj Khalifa came around in 2010 beating The Shard in height by far. It’s the tallest freestanding structure in the world! This wonder of modern construction certainly looks impressive, standing high on the Dubai Skyline. It’s another building that is heavily dominated by steel and glass, giving off an air of contemporary living. Burj Khalifa is so tall we doubt any architects will try to beat it now – it would be a monumental task.

The Salvador Dali Museum (USA)

The Salvador Dali Museum is an incredibly beautiful piece of architecture. The curves and contrast between concrete and glass make the structure a piece of art in itself. It reflects the painting style of the great artist Salvador Dali and is sure to become a household name. If we’re ever in Florida, we’ll visit the museum – just to gaze at the building!

Metropol Parasol (Spain)

We think this is a wonder, as it’s the largest wooden structure in the world. The architects have used a “waffle” like design using timber in an innovative and unique way. The structure is now a cultural landmark for Seville, Spain. It is so large it dominates the skyline, blending in with its surroundings, whilst standing out at the same time. We can’t image how long it must have taken to treat such a large amount of timber, to shield it from fire damage – maybe they used something like Zeroflame Fire Retardant Treatment?

There are plenty more incredible structures out there, we can only wait to see the inspiring buildings architects create next.