Architectural buildings are some of the most captivating structures in the world. Some are historical marvels while others are modern masterpieces that captivate everyone's attention. Additionally, these tourist destinations must-see destinations.
These iconic buildings hold a special place in the culture of their countries, serving to demonstrate how rapidly life has progressed around the globe.
St Paul's Cathedral in London is one of the world's most iconic architectural structures and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Recognized for its beautiful dome, the cathedral still stands today atop Ludgate Hill in the city's skyline.
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is one of the world's most iconic architecture buildings and was designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. Conceived as a church, this basilica has been constructed over multiple phases to become an iconic landmark for the city.
The Vatican in Rome is a testament to the power of the Catholic church and one of the world's most impressive buildings. Constructed as a monastic complex by Rome's Catholic church during the 4th century, it is now listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list as an iconic landmark.
Science beauty aside, the Sistine Chapel ranks as one of the world's most stunning architectural structures. Not only from the outside, but its stunning paintings by Michelangelo make this building a must-see.
It is also renowned for its use of the golden ratio, which has been scientifically proven to be visually pleasing to human eyes.
We examined 100 of the world's most iconic architectural structures and measured their designs against the golden ratio. We plotted common points on their front-on 'faces' - including top and bottom corners, centres, as well as equidistant points around their circumference - before comparing these measurements with those established by this ratio.
The golden ratio is a mathematical concept introduced by Italian Renaissance architect Michelangelo that can be seen in many of his works. By using it to guide his design of this masterpiece, he achieved something both visually stunning and spiritually significant.