Art is an undeniable force. Some city’s artistic contributions are their most important, and famous, gifts. Seattle even has a policy that requires all new buildings to donate a portion of their costs to developing art in the city. Take a look at some of the world’s most artistic buildings and find your own muse.
Image: Flickr
Experience Music Project
One of Seattle’s most famous buildings, the Experience Music Project, was designed to reflect the material inside it. The building’s colorful and texture-rich exterior is designed to evoke the energy and fluidity of music. When architect Frank O. Gehry was coming up with a plan for the building, he sliced several electric guitars into pieces and used them as an early model.
Milwaukee Art Museum
This Wisconsin museum is three buildings designed by three legendary architects: Eero Saarinen, David Kahler, and Santiago Calatrava. The War Memorial Center is a modernist building shaped like a floating cross. The Quadracci Pavillion is a post-modern addition that literally connects the museum to the city with a bridge. Highlights of this space include a cathedral-like space with a 90-feet high glass ceiling and a 217-foot wingspan that unfolds and folds twice each day. The last piece of this puzzle, the Cudahy Gardens, was landscaped to complement the structural parts of the museum.
Kansas City Library
Missouri’s Kansas City Library is designed to reflect exactly what visitors come to the building for: books. The exterior resembles classic hardback tales. Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lord of the Rings, The Invisible Man, A Tale of Two Cities and other titles will love taking photos next to huge replicas of their favorite books.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
This Sedona, Arizona, monument is literally built into a rock. Capture the Southwest’s true beauty at this stunning landmark.
Mind House
Spain’s Barcelona would look a lot less colorful without all the Gaudi building everywhere. A crown jewel of Park Guell is the Mind House. These whimsical- looking designs—think of a functional looking building that’s decorated like a cake—are the staple of the famed architect’s style. Onlookers will especially love the glittery designs on the roof of the Mind House.
Dancing House
True to its name, this building really does look like it’s dancing. One pillar is seemingly “leaning” on the other one. The buildings “depend” on each other so much so that architect Frank O’Gehry even dubbed it the “Fred and Ginger building.”
Chances are, you’ll probably never live or work in a building that’s as artistic as these picks. But if you’re ever moving, and especially if you’re packing and shipping valuable artistic goods, be sure to use Navis Pack & Ship for your moving and shipping needs.
By Steve Goble, VP of Marketing Communications for Navis Pack & Ship. When he's not spilling packing and shipping secrets, he's spending time with his family at a San Diego Padres or Chargers game. Connect with Steve on Google+ and LinkedIn.
