The Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Empire State Building. The White House. St. Basil’s Cathedral. What do each of these buildings have in common? They are all considered “iconic” works of architecture. “Iconic” is a word used to describe many grand buildings, but do we ever stop to consider why exactly they are deemed worthy of this title? Are buildings innately iconic, or is this term designated by architectural experts and historical scholars? Do they evoke human introspection and mark the progress of societies, or do we believe these buildings to be iconic simply because we have been told that they are? To find the answers to these seemingly elusive questions, let us first turn to a definition of the word iconic.
Iconic (adjective): Widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence
The key term here is “distinctive excellence.” If we look to the buildings that are widely deemed to be iconic, distinctive excellence seems to be a common trait among the group. Granted, distinctive excellence is a somewhat subjective denominator. So, let’s break down what makes a building iconic even further.
Iconic Buildings Represent Breakthroughs in Architecture and Construction
If we consider the progressive nature of iconic buildings’ designs, then we can see a common theme of unique innovation across the buildings. Take the Empire State Building for example. Its construction gave rise to never before seen engineering and construction processes, including a new form of just-in-time material delivery. William F. Lamb, leader of the Empire State Building design team, designed the skyscraper in only two weeks. He used an innovative technique of making critical components, such as plumbing, mail chutes, and elevators, a central feature of the building’s core. Another iconic building that broke architectural barriers is the internationally famous Sydney Opera House. Its architect, Jørn Utzon, envisioned a “sculptural, curved building on the Harbour” that broke “radically with the cube and rectangular shapes of modernist architecture.” To realize this ambitious vision, Utzon developed a spherical solution that exemplified the cross-section of design and engineering. This spherical solution went on to become a foundational idea of a new, rounded style of architecture still seen in buildings today.
Iconic Buildings Come to Define Their Cities and Countries
When you think of India, you probably think of the Taj Mahal. When you think of Russia, you probably don’t immediately imagine its freezing tundra — the first picture that comes to mind is probably of the famous, brightly colored Onion Domes atop Moscow’s St. Basil’s Cathedral. This is because throughout history, we have come to associate nations’ iconic buildings as symbols of the cities and countries themselves. They define the skyline and landscape of the cities they sit within, ingrained in its society’s religion, culture and progress. Iconic buildings represent the spirit of their cities, becoming a symbol of pride for its residents and a destination of intrigue for eager tourists from far and wide.
Iconic Buildings Mark Important Historical Periods
Iconic buildings serve as reminders of the past, linking history to the present day. Take the Colosseum for example. It represents the historic age of gladiator fights, a period of time that eventually came to define the Roman Empire for centuries after the final sword was swung in the fighting pits. The Palace of Versailles, built under France’s King Louis XIV, is one of the 17th century’s most impressive architectural achievements — its expansive, ceremonial Hall of Mirrors is even iconic in its own right. The palace also serves as a reminder of when the royal monarchy in France fell during the French Revolution. Is it not amazing that you can visit the Palace of Versailles and stand in the very same spot where great (and not so great) rulers once stood? Iconic buildings offer a portal to the past, capturing a moment in time and allowing people today to experience a small piece of history for themselves.
Although the worn argument might be made that iconic buildings are deemed so only by historians and critics who have chosen, for the masses, that these select few buildings are worthy to be elevated to the title of icon, the truth might be simpler to define; a building deemed iconic has both intrinsic and extrinsic values that at its core speaks to cultural ideals and our collective humanity that makes it worthy of the title. Iconic buildings can unite us, they can challenge us, they can educate us, and they can reveal, in time, our collective failures and successes as a society. They represent milestones in religion, art, and culture. Ultimately, iconic buildings remind us of where we have been, where we are today, and where we are going.
References
Honeywell. (2019, May 14). What makes a building iconic. Honeywell.
https://www.honeywell.com/us/en/news/2019/05/what-makes-a-building-iconic#:~:text=When%20it%20comes%20to%20buildings,features%20make%20a%20building%20iconic
Scroggins, M. (2017, December 20). Empire State Building stands as an icon of construction innovation. Oracle Construction and Engineering Blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.oracle.com/construction-engineering/post/empire-state-building-stands-as-an-icon-of-construction innovation#:~:text=The%20Empire%20State%20Building%20also,to%20be%20used%20that%20day
Sydney Opera House. (n.d.). Our Story. The architect: Jørn Utzon. Sydney Opera House. Retrieved from https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/our-story/the-architect-jorn-utzon.html?utm_source=HONNews