The World’s Most Recognizable Roofs
Roofing. It’s probably something that you take for granted.
Protecting you from the elements, the humble roof doesn’t really get all of the credit that it deserves, but there are many iconic landmarks all over the world that are renowned for their roofing. In the US while most of the city sides such as New York, Las Vegas and Florida have tall buildings with garden on top of them, in the county side such as upper west side on New York and San Antonio the real beauty of sloping roofs lies which anyone can get done by austin roofing contractors as they are financial cheaper, long-lasting and can also easily be fixed if any uncertainty occurs.
We understand the importance of a great roof – We all know that roofs are an integral part of a house and probably one of the most important elements. Roofs keep us dry from the rain and snow, shade us from the sweltering sun and block us from the unyielding wind, the roof inspection is very important because every day your roof is exposed to weather hazards and other elements, all of which contribute to its damage and deterioration.
Usually roof forms are dictated by technical, economic and aesthetic considerations for common roof types and not so common, here are their five favorites from around the globe.
Thean Hou Temple – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Despite its appearance alluding to an ancient architecture, the Thean Hou Temple in
Kuala Lumpur has only been open since 1989, but in that time it has become a major tourist attraction in Malaysia – in no small part thanks to the stunning roof design.
Multicolored tile, sweeping curves and more than its fair share of dragons, the Thean Hou Temple roof is a veritable visual feast.
Sydney Opera House – Sydney, Australia
It’s arguably the most famous opera house in the world – but thanks to the unique design of its roof rather than the performances within it.
The opera house’s design was in fact decided by a competition launched by then New
South Wales Premier Joseph Cahill which received 233 entries from 32 different countries. The winner, Danish architect Jørn Utzon, received the Pritzker Prize in 2003 (architecture’s highest honour) with a citation that declared the Sydney Opera House “one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century”. It cannot be doubted that it is the roof that is the building’s most recognizable feature.
Grand Palace – Bangkok, Thailand
Spanning an incredible 2.3 million square feet, the Grand Palace in Bangkok has been the
official residence of the Kings of Thailand (and previously Siam) since 1782, and its roof is one of its standout features.
Adorned with incredibly complex imagery that pertains to centuries of Thai culture and history, the roof of the Grand Palace really has to be seen to be believed.
Casa Batlló Gaudi – Barcelona, Spain
Antoni Gaudi was renowned for his distinctive style of architecture, and the Casa Batlló Gaudi located in the heart of Barcelona is no different, with a roof design that is one of the most iconic in the world.
It is one of the house’s most popular features, with Gaudi creating a dragon back design using tiles of different colors to represent the spine.
Eden Project – Cornwall, UK
Located in the heart of the Cornish countryside, the Eden Project’s geodesic biome
domes (try saying that ten times fast) are some of the most recognizable ‘roofs’ in the UK.
Designed by architect Nicholas Grimshaw, the covered biomes are made from tubular steel with thermoplastic ETFE hexagonal cladding panels which are themselves constructed from several layers of thin UV-transparent ETFE film. They are inflated to create a large cushion, acting as a thermal blanket to ensure the required conditions within the domes are maintained.
John Rooney is a homeowner and blogger with a passion for unique and inspiring architecture. For the maintenance and repair of your roof he recommends Woodstock Roofing for a quality and professional service.
