Site IDs

Grand Shrine of Ise

200 CE

• The shrine features unpainted cypress wood structures with thatched roofs, forked finials, and horizontal logs

• Dedicated to Amaterasu, the sun goddess, it serves as Japan's exemplar of Shinto tradition and the veneration of kami​

• Rebuilt every 20 years through Japanese tradition, representing Shinto concepts of renewal and impermanence

Could also be a black and white plan of a square-shaped structure

Ajanta Caves

200 BCE

• Carved into a horseshoe-shaped gorge and consist of chaityas, viharas, and stupas

• These caves were primarily Buddhist monastic retreats, reflecting the transition from Hinayana to Mahayana Buddhism

• These rock cut structures are among most significant architectural accomplishments of early Indian subcontinent

Kailasa Temple

700 CE

• Carved from a single rock, featuring intricate sculptures, a central courtyard, and a towering spire

• As an ancient Hindu temple, dedicated to Lords Shiva and Vishnu

• Juxtaposes the significance of Hinduism with natural life by comparing the complexity of the temple to the untouched rock

Ryōanji

1600 CE

• Famous for its minimalist Zen garden with 15 stones arranged in a gravel field, symbolizing balance and harmony.

• Located in Kyoto (the center of Japanese feudal power), it exemplifies the extent of Buddhism’s power in Japanese culture

• Features architecture similar to that of the Forbidden city in the temples, but still includes clear Shinto influence in its use of natural elements such as rock and wood

Synagogue at Dura-Europos

200 CE

• The interior is set up in such a way that one has to pass through different rooms as thresholds via their spiritual authority to reach more remote and more religious spaces

• Located in present-day Syria, the synagogue was built into the side of the city wall which served an architecturally protective purpose and religious purpose

• As the earliest example of Jewish religious art, the synagogue features a Torah Ark at the entrance

Hagia Sophia

500 CE

• Representative of Christian architecture taking a more monumental form as it is much larger than synagogues

• Represents a move away from an intimate congregational focus in Judaism to the opposite, as the dome moves away from worshipers and instead toward the heavens

• Originally a Christian cathedral built by Emperor Justinian, later converted into a mosque and now a museum

Great Mosque of Damascus

700 CE

• As an early Islamic mosque, it adopts architectural traditions from Judaism and Christianity (Corinthian) but features Islamic architectural style (geometric interlace)

• Like other mosques, it features a qibla to direct worshipers to pray toward the Mecca

• The center of the mosque serves as a space for congregation and worship while the sides are lined with residential locations for those with occupations in the Mosque

Citadel and City Gates of Cairo

1000 CE

• Fortified structures with Islamic architecture, including defensive walls, domed mosques, and narrow passageways.

• Established by Salah al-Din as a central defense structure in medieval Cairo.

• Though it symbolized Cairo’s historical role as a political and military center, it eventually opened up to trade which allowed the city to grow to be the biggest city outside of China

Complex of Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun

1200 CE

• Showcasing Mamluk architectural features, consisting of a mausoleum, madrasa (school), and mosque.

• Built by Sultan Qalawun in Cairo, serving as a key religious and educational center in Cairo

• Represents the political and religious power of the Mamluk Sultanate.

Capella Palatina

1000 CE

• Originally commissioned by Roger II to be built on top of another chapel to represent a multi-cultural mix.

• Located in Palermo, Sicily, reflects a blend of Islamic and Christian cultures as the two rise in tandem

• Features a notable golden mosaic that wraps around the column bases and ceiling which illustrates a Byzantine influence

Palazzo Pubblico

1300 CE

• Gothic-style building with a grand central hall and bell tower, showcasing Siena’s political strength.

• Served as an architectural diagram of the structure of the government: The left for the Podesta (magistrate), the right for the Council of Nine, and the center for congregation between either side.

• Represents the influence of the public market place in Siena which can be considered a result of trade (opposite from that of the Complex of Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun)

Amsterdam Town Hall

1600 CE

• Classical façade with Corinthian columns, a central hall, a dome, and a pediment.

• The monumental size and stark symmetry reflected Amsterdam’s wealth and political power.

• Symbolized civic pride and the democratic ideals of Amsterdam as the central hall was “the people’s hall,” but now serves as the Royal Palace.

U.S. Capitol

1790 CE

• The monumental size and stark symmetry symbolizes the strength of American democracy and bi-partisanship

• Served as an architectural diagram of the structure of the US Congress: the House and Senate on either side

• The dome, columns, and pediment connects the U.S. to the ideals of ancient Greece and Rome, emphasizing governance and law.

Nijo-jō

1600 CE

• Served as a residence for the Tokugawa shogunate in Kyoto, representing feudal Japanese power.

• Asymmetrical linear spatial organization that goes from public to increasingly private as one moves from the entrance toward the back

• Symbolizes security and control, with features like nightingale floors that chirp when walked on.

Château de Versailles

1600 CE

• Extravagant Baroque palace in an enfilade spatial structure with grand galleries, opulent chambers, and elaborate gardens.

• Built by Louis XIV, symbolizing absolute monarchy and France’s political and cultural dominance.

• Features a hallway of mirrors which illustrates the narrative of the public performance that passing through the Chateau requires

Plaza de la Constitucion (Zócalo)

1500 CE

• Large public space surrounded by several government buildings and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

• Located in Mexico City, it is the largest city square in Mexico and the second largest city square in the world.

• Central site for civic events and national celebrations in Mexico City which symbolizes Mexico’s historical continuity as it sits atop the ancient Aztec city.

Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus, Arequipa

1700 CE

• Baroque-style church with intricate altarpieces, sculptures, and a central dome.

• Built by Jesuits in Peru, reflecting the Catholic Church’s influence during the colonization of Latin America.

• Represents a fusion of European Baroque and indigenous South American architectural elements which displays the profound influence of indigenous craftsmanship on colonial architecture

“Vue Perspective de la Ville de Chaux”

1800 CE

• Utopian city plan by Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, a perfect circle designed on saltworks.

• Reflects Enlightenment ideals of combining residency and occupation to influence social change (the houses surrounded the salt factory).

• Although Ledoux’s work influenced later modernist architects such as Le Corbusier, only a semicircle of the plan was finished.

Crystal Palace, London, UK

1850

• Iron and glass structure that pioneered industrial architecture and featured symmetrical design.

• Built for the 1851 Great Exhibition, symbolizing the Industrial Revolution and Victorian Britain.

• Represented the spread of enlightenment faith as it was the largest building every built at that time and only built in 190 days.

Houses of Parliament and Palace of Westminster

1830

• Gothic Revival design by Awn Pugin with pointed arches, vaulted ceilings, and the iconic Big Ben tower.

• Seat of the British Parliament, the monumental size and symmetry of the building reflects the power and tradition of British governance.

• Represents the growing distrust in Enlightenment values and technological progress following the modernist boom after the industrial revolution

Bauhaus

1920

• Modernist design featuring clean lines, flat roofs, and functional spaces using industrial materials.

• Bauhaus, which literally meant “building house” served as a School of Building and architecture in throughout the 1900s

• Walter Gropius’s ideals revolutionized architectural education and influenced modern design worldwide.

Plan Voisin (unrealized)

1920

• Proposed radical redesign of Paris with modernist skyscrapers, green spaces, and open streets.

• The plan featured 18 identical skyscrapers that would have served a dual—residential and occupational—purpose.

• Heavily influenced by Le Corbusier’s ideas set out in Vers une Architecture as the Plan Voisin aimed to use architecture as a catalyst to modernize Paris architecturally and socially

Master Plan for Brasília

1950

• Designed with wide avenues, radial planning, and monumental buildings, reflecting modernist ideals.

• Symbolized Brazil’s modernization and break from colonial history.

• Demonstrates how architecture can reflect political and cultural aspirations.

National Congress of Brazil

1960

• Modernist design by Oscar Niemeyer, featuring sleek forms, twin domes, and a glass facade.

• Central to Brasília’s architecture, symbolizing Brazil’s democratic ideals through the juxtaposition between the dome and bowl-shaped structure on the roof.

• Represents Brazil’s political transformation, commitment to modernism, and break from colonialism.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2010

• Distinctive bronze-colored exterior with intricate metalwork inspired by African American culture.

• Part of the Smithsonian, addressing African American history by telling the story of African American history floor-by-floor

• Located on the National Mall, about 60% of the museum is underground due to height restrictions imposed on the National Mall.