Published: 28 Sep 2022
Iconic buildings: Take three, a look at some of the iconic buildings around the world
In this world we are architecturally spoilt, from the oldest Megalithic Temples in Malta dating back to 3,600 BC to the tallest, the Burj Khalifa. We look at some of the most iconic buildings from around the world. Each one has only been possible with the skill of the surveying profession.
Home is the starting place of love, hope and dreams: St Paul’s cathedral
A proud English landmark is our very own St Paul’s cathedral in London. The one that stands today isn’t the original, in fact it has been rebuilt four times. The first church was built in 604 AD on Ludgate Hill and was dedicated to the apostle Paul. It was repeatedly damaged and finally destroyed by a fire. The second church was built from 675 to 685 AD, but this fell victim to the Vikings in 962. The fourth was built in 1087 and was referred to as the old St Paul’s. With this version, the architecture changed from Romanesque to Gothic. However, the Great Fire of London led to its destruction, but it was once again rebuilt.
The current cathedral boasts one of the biggest domes in the world at 366 feet high. Today’s cathedral took nine years to design by the mathematician and scientist, Sir Christopher Wren, Britain’s most famous architect. It’s well worth a visit, and if you feel up to it you can even climb the 528 steps up into the dome.
The gift that keeps giving: the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty’s real name is Liberty Enlightening the World. It is the oldest and most beautiful American statue. Originally a gift from France to America, it was designed to commemorate the centennial of the Independence of the United States, and to celebrate the country’s friendship with France.
Frederic Auguste Bartholdi designed the structure. It’s made up of 250,000 pounds of steel and 62,000 pounds of copper. The base she sits on is made from concrete and weighs an impressive 54 million pounds. The tip of the torch she is holding is 305 feet from the ground.
When Lady Liberty was shipped over from France, she was in 350 different pieces, and it took four months to put her together. Originally, she was a reddish brown colour, but because of oxidation the copper gradually turned green. It took 35 years for this process to occur, and it was not planned.
Last but not least, and currently still the tallest: the Burj Khalifa
Standing at 828 meters tall, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai stands proud as the tallest building in the world. It was built to gain Dubai some international recognition and was completed in 2010. Impressively the Burj Khalifa boasts 2957 parking spaces, 304 hotels, and 900 apartments. There are 163 floors located above the ground and it has only one floor located below the ground. It currently stands as the tallest in the world. However, the Jeddah tower in Saudi Arabia is set to be taller once completed. With a height of one kilometer, surpassing the Burj by 200 meters.
TSA’s own survey school, The Survey School has been set up to teach the skills that sit behind the latest technology. Visit the site to find out more.
