Description :
Mankind has achieved innumerable architectural marvels over thousands of years. The cutting edge technology used in construction today has not always been required to construct buildings that inspire awe and stagger the mind. However, many great building achievements are as dangerous as they are innovative. In many cases, the element of danger is what provides the construction with such thrilling intrigue. The following buildings are equal in their engineering accomplishments and elements of danger that they present to any visitors who dare enter.
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Cliffside
China is home to the Hanging Temple. This building has stood for more than 1,400 years since the reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty. It faces a sheer drop of nearly 246 feet at the base of Mount Heng. This structure is actually the only temple in existence that serves as a place of worship for three individual religions: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. The temple is constructed of wood and contains 40 individual halls. Beams have been inserted into hand-chiseled fitting in the rock surface. Visitors brave enough to enter the temple will find over 80 Buddhist statues throughout the structure.
License: Creative Commons
A Stone Tower
At 817 meters above sea level, Lichtenstein Castle in Germany is another structure that seems to totter on the side of a cliff. This castle was not the first to rest on this site. Previous structures had been built and fallen to ruins dating back to about the 1200's. Lichtenstein Castle was commissioned by Duke Wilhelm of Urach in 1840. Although the castle is still under royal ownership, the doors are open to the public that dare to make the trip skywards. Most visitors come for the view and to gaze at the collection of historic German weaponry and armor. Various castles on this site have utilized the popular architectural stylings of their day throughout the years. Lichtenstein adds to its allure high in the sky by employing Neo-Gothic traditions throughout its design.
License: Creative Commons
A Delicate Balance
The Takasugi-an in Japan is perhaps the strangest and most insecure structure ever to be executed. The name literally translates to “a teahouse too high.” It was designed by its architect for his own private use. Built off-site, the one-room building was transported and installed at the top of two chestnut trees. It is constructed primarily of bamboo and plaster, and it can only be accessed by using a single, free-standing ladder that must be propped against the side of one of the supporting trees.
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Working on an Incline
As though they were taking a cue from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Puerta de Europa or in English, Gate of Europe, in Madrid, Spain features two buildings that lean towards one another at a 15 degree incline. Each tower stands 374 feet tall and features 26 floors. The identical towers hover ominously over pedestrians and drivers who can travel beneath their shadows. The project was completed in 1996 as a joint effort between an American and Spanish architectural firm.
License: Creative Commons
An Icon of Architectural Mistakes
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is yet to collapse. This building is actually a bell tower for a central cathedral that went terribly wrong. It was five years after its initial construction in 1173 that it began it's unintended tilt to one side. The lean is due to the lack of solid ground resting beneath its foundation on one side. This side of the structure sinking into the ground is now submerged by over five feet, giving the 16,000 ton building less than stable footing.
Many of these structures are appealing to visitors for their unique qualities and dangerous appearance. While more adventurous people will flock to these as points of interest in their travels, those people who do not have thrill-seeking tendencies will be much happier enjoying photos from a safe distance on a stable foundation.
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*by andreascy*
