Igloo: traditional snow shelter of the Arctic Igloo An igloo is a dome-shaped snow structure built by Arctic peoples, notably Inuit, used as temporary or seasonal shelter. This article explains construction, uses, history, and disti…
Immanuel Church (Immanuelskyrkan), Jönköping Immanuel Church, Jönköping Immanuel Church (Immanuelskyrkan) on Oxtorgsgatan in Jönköping is a 1970s Protestant church building that serves as a local congregation of the Uniting Church in Sweden.
Immanuel Church (Immanuelskyrkan), Stockholm Immanuel Church, Stockholm Immanuel Church (Immanuelskyrkan) in central Stockholm is a 1974 modernist church by Sture Frölén, integrated into a mixed-use block and recognized for its architectural and histor…
Indo-Islamic architecture: forms, history and legacy Indo-Islamic architecture Architectural tradition emerging in the Indian subcontinent from medieval Islamic dynasties, combining Persian, Turkic and local Indian elements into domes, arches, decorative arts…
Inland Steel Building: Postwar Modern High‑Rise in Chicago's Loop Inland Steel Building Mid‑century modern commercial high‑rise at 30 W. Monroe Street, Chicago; notable for its exposed steel, side service core, open-plan floors and role in post‑World War II modern arc…
Insulated glazing (double and triple glazing): design, function and uses Insulated glazing Insulated glazing uses two or more sealed glass panes with an air or inert-gas gap to reduce heat transfer, improve sound control and increase energy efficiency. Covers structure,…
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile: historic twin-tower hotel in Chicago InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile Luxury hotel on Chicago's Magnificent Mile occupying a 1929 historic tower and a 1961 addition; offers guest rooms, meeting spaces and proximity to downtown attractions.
Interior Design: Principles, History, and Practical Applications Interior design Overview of interior design: core elements, historical development, professional practice, common uses, sustainability, accessibility, education and contemporary trends shaping int…
International Commerce Centre A 118-storey mixed-use skyscraper in West Kowloon, Hong Kong, known for its offices, observation deck, luxury hotel and role in the Union Square development.
International Convention Center (Jerusalem) — Binyenei HaUma International Convention Center (Jerusalem) The International Convention Center (Binyenei HaUma) is Jerusalem's principal convention and performance complex, serving as Israel's central auditorium and hosting national events…
Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism Romania's primary public university for architecture and urban planning, founded in 1952 in Bucharest and named after the architect Ion Mincu; offers education, research and profes…
Ionic order (classical architectural order) Ionic order The Ionic order is a classical Greek and Roman architectural style defined by slender columns, bases, scrolled volute capitals, fluted shafts and a continuous frieze; widely used f…
Islamic architecture: forms, history, and decorative traditions Islamic architecture Overview of Islamic architecture covering its main forms, decorative principles, historical development, major regional styles, and cultural importance.
Iwan: vaulted, open-ended hall in Persian and Islamic architecture Iwan An iwan is a vaulted space, closed on three sides and open on one. Originating in late antique Persia, iwans became a prominent feature of Islamic architecture, used in mosques, pa…
Jack Laxer: Photographer of Midcentury California Modern and Googie Architecture Jack Laxer Jack Laxer (1927–2018) was an American photographer celebrated for stereoscopic images of California modern and Googie architecture that documented and helped revive interest in mi…
Jaén Cathedral (Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin) Jaén Cathedral Renaissance cathedral in Jaén, Spain: history, architecture, notable works and its role in the urban and religious life of the city.
James R. Thompson Center: Chicago state government building and landmark James R. Thompson Center Postmodern government office building in downtown Chicago, opened 1985, named for Governor James R. Thompson in 1993; known for its glass atrium, dome-like form, public spaces and…
Japanese garden (nihon teien): design, history, types and cultural significance Japanese garden An introduction to Japanese gardens: their design principles, main elements, historic development, common types (stroll, tea, dry rock), cultural meanings, and modern practice.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion Outdoor bandshell in Chicago’s Millennium Park designed by Frank Gehry; opened in 2004. Known for stainless-steel ribbons, an overhead trellis with distributed sound and lawn seati…
Jeddah Tower (Kingdom Tower): planned kilometer-high skyscraper in Jeddah Jeddah Tower Planned to reach roughly 1,000 m, Jeddah Tower (Kingdom Tower) is a stalled Saudi megatall skyscraper intended to be the world's first kilometer-high building and the centrepiece o…
Jerusalem Historical City Hall (Safra Square) Jerusalem Historical City Hall Building Historic municipal building in Safra Square beside the Old City walls, built in 1930 under the British Mandate; served as Jerusalem’s town hall until 1993 and remains part of the c…
Jin Mao Tower Jin Mao Tower is a 420-metre, 88-storey skyscraper in Shanghai's Lujiazui district, completed in 1999. It blends modern engineering with traditional Chinese motifs and houses offic…
Joffrey Tower — Chicago high-rise and permanent home of the Joffrey Ballet Joffrey Tower Overview of Joffrey Tower in Chicago's Loop: location, mixed-use design, role as the Joffrey Ballet's permanent headquarters, facilities, tenants, and its influence on downtown cul…
John Frost Bridge (Arnhem) John Frost Bridge Road bridge over the Lower Rhine in Arnhem, Netherlands, noted for its key role in the 1944 Battle of Arnhem; rebuilt after wartime damage and preserved as a wartime memorial.
John Hancock Tower (200 Clarendon Street) — Boston's glass skyscraper John Hancock Tower A concise encyclopedia entry on the John Hancock Tower (200 Clarendon Street): design, history, engineering issues, uses, and its role as Boston and New England's tallest building.
John Nash (architect): Regency London's planner and designer John Nash (architect) English architect John Nash (1752–1835) shaped much of Regency London — including Regent Street and Regent's Park — and created the exotic Royal Pavilion at Brighton. Influential i…
Sir John Soane (1753–1837): English neoclassical architect and collector John Soane Sir John Soane (1753–1837) was an English neoclassical architect, Royal Academy professor and founder of Sir John Soane's Museum, noted for his inventive use of light, spatial sequ…
Joiner — woodworker who makes building components Joiner A joiner is a skilled woodworker who manufactures and fits interior and exterior building elements such as doors, windows, stairs and cabinetry; distinct from carpenters and cabine…
Jørn Utzon: Life, Work and Legacy of the Sydney Opera House Architect Jørn Utzon Danish architect Jørn Utzon (1918–2008) designed the Sydney Opera House. This article outlines his life, major works, design approach, the Opera House controversy and his lasting i…
JPMorgan Chase Tower (Houston) A 305 m (1,002 ft), 75‑story office skyscraper in downtown Houston completed in 1982. A major corporate tower and landmark of the city's skyline.
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel Landmark luxury hotel tower on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Completed in 2000, the 309 m, 56-floor hotel is part of the Emirates Towers complex and serves business and leisure trave…
Ka'ba-ye Zartosht (Cube of Zoroaster): stone tower at Naqsh-e Rustam Ka'ba-ye Zartosht Ka'ba-ye Zartosht is a stone, cubical monument at Naqsh-e Rustam, Fars, Iran. Its purpose is debated; the structure and nearby inscriptions show Achaemenid and Sassanian-era associ…
Karl Friedrich Schinkel: Prussian Architect, Painter and Urban Planner Karl Friedrich Schinkel Prussian architect, city planner and painter (1781–1841) who shaped 19th‑century Berlin with neoclassical and neo‑Gothic buildings, stage designs, furniture and urban projects.
Karlstad Cathedral Karlstad Cathedral (Karlstads domkyrka) is the Church of Sweden cathedral in Karlstad, opened 2 July 1730 (Old Style). It serves as the seat of the Diocese of Karlstad and a civic…
Kenzō Tange: Japanese modernist architect and urban planner Kenzō Tange Kenzō Tange (1913–2005) was a leading Japanese architect and educator whose modernist designs and city plans shaped postwar Japan; winner of the 1987 Pritzker Prize.
Key Tower — Cleveland's tallest skyscraper Key Tower Key Tower is a 57‑story office skyscraper on Public Square in Cleveland, designed by César Pelli. At about 947 ft it is Ohio's tallest building and a prominent feature of the city'…
Kintai Bridge (Kintai-kyō) — Historic Wooden Arch Bridge in Iwakuni Kintai Bridge Kintai Bridge is a landmark multi-arched wooden bridge across the Nishiki River in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, famed for its five wooden arches, stone piers, restorations…
Kluczynski Federal Building A 45‑story modernist federal office tower in Chicago's Loop, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and completed in 1974; notable for its International Style design, raised plaza, a…
Lady chapel (Marian chapel in Christian churches) Lady chapel A Lady chapel is a space within a church or cathedral set aside for devotion to the Virgin Mary. This article explains its form, history, liturgical uses, and notable distinctions…
Lake Point Tower A distinctive residential high-rise on the Lake Michigan shore in Chicago's Streeterville, noted for its curved form, 645 ft height, and status as the only downtown tower east of L…
Larkin Administration Building Early 20th-century office building in Buffalo designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Larkin Soap Company; notable for innovative engineering, integrated furnishings, ornament, and…
Las Ventas: Madrid’s Principal Bullring and Cultural Venue Las Ventas Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas is Madrid’s main bullring, built 1929–1931 in a Neo‑Mudéjar style. It hosts the San Isidro bullfighting season, concerts, guided tours and exhibitions;…
Le Corbusier: pioneer of modern architecture and urban planning Le Corbusier Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) was a Swiss-born architect and writer whose modernist designs, buildings and urban ideas shaped 20th-century architecture and housing polic…
Leeds Town Hall: history, architecture and cultural role Leeds Town Hall Leeds Town Hall is a mid-19th century civic building on The Headrow in Leeds, noted for its architecture, concert use and role in civic life. Designed by Cuthbert Brodrick and open…
Leipzig Gewandhaus Historic concert hall in Leipzig, Germany, home to the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra; known for its musical heritage, three successive buildings, and acclaimed acoustics.
Leo Burnett Building (35 West Wacker Drive, Chicago) Leo Burnett Building Postmodern office skyscraper on the Chicago River. Completed in 1989, 50 stories and 635 ft tall; designed by Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Shaw & Associates and named for the Leo…
Lighthouse: Purpose, design, history, and modern role Lighthouse An overview of lighthouses: their purpose in maritime navigation, key parts and light technology, historical development from Pharos to Fresnel lenses, and contemporary uses and pr…
Linear city (urban-planning model) Linear city model An urban-planning concept that arranges settlement, transport and services along a continuous linear axis; developed in the 19th century and revisited in 20th-century modernist and…
