Architecture

Liria Palace (Palacio de Liria) — Madrid residence of the House of Alba Liria Palace Liria Palace is a private palace in Madrid owned by the House of Alba. Known for its neoclassical facades, rich art and archives, and post–Spanish Civil War reconstruction, it rema…

List of notable buildings List of buildings Survey of notable buildings: purpose of lists, common types and features, historical development, cultural and practical uses, and ways buildings are organised and compared.

Glossary of Church Architecture Terms List of church architecture terms Concise glossary of common church architecture terms: parts, historical development, uses and distinctions across Christian traditions, with brief definitions of key elements found…

List of tallest buildings: criteria, history, examples and significance List of tallest buildings Overview and explanation of the list of tallest buildings: measurement rules, historical milestones, construction methods, functions, geographic trends and notable distinctions in…

Tallest buildings in Australia List of tallest buildings in Australia Comprehensive overview of Australia’s tallest buildings: measurement criteria, historical development, notable examples across major cities, recent trends, and how rankings are com…

List of tallest buildings in Brisbane Overview and context for Brisbane's tallest buildings, their characteristics, history of high‑rise growth, ranking methods, and the city's place among Oceania skylines.

Tallest buildings in Chicago List of tallest buildings in Chicago Overview and context for Chicago's tallest buildings: measurement methods, notable skyscrapers, historical development, uses, and ranking issues that affect lists of the city's hig…

List of tallest buildings in Melbourne Overview of Melbourne's tallest buildings: measurement criteria, history, notable towers and precincts, development trends, planning considerations and where to find current rankin…

Tallest Buildings in New York City List of tallest buildings in New York City Survey of New York City's tallest skyscrapers: measurement methods, historical growth, notable towers and types, engineering and zoning influences, and how rankings are determined.

Tallest Buildings in Thailand List of tallest buildings in Thailand Overview and ranking of Thailand's tallest buildings, how heights are measured, notable towers such as MahaNakhon and Baiyoke Tower II, and the country’s high‑rise development hist…

List of tallest buildings in the United States Overview and context for rankings of the tallest U.S. buildings, measurement methods, historical development, notable examples, and distinctions between height definitions.

List of tallest structures in the world: overview, types, and notable records List of tallest structures in the world An encyclopedic guide to the tallest man-made structures — categories, measurement methods, notable examples, history and why different types are listed together.

Listed building (United Kingdom): meaning, grades, and protections Listed building A listed building in the UK is a structure placed on a statutory register for its architectural, historic or cultural importance. Listing confers legal protections, affects alterat…

Living Shangri‑La (Vancouver) — mixed‑use skyscraper and city landmark Living Shangri-La Living Shangri‑La is a mixed‑use skyscraper in downtown Vancouver housing a five‑star hotel, offices and private residences; it is the tallest building in Metro Vancouver and Briti…

Log cabin: history, construction, and cultural significance Log cabin A log cabin is a dwelling built of horizontal logs. This article covers origins in northern Europe, construction methods, American frontier use, modern adaptations, cultural symbol…

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Historic multi-purpose stadium in Los Angeles, opened in 1923; longtime home of USC football, site of multiple Olympics, major professional sports teams, and numerous historic even…

Louis Kahn — architect, teacher, and master of monumental light Louis Kahn Louis Kahn (1901–1974) was a Philadelphia‑based architect celebrated for monumental, materially expressive buildings, influential teaching, and a distinctive use of light and geome…

Louis Sullivan: Pioneer of the Modern Skyscraper Louis Sullivan Louis Sullivan (1856–1924), American architect of the Chicago School, advanced modern skyscraper design and the maxim ‘form follows function.’ His ornamented steel-frame buildings…

Louver: slatted openings for ventilation, light control and shading Louver A louver is a slatted window, shutter or grille that admits air and light while excluding rain, sun or noise. Used in architecture, HVAC, vehicles and spacecraft, they can be fixed…

Lucas Oil Stadium Multi-purpose stadium in downtown Indianapolis; home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, opened in 2008 and used for major sporting events, concerts and conventions.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969) was a pioneer of modernist architecture, known for minimal steel-and-glass designs, the motto “less is more,” and inf…

Luis Barragán: Mexican architect who married modernism with poetic space Luis Barragán Luis Barragán (1902–1988), Mexican architect and engineer celebrated for vivid color, light, and serene modernist spaces; Pritzker Prize laureate and creator of the Luis Barragán H…

Lumber (Timber): Types, Processing, Uses and Sustainability Lumber Lumber (timber) is wood processed for construction, furniture and other uses. This article explains types, characteristics, processing, common applications, history and sustainabil…

Luxembourg Palace (Palais du Luxembourg) Luxembourg Palace Early 17th-century palace in Paris, commissioned by Marie de' Medici; now houses the French Senate and faces the public Luxembourg Gardens, notable for its classical architecture a…

Madame du Barry's Apartment at the Palace of Versailles Madame du Barry's apartment Description and history of the apartment occupied by Madame du Barry at Versailles, its layout, furnishings, artists, and significance in the court of Louis XV.

Madison Plaza (Chicago office skyscraper) Madison Plaza Madison Plaza is a 599-foot, 45-story office skyscraper in Chicago's Loop, completed in 1982. This article outlines its features, history, uses, and place among the city's tallest…

Shopping Mall: Structure, History, and Social Role Mall Overview of shopping malls: design and layout, historical development, types, functions, economic and social roles, and how they differ from traditional markets and bazaars.

Manor house: history, form, and social role of the rural residence Manor house An overview of the manor house: its architecture, functions, fortified features, regional names and later adaptations from medieval manorial centres to preserved historic houses.

Mansion: large private house, country estate, or urban residence Mansion A mansion is a large, often luxurious dwelling historically related to manor houses and country estates. It signifies scale, architectural distinction, and social status and may be…

Marina City (Chicago complex) Marina City Marina City is a landmark mixed-use complex on the Chicago River designed by Bertrand Goldberg in the 1960s. Its twin 'corncob' towers combine distinctive concrete architecture wit…

Marriott World Trade Center — history, design, and legacy Marriott World Trade Center A concise encyclopedic account of the Marriott World Trade Center hotel at 3 World Trade Center: its design, operation, destruction on September 11, 2001, and its place in the rede…

Masonry: Materials, Methods, History, and Uses Masonry Masonry is the craft of assembling individual building units—such as brick, stone or block—into durable structures using mortar and specific bonding patterns.

Mather Tower (Lincoln Tower) — Neo‑Gothic high‑rise in Chicago Mather Tower Mather Tower, later called Lincoln Tower, is a terra‑cotta‑clad Neo‑Gothic high‑rise in downtown Chicago noted for its narrow, setback crown and prominent location at 75 East Wacke…

Metabolism (architecture movement) Metabolism (architecture) Japanese architectural movement from c.1960 emphasizing cities as living systems, modular megastructures, adaptability and plug-in components; notable for the Nakagin Capsule Tower…

MetLife Building A 246 m, 58‑floor office skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan completed in 1963. Originally the Pan Am Building, it was acquired by Metropolitan Life and later renamed. Prominent near G…

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower Early 20th-century New York City skyscraper at Madison Square known as the Met Life Tower; notable for its clock tower, campanile-inspired design and status as the world’s tallest…

Metropolitan Tower (Chicago) — historic skyscraper at 310 S. Michigan Avenue Metropolitan Tower (Chicago) A historic Chicago skyscraper at 310 S. Michigan Avenue, the Metropolitan Tower is a contributing property in the Historic Michigan Boulevard District; it has served commercial and…

Michigan Avenue Bridge (DuSable Bridge) Michigan Avenue Bridge A double-leaf bascule bridge that carries Michigan Avenue across the Chicago River; notable for its engineering, decorative architecture, role in Chicago's urban plan, and renaming…

Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano): history, architecture and significance Milan Cathedral The Duomo di Milano is the Gothic cathedral of Milan, Italy. Built of Candoglia marble over centuries, it is Italy's largest church and a cultural, religious and architectural land…

Millau Viaduct (Millau Bridge) Millau Viaduct A cable-stayed road bridge in southern France linking the A75 autoroute across the Tarn valley. Noted for its height, elegant design by Norman Foster and Michel Virlogeux, and its…

Millennium Bridge (London) — London Millennium Footbridge Millennium Bridge A steel pedestrian suspension bridge over the River Thames in London, opened 2000. Known for its initial wobble, repaired and reopened in 2002; links Bankside (Tate Modern) with th…

Millennium Centre (Chicago) Millennium Centre is a postmodern residential skyscraper in Chicago's Near North Side. Completed in 2003, it rises about 610 ft with 59 floors and contains condominium residences a…

Millennium Dome (The O2): London’s millennium structure and entertainment venue Millennium Dome Large dome-shaped building in Greenwich, completed for the year 2000 celebrations and later redeveloped as The O2 entertainment complex; notable for its tent-like roof, events hist…

Minaret A minaret is a distinctive tower associated with mosques, serving as a visual landmark and traditional platform for the call to prayer (adhan); it varies widely in form across regi…

Moat: Design, History, and Uses of Defensive Water Trenches Moat A moat is a protective ditch, often filled with water, surrounding fortifications. This article explains types, construction, historical development, functions, and later uses and…

Mobile home: definition, types, history, uses and key considerations Mobile home A mobile home is a prefabricated dwelling designed for transport and long-term siting. This article explains types, construction, regulation, common uses and practical issues such…

Money Bin (Scrooge McDuck's vault and fictional treasure repository) Money Bin The Money Bin is the iconic vault owned by Scrooge McDuck in Disney comics and cartoons, housing his vast fictional fortune and serving as a recurring setting and symbol of wealth.

Moroccan architecture: styles, features, and history Moroccan architecture Survey of Moroccan architecture, from Berber and Islamic roots to Andalusi, dynastic and colonial influences; characteristic materials, building types, notable sites, and modern pr…