UNFOLDING ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS: WHAT MAKES THEM SO DISTINGUISHED?

Abstract

In any region of the world, there is usually that one unique element that portrays the culture and identity of the region. Most of the time, architecture is the tool used to create this form of representation. Landmarks are buildings or elements that can be easily recognized through their unique features and strong expression of cultural momentum. So, what makes an outstanding building. Craftsmanship, Beauty and Grace all play an important role. Nevertheless, the world's greatest buildings ultimately are the ones that distinguish themselves from their surroundings. The objective of this research is to identify the correlation between an architectural landmark and what makes people recognize it. The research will examine these factors through different approaches of social and cultural aspects. The critical questions investigated are: what makes a building a landmark. As well as, understanding how a landmark affects the economy of a region. Which will be followed by exploring what are the functions that help this landmark become a tourist attraction. In the research, an examination of new and old case studies of architectural landmarks was done to fully understand the topic. The two case studies chosen are; The Eiffel Tower in Paris and Burj Khalifa in Dubai. A survey was also conducted to further analyze the topic according to the Saudi Arabian community

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