Famous brick buildings of the world

Although bricks and brick architecture are intertwined with Iranian culture and architecture, we should know that many famous brick buildings have attracted attention in other parts of the world because of their attractiveness and durability.
In this article, we will get acquainted with 5 examples of beautiful buildings that have been less discussed, but the wonder of brick can also be seen in them.

5 famous brick buildings in the world:

1. Stockholm City Hall
2. Abdul Samad Mansion
3. Las Ventas Castle
4. Battersea Power Station, London
5. Hospital de San Pablo

Stockholm City Hall

Stockholm City Hall is a famous building in Sweden and a symbol of the city. It is also considered one of the outstanding works of brick architecture in the world.

Stockholm City Hall was not originally located here, having been moved from the main square of the old town in the Middle Ages to the Bunde Palace and then in the early 20th century to the location you see in the picture above, next to the Rydhavn Bay.
The unique brick architecture of the Stockholm City Hall building has made it one of the most important achievements of 20th-century architecture in Europe, and this building is often considered a masterpiece of Swedish National Romanticism. However, there are signs that this building was also somewhat influenced by Italian architecture.
The construction of this building began in 1911 and was completed in 1923, and since then it has been playing a role and has maintained its beauty. Approximately 8 million red bricks were used in the construction of this brick building, and its color has created an attractive harmony with the surrounding space. The cost of building this building was ultimately about three times the amount that was estimated before construction.
When visiting this building, the first thing that catches your eye is the brick tower that once served as a lighthouse and has 365 steps. At the top of this 106-meter tower is a weather vane with three crowns, which is the national symbol of Sweden.
Inside this brick tower, which is now a museum of valuable statues and was made by the best sculptors, there are several halls. The most famous of them is the hall decorated with Byzantine-style gold mosaics and known as the Golden Hall due to the use of 10 kilos of gold in them.
The architecture of the Stockholm City Hall, which is still very attractive, has inspired the architecture of other structures throughout Europe for many years.

Abdul Samad Mansion

Another beautiful and famous brick building in the world is the Sultan Abdul Samad Mansion in Malaysia. This building, located in Kuala Lumpur, is one of the most famous and valuable works of Malaysian architecture. In the image below, you can see the beautiful brick architecture of this building.

Abdul Samad Mansion was built between 1894 and 1897 in the Andalusian architectural style. This attractive mansion is the first building designed in this style in Malaysia.

The architects of this valuable building were two English architects, and because they had lived in India for a while, they were influenced by Indian architecture, because Malaysia is Muslim, they introduced signs of Arabic architecture into this building. Perhaps the attractive appearance that this building has created is the result of combining different architectural styles.

Abdul Samad Mansion was previously the administrative center of the British colonial government and after that, it was the Supreme Court of Malaysia, or the Federal Court of Malaysia, before it was moved to Putrajaya. Currently, this building is one of the tourist attractions in Malaysia and has no administrative use. Today, this building is the venue for many occasions and events, such as the annual Malaysian Independence Parade.

This building is made entirely of brick and has survived to this day. The arched vaults and copper dome above it, and the presence of a 40-meter clock tower in this building make the architecture of this building so attractive and attract the attention of every viewer.

Las Ventas Bullring is a famous brick building.

Las Ventas is the largest bullring in Madrid, Spain. The entrance building that surrounds the square is a huge brick structure that, at 60 meters high, is one of the tallest stadiums in Madrid.

The construction of the castle was completed in 1929 and in 1931 it began to operate with a bullfight for charity, with the capacity crowd filled. After a while, bullfighting was stopped during the Spanish Civil War and resumed in 1939. Its seating capacity is 23,798 people.

The building is built of brick, with glazed bricks used as a decorative element. The architecture of the building is in the national style of the 19th century, based on a traditional Spanish design.

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Battersea Power Station in London

Located south of the River Thames in London, Battersea Power Station is a fossil fuel power station that has been inactive since 1983, but it is still one of the most famous brick buildings in the world. The brick building consists of two separate blocks and four chimneys.

During the years that the power station has been inactive, many plans have been considered for it, none of which have come to fruition to date. For example, in 2016, Apple announced that it would move its London headquarters to this location.

The building is famous for its beautiful brick exterior and unique and luxurious interior in the Art Deco style. Art Deco means decorative art.

Hospital de San Pablo is a brick building.

Hospital de la Cruz de San Pablo, also known as San Pablo, is located in Spain, north of Barcelona.

The construction of this hospital lasted from 1902 to 1930 and it operated as a hospital for many years, but since 2009 the use of this building has changed and today, due to the richness of the architectural art of this building, it is used as an art and cultural center.

San Pablo was built by the famous architect of the time, Luis Domínguez y Montaner, in the modernist style. At that time, after the plague epidemic, they thought of building a hospital that would have a green space around it and an eye-catching architecture that would boost the spirits of the patients. For this reason, this attractive hospital was built.

The exterior of San Pablo is covered with red facing brick and many glazed bricks are used inside, which increases its beauty. This building was completely renovated in 2014, and many tourists from all over the world visit this museum every year.

Final Words

This article mentioned 5 examples of brick buildings, each located in a different part of the world and attracting many tourists every year.

1. Stockholm City Hall
2. Abdul Samad Building
3. Las Ventas Castle
4. London’s Battersea Power Station
5. St. Paul’s Hospital

Now, after reading this article, tell us which of these brick buildings you are familiar with and which one you have visited up close?