The Keinhans Music Hall was constructed between 1938 to 1940 in Buffalo, New York. It was designed by Eliel Saarinen and his son, Eero Saarinen, who is also one of the most respected architects in history.

The main auditorium of Kleinhans Music Hall showcases the hall’s parabolic ceiling and acoustically-informed design. The shape of the hall is built so that audience members in the very back rows of the balcony will have as clear of sound as the people in the front. The outside and inside color palette is neutral with simple lines. These serve to direct the audience to the music without distraction of lavish decoration.

Some notable occurrences were housed at this hall including, Robert F. Kennedy; who gave a speech in 1964 while running for United States Senator for New York. In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King gave a speech at Kleinhans titled “The Future of Integration.” In this speech, he said, “We are moving toward the day when we will judge a man by his character and ability instead of by the color of his skin.”

This design looks similar to St. Pauls Church built later from 1915 to 1919. With its large steeple and smaller buildings adjacent to it. The appearance of the building reflects Finland’s medieval castles. The architecture speaks of romanticism and the interior mainly to art nouveau. The museum was built from 1905 to 1910 and opened to the public in 1916. The museum was named the Finnish National Museum after Finland’s independence from Russia in 1917. After the last thorough renovation, the Museum was re-opened in July 2000.

The different stone and brick sets used gave it a unique look. The top and bottom design of the bricks looks like they would intersect like teeth. The top is protruding out, while the bottom is sunken in. The bottom set of stone look irregular, but still organized. They white stone is a great contrast to the vibrant red brick.

Tartu Paulus Church is a monumental brick church building with a rectangular ground plan on a granite stone, which primarily represents the Finnish national romantic style. Built between 1915 and 1919, the architect of the church was Eliel Saarinen.

The color of the red brick stands out to me behind a blue sky. The bowing of the tower was an interesting choice and I can see a channel on all four sides allowing room for windows. The cylindrical parts near the front door give it good symmetry.

The station building in the city Helsinki, Finland was designed by Eliel Saarinen and inaugurated in 1919. The outside of the structure is mostly made out of granite. It also looks like copper trimming around that has been oxidized, the station is still magnificent to look at. Helsinki Central was chosen as one of the world’s most beautiful railway stations by BBC in 2013. It is a very symmetrical piece and impressive for the time that it was constructed.

When I lived in San Fransisco, the first place I wanted to go was the Golden Gate bridge. The structure is absolutely huge up close. It is synonymous with the city and provides a link from San Francisco, California to Marin County. It is a suspension bridge that was revolutionary for its ability to sustain earthquakes, which bridges like the Bay Bridge could not. Until 1964, the Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge main span in the world, at 4,200 feet (1,300 m). It now has the second-longest main span in the United States.

These are houses are known as the “Painted ladies”. They were part of the 48,000 Victorian and Edwardian style houses built in San Francisco between 1849 and 1915. Many were painted in bright colors, such as red, yellow, chocolate, orange, and blue. They stand to represent the culture of its time. The majority were destroyed in an earthquake in 1906, these on Nob Hill still stand.

My family and I lived in these type of condos during our stint in San Francisco. Not only did It feel like I was continuing a part of history, but it’s practicality made sense in the city. Instead of building out, the condos are instead built upwards to conserve space. It is plenty spacious for a family, and I believe a tactic that we as a society should utilize to better conserve the environment around us. The street also incorporates nature to make the resident feel a sense of the outdoors.

In September 1921, a disastrous flood along the San Antonio River took 51 lives, with an additional 23 people reported missing. Plans were then developed for flood control of the river. Among the plans was to build an upstream dam and bypass a prominent bend of the river in the Downtown area, then to pave over the bend, and create a storm sewer.

Architect Robert Hugman submitted his plans for what would become the River Walk. He introduced the “San Antonio River Beautification Project”, which began the evolution of the site into the present 2.5-mile-long (4 km) River Walk. Hugman endorsed the bypass channel idea but, instead of paving over the bend, Hugman suggested a flood gate at the northern (upstream) end of the bend; a small dam at the southern (downstream) end of the bend; and a tainter gate in the channel to regulate the flow of water. The bend would then be surrounded by commercial development; like shops, bars, and restaurants.

This is a really beautiful place to go in Texas, especially at night. I went for my birthday one year and we stayed at a hotel on the Riverwalk and it gave off a real sense of community. Architecturally, it has classic, historical buildings combined with modern shops and resturants; the nature interceding gives it a lively feeling as well. All of the colors that the lights, umbrellas, and trees reflect off the water makes the look fantastic; it is a place people aspire to go. The riverwalk not only solved a major issue in the city’s relocation of water, but also in celebrating the city’s large Spanish heritage in Texas.

I went here for my senior prom pictures in Downtown Houston. It was such a unique and romantic experience. The symmetry and curvature of the structure almost hugs you as you go in it. At night, lights peer through the water creating bouncing light that turn the waterfall into a fabulous light show.

The famous structure is located in Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park. Featuring the 64-foot semi-circular architectural fountain that recreates a natural waterfall. 11,000 gallons of water recirculate through the fountain’s inner and outer walls each minute, creating a cascading water feature that has become a centerpiece of Houston.