Although its opening has been delayed until the end of 2020, the Grand Egyptian Museum seems to be one of the biggest and most anticipated cultural openings of the year. This spectacular building, first announced in 1992, is located near the Pyramids of Giza, which the design is modeled off. It will be home to nearly 100,000 Egyptian artifacts ranging from pre-history all the way to the Greco-Roman periods of Egypt. The entire site is bigger than the entire Vatican City. At over 480,000 square miles, the museum will commemorate the architectural feats of the past, while being its own feat in the present day. I personally think the site looks awesome. The mirroring of the Pyramids in its structure, as well as its unique design make it one of the coolest places I have ever seen. I genuinely want to see the project finished and would love to go visit it at some point.

The Giant’s Causeway is unique and therefore needs a unique visitor center to prepare people for its beauty. The Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre has two main folds. One of the folds angles upwards to reveal the building, and the second fold angles down to approach the road and the costal path. Between the two folds there is a ramp that leads to the site. Inside the building mirrors the landmark itself. It contains a series of stepping floor plates which are linked by ramps. The floor plates allow for different activities. The café also looks over the long coastline where you can see the causeway. I think The Giant’s Causeway is very cool, so I feel the visitor center should give off a similar feeling. I think this building does a great job at being just as unique as the landmark itself.

Inaugurated by the Irish Ambassador, the Irish Pavilion is an exhibition at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition as part of la Biennale di Venezia. Titled ‘Shifting Ground,’ it is one of 56 national pavilions at the exhibit. It looks at architecture’s relation to networked flows of products, data, and knowledge. It is composed of a series of wall drawings and a 12-meter long bench constructed of 6 interconnected for resting. I’m not sure what my feelings are for this art. While, it is definitely different, I don’t know if I like the overall design. It just seems a little bland.

Located in Dublin, Ireland, Airbnb’s Operations Hub has many unique features. It was designed as a flexible and dynamic work environment, with a central meeting room modelled after an Amsterdam apartment. It has a tiered “all-hands” meeting space with the versatility to transform into an informal and relaxed working area. It also includes a reception area designed like an Irish pub with a horseshoe-shaped bar and traditional Irish telephone boxes. I like this building, because it is designed to be functional, but it also fits into the culture.

Taliesen West is the former home of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Located in the desert hills of Scottsdale, Arizona, The home is build into the hillside to blend into the surrounding countryside. When my family was driving across the country we stopped here and it was one of the most unique places I have ever seen. While I can’t say I enjoyed the architecture style, it was stylish and functional. I also thought it was cool that there is an architecture school located on the location for students to learn about the man who built the building they are working in. I don’t know a lot about the building itself but the fact I got to tour a place that was created by one of the most famous modern architects was an honor and a great story to tell.

The King’s College Chapel is a world renowned location with beautiful Gothic architecture. While Cambridge University has many famous and historic locations, King’s College Chapel stands out as one of the most esteemed locations. The chapel looms over the rest of the college and is considered a centerpiece of the area. Many students and faculty go there each night to pray and the concourse outside is a place for many outdoor activities. When I studied abroad I had the opportunity to visit Cambridge, and the chapel was one of the coolest locations. The area around the chapel is quiet and serene. When I went inside, it was like an entirely different world. One of the most memorable places I have ever been.

The AT&T Center is a Stadium complex located in San Antonio, Texas. It is most well known for being the home of the San Antonio Spurs basketball team, as well as the San Antonio Rampage hockey team. The center also hosts many public events including concerts, political rallies, and school graduations. I have many fond memories from here including many Spurs games and my high school graduation. My favorite memories were going to Rampage games with my dad, unfortunately the Ramage are moving next year so I will no longer be able to see them play. The AT&T Center is a place that builds lasting memories and is a great place to visit.

As a San Antonio resident I have visited the Alamo several times in my life. The Alamo has a rich history. It was once a cathedral, but is most known for its famous use as a fort during the Texas war for independence. The majority of the original structure no longer exists including all but a small section of the exterior outer wall. All that remains is the main building, which has been restored many times. Whenever family comes in town to visit, they always want to go see it. While it is definitely cool to visit for the first time, after dozens of visits to the same tourist attraction, the building begins to lose its luster. I think it is a very unique part of American history, but I would not be upset if I never had to go back.