Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” ~ Frank Gehry

Not only does this statement states the truth, but these words are the inspiration for many architects and building designers working in the field. It is the desire of many designers and architects in the world to create truly iconic buildings that remain as a legacy after their originality long after even when the authors are gone.

However, the million-dollar question is what makes a building timeless or iconic? For some architects and building designers, the answer is innovation. However, innovation is not the only ingredient required for iconic designs. There are other properties that are important to remember for professional building designers in Chilliwack, New York, and more. So here are seven secret ingredients of designs, which can play its role in boosting a building’s architectural value.

  • A unique silhouette

The key to creating an iconic architecture that can be remembered through the centuries lies in its silhouette—and among the most iconic buildings, most of them are the result of innovation with a single line on a page. This can be said for the pyramids in Cairo, the Eiffel tower, or the Sydney Opera House. Some of the silhouettes of the architecture start out to be unique only to become ever-present, and iconic designs remembered through and through. The most astounding example is the pencil from the empire Estate and Chrysler Building, but the towers remain as iconic as ever.

  • Pure simplicity

Forming a silhouette is a crucial thing, but simplicity is commonly found in the most famous architectural landmarks in the world. A singular, striking gesture can create a design that holds the potential to stand as an iconic architectural design—just take a look at the fantastic verticality of the Twin Towers or the appealing design of the lord foster’s St. Mary Axe, also known as the Gherkin. However, exceptions and breaking the rules is part of innovation. Take a look at Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Bilbao, which speaks volumes of iconic architecture. It is anything but simple. Rather, it can be said that it is undoubtedly a place in the architectural hall of fame.

  • Symmetrical Perfection

The Sydney Opera House is perhaps an exceptional example of symmetrical perfection. Not just that, the Taj Mehal, the Burj-ul-Arab, Empire State Building, the Bahia Lotus Temple, and the Hagia Sophia are the some of the symmetrical building around the globe creating impressions on anyone who visits. It is a brave architectural challenge. It can be said that only Gehry’s Bilbao Museum is the only architectural masterpiece that can break this rule apart from simplicity. Yet it is one of the well-known buildings in the world.

  • A poetic Metaphor

Architecture has long been used as a symbol that represents a person, a region or the entire city—the greatest example of it is the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, created by the Eero Saarinen as a monument to the expansion of the western U.S. and widely considered as a patriotic design. On the innovative side of design, take a look at the PATH terminal in New York City. It is the multiple-layered metaphors of freedom, peace, and spirit—the perfect element of the American Dream.

  • The Perfect Use of Materials

Many architects and designers, through the history of architectural design, have advocated using the materials as their strength to enable them to communicate with nature. From the Stone Pillars of Parthenon to the concrete walls of Felix Candela, the use of materials has been a common ingredient used in creating the iconic designs of all time.

  • A moment of courage

Art is a creative field, and creativity takes courage. Architects, being true innovators, acknowledge this fact and make sure to use it to break design conventions. It takes bravery to break traditions. It is something that the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright had in spades. Perhaps his “Falling water” design is the true example of a moment of courage. Instead of being at the side of the river as expected by the Kaufmanns, Wright positioned the house right on the top of the river, creating a moment of architectural drama. It is by far recognized as the most iconic residential building ever created in the world.

  • A challenge to context

While many architects consider a victory when their designs seamlessly blend with the surroundings, but for the ones who break the conventions, for them, the beauty of the design lies in the contextual contrast. The emotive metallic extension of the Jewish Museum in Berlin is perhaps the perfect illustration of the contextual contrast that defines the turbulent and tragic journey of the Jews throughout history.

Author Bio: Margaret Phillips holds a degree in tax and finances and is working at the On-Time Payroll 247. She is highly appreciated for her work at the firm and wants to have her own finance business in the future. She is a graduate of the University of New York. Besides her love for the law, she is also a great fiction reader. She also loves to write fiction.