Top 10 Cities to Visit as an Architecture Student

As a budding architect, chances are your style and development is still in the conceptual phase; you’ve got ideas and theories, but you haven’t quite honed in on exactly what makes you as an architect, you. Studying city architecture is a fantastic way to learn from the very best building designers and conceptual planners.

Top 10 Cities to Visit as an Architecture Student

Below then, is a list of cities that you really must get around to visiting, whether for visualising the early achievements of man, or keeping up with the current crop, this shortlist will offer an eclectic mix of sources of inspiration for you to truly develop your ideas and reflect on what you can achieve.

An architect is someone who plans, designs, and reviews the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within.

New York City, United States

For a running history of the cutting edge of Western architecture there are few cities like the Big Apple. From being the pioneer of the skyscraper, to hosting the famous builds of Frank Gehry and contemporary architecture by the likes of Zaha Hadid Architects and Bjarke Ingels Group, you can literally land yourself anywhere in the city and find strong influences past, present and future.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Due to sheer efficiency and audacity alone, Dubai has to be included in this list. The city has gone from a semi-deserted fishing port to a desert encircled metropolis within the space of a few decades. With modern icons such as the Burj Khalifa and intricately designed, man-made archipelagos, it really is a must-see for the soon-to-be architects of the world.

Miami, United States

For those with a penchant for the art deco movement, Miami has to be the first port of call. Thanks to its coastal location down in the Gulf of Mexico, Miami has been a favoured vacation destination for some time. Its boom in the 70s and 80s due to its infamous party scene led to the neon lit and detail driven buildings that still line Ocean Drive to this day.

Singapore

Environmentally conscious architecture never looked so good. Singapore is one of the most eco-conscious nations/cities on the planet. Architects who see the environmental challenges the world currently faces, and want to do something to make a difference should visit Singapore for inspiration.

Athens, Greece

To understand how modern architecture began, look no further than Athens. The Pantheon, built during the Classical period, in 448 BC is a shining example of how buildings could be more than just a structure, how they could be beautiful at the same time. The fact that it still stands after 2,465 years, is also a testament to the Ancient Greek’s structural awareness.

City Architecture Revealed

Don’t just look at the pictures, instead explore these carefully selected video clips and architecture tutorials detailing the worlds most amazing building designs.

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Barcelona, Spain

Architecturally best known for Gaudi’s mind-bending art nouveau parks and cathedral, Barcelona is a paradise for the architect who sees the world from outside the box that most of us comfortably remain within. Museu Picasso and Fundació Joan Miró feature modern art by their namesakes in this awe inspiring city.

Those who think that Barcelona is only known for the world famous Barcelona football team will be sorely mistaken. Old winding streets and historic churches and galleries are numerous in this Spanish coastal city which can be found in the north east of the country.

Brasilia, Brazil, South America

The modernist pipe dream that is Brazil’s capital. Built and designed by Oscar Niemeyer, it’s the ultimate visualisation of mid-century simplicity. Despite widely agreed criticism that it simply missed the mark as a working, interconnected city, it’s an absolute work of art as far as building design goes and a fine study for both what to do and what not to do.

Florence, Italy

For renaissance era styling, look no further than the birthplace of the cultural movement, the terracotta tiled city of Florence. The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, and the city’s Duomo are the most perfect examples to draw influence from.

Chandigarh, India

His buildings include the Capitol Complex with its High Court, Secretariat and Legislative Assembly, as well as the giant Open Hand Monument.

India’s first Prime Minister, Jawahrlal Nehry, commissioned the father of modernism, Le Corbusier to design a city to be the new regional capital of Punjab, after Lahore was lost to Pakistan. Thus, Chandigarh was born. Despite decades of neglect, the essence of the Frenchman’s genius is still well and truly there to behold, keeping true to the designer’s structurally led priorities.

Mexico, Oaxaca, Central America

Opinions may be divided on the Americas and how they’ve come to be in their contemporary form, but no one can doubt the beauty and simplicity of the architecture and city planning of Mexico’s Spanish colonialist predecessors. Oaxaca is the prime example of how to retain tradition in an increasingly modern time

Further Reading

Any architecture student or individual with more than a passing interest in the subject of building design and construction may also find these posts interesting

• Strange and Weird – 40 incredibly strange buildings you have to see
• Logo Design – 34 building design logos for construction projects
• Building Ads – 25 shocking ads on buildings that you will not believe

Final Thought

All new students studying architecture start at the bottom of the ladder. All looking for design inspiration in the big, wide world. As well as being perfectly normal, it’s also an incredibly exciting part of your fledgeling career.

This is the time to be inspired, to get out into the world and learn from what the masters have already accomplished throughout history. To learn and uncover what they’re currently accomplishing in the exciting field of city architecture. With that in mind these are among the very best cities to visit for design inspiration as a student of architecture and building design right now.