While the world is full of natural wonders but there are man-made marvels, as well. From the Egyptian pyramids to the Mayan temples, man was able to prove his imagination and engineering capabilities, since he crawled from the primordial ooze. The architects of the 20th and 21st centuries have also left us with reasons to marvel over humankind’s innovation.

The Goliath Burj Khalifa

Located in Dubai, India, the Burj Khalifa made history as the first in several categories. It was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, an architectural firm in Chicago. Correctly labeled the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa stands at 160 stories tall (828 meters). It offers the highest occupied floors for any building in the world, with the highest known outdoor observation deck. It is also the tallest free standing structure in the world.

Originally named “Burj Dubai” construction was started in 2004 and completed in 2010. The inspiration for the design came from the Hymenocallis flower. It was initially built to garner attention from international sources and to promote a more tourist-friendly environment for those who visit Dubai.

Barcelona’s Baselica De La Sagrada Familia

The Baselica De La Sagrada Familia is located in Barcelona, Spain. This church was started on March 19, 1882, by the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar but the project was taken over by Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi continued with the project until his death in 1926. It has been worked on by several architects since then, all trying to stay within the original theme.

The Baselica boasts 18 spires — 12 for each of the disciples and four for the gospels. It took over 130 years to complete and was funded completely by donations. This prompted Gaudi to claim that the Basilica was built by God at the will of the people.

Wright’s Fallingwater

Fallingwater, located in Bear Run, Pennsylvania, is the first house of its kind. It was built over a 30 foot water fall, appearing to hover, in some areas, over the ground instead of being built on it. The architect for this structure was Frank Lloyd Wright, from 1936-1938. In 1939, a guest house was added to the property. The home was built for the Kaufmanns, an influential family in the Pittsburgh area. Edgar Kaufmann was reportedly upset when he found out that Wright was building the house above the falls instead of below them. Instead of the disaster Kaufmann envisioned, Wright produced a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Fallingwater is still a site for tourists to visit from all over the world today.

The Eccentric Glass House

The house was built in 1949 by Philip Johnson, an American architect well-known for his works. He designed the AT&T Building in New York and the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. Johnson called The Glass House his fifty year diary.

The Glass House is 1,728 square feet. Johnson started designing this house in 1945, and completed design in 1948. He lived in it from 1949 until his death in 2005. It is made of clear glass on all four of its exterior walls. This house served as the model for future homes with open floor plans and minimal spacing. Johnson helped set the example for modern technology and “outside-the-box” thinking.

The Lyme Park, House and Gardens

This phenomenal structure boasts a 1,300 acre estate that is still open for the public to enjoy today. Among its attributes, the Lyme House has a library, a garden and a stage in the Long Gallery. It still serves as a tourist attraction today, especially with its collection of National Trust objects.

These modern designs, and the brilliant minds who created them, have served as an inspiration to past, current, and future generations. They stand today as monuments to the creative architectural talent man has developed.