The final selections for the new seven wonders of the world have been announced. They join the Pyramids of Giza, the sole survivor of the original compilation, and are as follows:
Chichen Itza, Mexico
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Great Wall of China
Machu Picchu, Peru
Petra, Jordan
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
If you remember from the other day, five of the seven wonders I selected made this list. Replacing the Eiffel Tower with Chichen Itza is something I have no problem with. I admitted that the Eiffel Tower was a dark horse, and as I was doing my research for these postings, Chichen Itza really intrigued me. I regretted that I did not have space to include it, to the point where I almost second guessed my omission.
My only beef is with the inclusion of Christ the Redeemer. While it is a striking statue in an amazing location, let's be honest -- Mother Nature did 95% of the work. I think that its place on the list is more a function of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's aggressive campaigning among his people rather than global recognition of the statue as one the world's seven greatest icons. Angkor Wat is more worthy.
Showing posts with label New 7 Wonders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New 7 Wonders. Show all posts
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
The Ultimate Seven World Wonders
And now, here is the list you've been waiting for! Bernhard Weber be damned, I'm throwing out his rules and naming the seven structures I believe constitute a modern set of wonders of the world.
1. The Pyramids, Giza, Egypt
When the Pyramids were listed as a nominee for Weber's list, the Egyptian government protested. As the sole survivor of Herodotus' ancient list, the Egyptians were furious that they would have to compete with all sorts of Johnny-come-latelies for reinclusion. I think that the Egyptians would have absolutely nothing to worry about. After all, when Herodotus made his list 2000 years ago, the Pyramids were still considered ancient. In addition to surviving all these years, the Pyramids are massive and mystical.
2. The Great Wall, China
Nothing can quite match the Pyramids in terms of mystique or staying power, but the Great Wall blows it away when it comes to mass. We extolled the virtues of Qin Shi Huangdi great creation yesterday, but think about this for a second: it's 4,000 miles long. That's like building a wall from New York to Los Angeles (via Atlanta and Seattle, of course). The huge asterisk is that not all of the wall survives (or was ever built), but even with the omissions, the scale is still ridiculous.
3. Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Maybe it's not as big as the Great Wall (then again, nothing is), but the Taj is a marvel from both an engineering and an aesthetic standpoint. One thing that makes the Taj such a wonderful structure (aside for the incredibly comforting four-way symmetry) is the fact that the Mogul architectural style combines elements of the Persian, Turkish, Arabic, and Indian traditions, which is perfect for its place at the cross roads of civilizations along the trade routes to the Far East.
4. Lalibela, Ethiopia
While other places in the world are home to churches that are hewn out of rock, none are like those that the medieval Ethiopians constructed at Lalibela. Each of the twelve free-standing subterranean churches is carved from solid rock, which means that people excavated the earth around them and carved away at rock both inside and outside, leaving a shell of rock as the building with a roof level with the ground. These churches aren't just amorphous hunks of rock either -- they are finely sculpted pieces of architecture, standing several stories high, and still being used even today.
5. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Maybe it wasn't carved out of a single rock, but the interior of St. Peter's Basilica is downright awe-inspiring. Nowhere else have I seen marble that is glisteningly smooth with colors that are so vivid. The mid-afternoon sun filtering down from the skylights above complete the heavenly experience. If there is one structure on earth that single-handedly can inspire an atheist to believe in a higher power, St. Peter's is it.
6. World Trade Center, New York, United States
At the time it was built, the World Trade Center was the tallest building on earth. Actually, buildings. There were two of them, you know. What distinguished the Twin Towers, besides their size (each tower had its own exclusive ZIP code) was the fact that they were sheer rectangular prisms. The square footage of the first floor was identical to that of the 101st floor. You stood at the bottom and you could see all the way to the top. And to make things difficult, it was built on landfill reclaimed from the Hudson River. After the events of 9/11/01, is wonderful structure has been resigned to our collective memories, but it deserves a spot on my list.
7. Burj Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Well, it won't be completed until 2009, but I won't let that little technicality stand in my way. As mentioned before, it's exact height is a closely-guarded secret, but at an estimated height in excess of 2,600 feet, it will be almost 50% taller than the next highest free-standing structure. As of right now, it is three floors away from becoming the tallest building ever, and they're nowhere close to finishing. For perspective, imagine standing atop Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro and then looking up to see the top of a building. It blows my mind.
6a. Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
7a. CN Tower, Toronto, Canada
If I force myself to stick to the criteria on Weber's list, only deviating from the pre-selected list of nominees, I'd need to replace the World Trade Center (which does not exist anymore today) and the Burj Dubai (which does not yet exist today). We'll replace the World Trade Center with another set of twin towers -- just as tall, though a bit more architecturally gentle -- and we'll replace the Burj with what is currently the world's tallest free-standing tower, and let it enjoy the fleeting final years (months, perhaps) of its reign.
1. The Pyramids, Giza, EgyptWhen the Pyramids were listed as a nominee for Weber's list, the Egyptian government protested. As the sole survivor of Herodotus' ancient list, the Egyptians were furious that they would have to compete with all sorts of Johnny-come-latelies for reinclusion. I think that the Egyptians would have absolutely nothing to worry about. After all, when Herodotus made his list 2000 years ago, the Pyramids were still considered ancient. In addition to surviving all these years, the Pyramids are massive and mystical.
2. The Great Wall, ChinaNothing can quite match the Pyramids in terms of mystique or staying power, but the Great Wall blows it away when it comes to mass. We extolled the virtues of Qin Shi Huangdi great creation yesterday, but think about this for a second: it's 4,000 miles long. That's like building a wall from New York to Los Angeles (via Atlanta and Seattle, of course). The huge asterisk is that not all of the wall survives (or was ever built), but even with the omissions, the scale is still ridiculous.
3. Taj Mahal, Agra, IndiaMaybe it's not as big as the Great Wall (then again, nothing is), but the Taj is a marvel from both an engineering and an aesthetic standpoint. One thing that makes the Taj such a wonderful structure (aside for the incredibly comforting four-way symmetry) is the fact that the Mogul architectural style combines elements of the Persian, Turkish, Arabic, and Indian traditions, which is perfect for its place at the cross roads of civilizations along the trade routes to the Far East.
4. Lalibela, EthiopiaWhile other places in the world are home to churches that are hewn out of rock, none are like those that the medieval Ethiopians constructed at Lalibela. Each of the twelve free-standing subterranean churches is carved from solid rock, which means that people excavated the earth around them and carved away at rock both inside and outside, leaving a shell of rock as the building with a roof level with the ground. These churches aren't just amorphous hunks of rock either -- they are finely sculpted pieces of architecture, standing several stories high, and still being used even today.
5. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican CityMaybe it wasn't carved out of a single rock, but the interior of St. Peter's Basilica is downright awe-inspiring. Nowhere else have I seen marble that is glisteningly smooth with colors that are so vivid. The mid-afternoon sun filtering down from the skylights above complete the heavenly experience. If there is one structure on earth that single-handedly can inspire an atheist to believe in a higher power, St. Peter's is it.
6. World Trade Center, New York, United StatesAt the time it was built, the World Trade Center was the tallest building on earth. Actually, buildings. There were two of them, you know. What distinguished the Twin Towers, besides their size (each tower had its own exclusive ZIP code) was the fact that they were sheer rectangular prisms. The square footage of the first floor was identical to that of the 101st floor. You stood at the bottom and you could see all the way to the top. And to make things difficult, it was built on landfill reclaimed from the Hudson River. After the events of 9/11/01, is wonderful structure has been resigned to our collective memories, but it deserves a spot on my list.
7. Burj Dubai, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesWell, it won't be completed until 2009, but I won't let that little technicality stand in my way. As mentioned before, it's exact height is a closely-guarded secret, but at an estimated height in excess of 2,600 feet, it will be almost 50% taller than the next highest free-standing structure. As of right now, it is three floors away from becoming the tallest building ever, and they're nowhere close to finishing. For perspective, imagine standing atop Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro and then looking up to see the top of a building. It blows my mind.
6a. Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia7a. CN Tower, Toronto, Canada
If I force myself to stick to the criteria on Weber's list, only deviating from the pre-selected list of nominees, I'd need to replace the World Trade Center (which does not exist anymore today) and the Burj Dubai (which does not yet exist today). We'll replace the World Trade Center with another set of twin towers -- just as tall, though a bit more architecturally gentle -- and we'll replace the Burj with what is currently the world's tallest free-standing tower, and let it enjoy the fleeting final years (months, perhaps) of its reign.Thursday, July 05, 2007
The Top Seven Wonders
...at least as drawn from the nominees on Bernhard Weber's list.
1. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
A bit of a dark horse, the Eiffel Tower is nowhere near as massive nor ornate as many of the other wonders on this list. It was, however, the tallest structure in the world when constructed. What puts the Le Tour Eiffel on my list, however, is how fragile it feels when you climb up it. The tower is constructed from exposed steel girders, which were designed to be temporary. When you look down, you see a lot of empty space boxed in by a little bit of grillework. It's one of those structures that cause you to be amazed that it's still standing.
2. Petra, Jordan
You access Petra by walking down a steep, narrow gorge. You can see the remnants of statues on the sides, but you wonder to yourself what's so impressive about this place anyway. All of a sudden, you reach the Siq -- the mouth of the gorge -- at which point the rock walls open up and you see a gigantic treasury carved into the brilliantly colored rose-red rock (you might recognize it as the resting place of the Holy Grail from the third Indiana Jones movie). Other temples abound in the rock further down the valley. You wonder to yourself who came up with the absurd idea of carving buildings into the sides of cliffs. Absurd or not, the results are masterful.
3. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
It is one of the best preserved Roman ruins, along with one of the most iconic. Climbing around in the stadium, you can picture yourself watching the gladiatorial contests of two millennia ago, where the likes of Spartacus and Maximus did battle against other warriors and wild beasts. What amazes me most about the 50,000-seat Colosseum is that if you would restore it to its original condition, it would rival many present-day college football stadia.
4. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is largely in ruins today. While the foundations remain, our imaginations are forced to picture for themselves what the ancient Inca city looked like in three dimensions. What puts Machu Picchu on this list (beyond the intricate stonework, by which you cannot fit a knife in between many of the rocks) is the way the Incas tamed nature. At almost 8,000 feet, where the air is quite thin and the soil sucks, the Incas turned the mountainsides into layered terraces, creating narrow, concentric strips of farmplots where there were once sloped surfaces of rock, kept moist by ingenious systems of aqueducts. By the way, the did it all without the wheel.
5. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is a 200-plus acre temple complex in the middle of the Cambodian jungle. (By contrast, the entire Vatican City is half that size.) The centerpiece is the iconic temple, complete with its three tall, narrow domed towers, surrounded by a collection of smaller towers, fenced in by a long, imposing colonnade. Upon closer inspection, you see that the domes are encircled by half a dozen layers of individually carved figures. To reach the top level, you must surmount a set of shallow and yet near-vertical stairs.
6. Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Shah Jahan's mausoleum for his favorite wife is a shoe-in for my list. From a distance, the Taj Mahal looks like a monumental structure constructed out of sheer, gleaming white marble. When you approach, however, you take note that the walls are actually covered with intricately carved Islamic motifs. Free-standing amidst lush gardens, reflecting pools, and brick-paved courtyards, the Taj is truly heaven on earth.
7. The Great Wall of China
Placing the Great Wall on this list was a slam dunk. It's four thousand freaking miles long, people. And we're not talking about a little white picket fence here. The Great Wall is 16 feet wide, and that's all solid rock. Oh, and have you seen the jagged mountain terrain it had to traverse? While the other wonders on this list are tremendous accomplishments of human engineering, the Great Wall is the only one that's truly mind-blowing in its proportions.
Tomorrow, we throw out Weber's crappy list of nominees and I pick my ultimate top seven wonders without forcing myself to play by his rules.
1. Eiffel Tower, Paris, FranceA bit of a dark horse, the Eiffel Tower is nowhere near as massive nor ornate as many of the other wonders on this list. It was, however, the tallest structure in the world when constructed. What puts the Le Tour Eiffel on my list, however, is how fragile it feels when you climb up it. The tower is constructed from exposed steel girders, which were designed to be temporary. When you look down, you see a lot of empty space boxed in by a little bit of grillework. It's one of those structures that cause you to be amazed that it's still standing.
2. Petra, JordanYou access Petra by walking down a steep, narrow gorge. You can see the remnants of statues on the sides, but you wonder to yourself what's so impressive about this place anyway. All of a sudden, you reach the Siq -- the mouth of the gorge -- at which point the rock walls open up and you see a gigantic treasury carved into the brilliantly colored rose-red rock (you might recognize it as the resting place of the Holy Grail from the third Indiana Jones movie). Other temples abound in the rock further down the valley. You wonder to yourself who came up with the absurd idea of carving buildings into the sides of cliffs. Absurd or not, the results are masterful.
3. The Colosseum, Rome, ItalyIt is one of the best preserved Roman ruins, along with one of the most iconic. Climbing around in the stadium, you can picture yourself watching the gladiatorial contests of two millennia ago, where the likes of Spartacus and Maximus did battle against other warriors and wild beasts. What amazes me most about the 50,000-seat Colosseum is that if you would restore it to its original condition, it would rival many present-day college football stadia.
4. Machu Picchu, PeruMachu Picchu is largely in ruins today. While the foundations remain, our imaginations are forced to picture for themselves what the ancient Inca city looked like in three dimensions. What puts Machu Picchu on this list (beyond the intricate stonework, by which you cannot fit a knife in between many of the rocks) is the way the Incas tamed nature. At almost 8,000 feet, where the air is quite thin and the soil sucks, the Incas turned the mountainsides into layered terraces, creating narrow, concentric strips of farmplots where there were once sloped surfaces of rock, kept moist by ingenious systems of aqueducts. By the way, the did it all without the wheel.
5. Angkor Wat, CambodiaAngkor Wat is a 200-plus acre temple complex in the middle of the Cambodian jungle. (By contrast, the entire Vatican City is half that size.) The centerpiece is the iconic temple, complete with its three tall, narrow domed towers, surrounded by a collection of smaller towers, fenced in by a long, imposing colonnade. Upon closer inspection, you see that the domes are encircled by half a dozen layers of individually carved figures. To reach the top level, you must surmount a set of shallow and yet near-vertical stairs.
6. Taj Mahal, Agra, IndiaShah Jahan's mausoleum for his favorite wife is a shoe-in for my list. From a distance, the Taj Mahal looks like a monumental structure constructed out of sheer, gleaming white marble. When you approach, however, you take note that the walls are actually covered with intricately carved Islamic motifs. Free-standing amidst lush gardens, reflecting pools, and brick-paved courtyards, the Taj is truly heaven on earth.
7. The Great Wall of ChinaPlacing the Great Wall on this list was a slam dunk. It's four thousand freaking miles long, people. And we're not talking about a little white picket fence here. The Great Wall is 16 feet wide, and that's all solid rock. Oh, and have you seen the jagged mountain terrain it had to traverse? While the other wonders on this list are tremendous accomplishments of human engineering, the Great Wall is the only one that's truly mind-blowing in its proportions.
Tomorrow, we throw out Weber's crappy list of nominees and I pick my ultimate top seven wonders without forcing myself to play by his rules.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Middle Six Wonders
With the 07.07.07 reveal coming up soon, I need to get back on the ball and finish up my list. Here are my middle six wonders from Bernhard Weber's list.
1. Kremlin, Red Square, and St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
In addition to the criticism that these three structures have little of anything to do with one another, there really isn't all that much to this nominee. The Kremlin is little more than a fort and Red Square is little more than a flat plaza. What's left is St. Basil's, and one psychotropic multi-colored building does not a wonder make.
2. Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Location, location, location. While the Acropolis features an impressive collection of Greek ruins, the reason why it's so famous it because it sits atop a hill in the middle of the largest city on the Balkan Peninsula. It is impressive to see the Parthenon tower of this thriving metropolis, but my list will only consider location if it adds to the engineering difficulties.
3. Tombouctou, Mali
Looking at pictures of Tombouctou online, it certainly appears to be a fascinating place. It was an oasis of learning in the middle of the Sahara Desert, complete with mosques and libraries constructed out of mud. While it sounds really cool, it is the nominee I know the least about, so I have trouble selecting it for my final list.
4. Alhambra, Granada, Spain
Like Tombouctou, I don't know too much about this sprawling palace in Granada, Spain. It is a prime example of Moorish architecture, showing the confluence of Spanish and Islamic influences. The intricate carvings in the pink stone are what distinguish this structure. But from an icon standpoint, if someone like yours truly doesn't know what it looks like off the top of his head, it's not going to make the list.
5. Chichen Itza, Mexico
The world's other pyramids were a ceremonial site for the Maya people. Unlike the Giza pyramids, the structures at Chichen Itza are step pyramids with staircases on the outside. The site also includes flat-topped temples, an observatory, and a c
ourt where an ancient sport resembling basketball was played, with the losing team being sacrificed to the gods. The reason why Chichen Itza does not make my final list is because there are only seven slots.
6. Easter Island, Chile
This nominee was the final cut from my list. While it is a bunch of stones arranged in one place like Stonehenge, these stones are actually carved in the shape of faces, which multiplies the spooky factor. And yeah, there are a lot of them -- 394 still standing, to be exact, though at one point, there were 887.
1. Kremlin, Red Square, and St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, RussiaIn addition to the criticism that these three structures have little of anything to do with one another, there really isn't all that much to this nominee. The Kremlin is little more than a fort and Red Square is little more than a flat plaza. What's left is St. Basil's, and one psychotropic multi-colored building does not a wonder make.
2. Acropolis, Athens, GreeceLocation, location, location. While the Acropolis features an impressive collection of Greek ruins, the reason why it's so famous it because it sits atop a hill in the middle of the largest city on the Balkan Peninsula. It is impressive to see the Parthenon tower of this thriving metropolis, but my list will only consider location if it adds to the engineering difficulties.
3. Tombouctou, MaliLooking at pictures of Tombouctou online, it certainly appears to be a fascinating place. It was an oasis of learning in the middle of the Sahara Desert, complete with mosques and libraries constructed out of mud. While it sounds really cool, it is the nominee I know the least about, so I have trouble selecting it for my final list.
4. Alhambra, Granada, SpainLike Tombouctou, I don't know too much about this sprawling palace in Granada, Spain. It is a prime example of Moorish architecture, showing the confluence of Spanish and Islamic influences. The intricate carvings in the pink stone are what distinguish this structure. But from an icon standpoint, if someone like yours truly doesn't know what it looks like off the top of his head, it's not going to make the list.
5. Chichen Itza, MexicoThe world's other pyramids were a ceremonial site for the Maya people. Unlike the Giza pyramids, the structures at Chichen Itza are step pyramids with staircases on the outside. The site also includes flat-topped temples, an observatory, and a c
ourt where an ancient sport resembling basketball was played, with the losing team being sacrificed to the gods. The reason why Chichen Itza does not make my final list is because there are only seven slots.6. Easter Island, Chile
This nominee was the final cut from my list. While it is a bunch of stones arranged in one place like Stonehenge, these stones are actually carved in the shape of faces, which multiplies the spooky factor. And yeah, there are a lot of them -- 394 still standing, to be exact, though at one point, there were 887.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Bottom Seven Wonders
These seven nominees are the most dubious selections that Bernhard Weber made for his list.
1. Statue of Liberty, New York, United States
As a piece of public art, the Statue of Liberty is a beautiful, iconic gatekeeper to New York harbor. As a work of engineering, the statue is much less noteworthy. It's nowhere close to the most amazing structure in the United States, it's not the most amazing structure in New York, and heck, it's not even the most amazing structure in New York constructed during the 1880's (that would be the Brooklyn Bridge). Weber's campaign is for the seven world wonders, not the seven world symbols.
2. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
Again, this structure is more of a symbol than a wonder. True, the Opera House employs a striking design. Sydney's harbourscape is instantly recognizable thanks to the Opera House. But from an engineering standpoint, it's not that impressive. I guess that in a country with relatively few landmarks, the Opera House stands out. In the world at large, however, there's just too much superior competition.
3. Stonehenge, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
For a landmark that dates back to the Stone Age, Stonehenge is truly impressive. How ancient man managed to stack these monoliths and arrange them in near-perfect alignment with astronomical patterns is one of life's great mysteries. But in this exercise, Stonehenge needs to be evaluated in the company of its younger brethren. By comparison to the likes of some of these other wonders, Stonehenge is a pile of rocks.
4. Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Art Deco statue of Christ Redeeming the World, perched atop the 2300-foot mountain that towers of the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, is a sight to behold. It is especially impressive at night, when the floodlight Christ appears to be hovering over the city. Ninety percent of what makes the statue so impressive, however, is the terrain, which was in place long before man did his work. The statue is only 125 feet tall, and while the location is striking, it's hardly worthy of being considered a wonder.
5. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
I don't consider the Hagia Sophia the most impressive structure on its street, let alone one of the top seven in the world. It is certainly massive, but I found the Hagia Sophia just a tiny bit bland from an aesthetic view. It was originally a Byzantine cathedral, but when the Ottoman Empire took over Constantinople, they co-opted it and turned it into a mosque. Inside, you can see where the Ottomans took the paintings of crosses and turned them into Islamic motifs. Evidence of a remarkable intersection of cultures does not justify a world wonder. The Blue Mosque, a quarter-mile away, is a much more stunning structure, with its burgeoning series of domes and six towering minarets, a number exceeded only in Mecca.
6. Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany
It may be the picture-perfect central European castle, and it's certainly an impressive structure perched in an impressive location. I don't think it's really head-and-shoulders above other European castles and palaces that didn't make the list, so frankly, I don't see what the big deal is.
7. Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan
I visited this temple complex when I was in Kyoto. It's a beautiful complex that overlooks Kyoto from the hills to the East of the city. Visiting on a random Wednesday when the place was overcrowded with Japanese pilgrims was a transcendant cultural experience (especially since the weather went from rainy to almost completely sunny in a half-hour span). As I was making my way through the complex however, at no point did it ever occur to me that the temple might be considered a world wonder.
1. Statue of Liberty, New York, United StatesAs a piece of public art, the Statue of Liberty is a beautiful, iconic gatekeeper to New York harbor. As a work of engineering, the statue is much less noteworthy. It's nowhere close to the most amazing structure in the United States, it's not the most amazing structure in New York, and heck, it's not even the most amazing structure in New York constructed during the 1880's (that would be the Brooklyn Bridge). Weber's campaign is for the seven world wonders, not the seven world symbols.
2. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, AustraliaAgain, this structure is more of a symbol than a wonder. True, the Opera House employs a striking design. Sydney's harbourscape is instantly recognizable thanks to the Opera House. But from an engineering standpoint, it's not that impressive. I guess that in a country with relatively few landmarks, the Opera House stands out. In the world at large, however, there's just too much superior competition.
3. Stonehenge, Wiltshire, United KingdomFor a landmark that dates back to the Stone Age, Stonehenge is truly impressive. How ancient man managed to stack these monoliths and arrange them in near-perfect alignment with astronomical patterns is one of life's great mysteries. But in this exercise, Stonehenge needs to be evaluated in the company of its younger brethren. By comparison to the likes of some of these other wonders, Stonehenge is a pile of rocks.
4. Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilThe Art Deco statue of Christ Redeeming the World, perched atop the 2300-foot mountain that towers of the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, is a sight to behold. It is especially impressive at night, when the floodlight Christ appears to be hovering over the city. Ninety percent of what makes the statue so impressive, however, is the terrain, which was in place long before man did his work. The statue is only 125 feet tall, and while the location is striking, it's hardly worthy of being considered a wonder.
5. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, TurkeyI don't consider the Hagia Sophia the most impressive structure on its street, let alone one of the top seven in the world. It is certainly massive, but I found the Hagia Sophia just a tiny bit bland from an aesthetic view. It was originally a Byzantine cathedral, but when the Ottoman Empire took over Constantinople, they co-opted it and turned it into a mosque. Inside, you can see where the Ottomans took the paintings of crosses and turned them into Islamic motifs. Evidence of a remarkable intersection of cultures does not justify a world wonder. The Blue Mosque, a quarter-mile away, is a much more stunning structure, with its burgeoning series of domes and six towering minarets, a number exceeded only in Mecca.
6. Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, GermanyIt may be the picture-perfect central European castle, and it's certainly an impressive structure perched in an impressive location. I don't think it's really head-and-shoulders above other European castles and palaces that didn't make the list, so frankly, I don't see what the big deal is.
7. Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, JapanI visited this temple complex when I was in Kyoto. It's a beautiful complex that overlooks Kyoto from the hills to the East of the city. Visiting on a random Wednesday when the place was overcrowded with Japanese pilgrims was a transcendant cultural experience (especially since the weather went from rainy to almost completely sunny in a half-hour span). As I was making my way through the complex however, at no point did it ever occur to me that the temple might be considered a world wonder.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Top Five Disqualified World Wonders
This list consists of the best potential nominees for the New 7 Wonders that would be disqualified from consideration, under Bernhard Weber's rules, because they no longer exist, or because they don't yet exist, or because they're so amorphous that you can't even really tell whether they exist or not.
1. Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Israel
The Temple Mount is a wonder not so much because of what it is, but because of what it was. The late Peter Jennings called it the most interesting half-acre in the world. According to legend, Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac, the final disposition of the Ark of the Covenant, and Muhammed's assent to heaven all took place right here, and Jesus' crucifixion happened just down the street. The problem is that the Temple of Jerusalem is long since destroyed. While the Western Wall remains, and while tourists can still walk around atop the Mount (should they choose to ignore the rabbinical opinion that doing so violates the biblical prohibition of entering the Holy of Holies), we are left to imagine the Temple in its former glory.
2. Burj Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
This tower is scheduled to be completed in 2009. The official height is a closely-guarded secret, but conservative estimates put it at close to 2,700 feet and 162 stories. If the actual tower ends up anywhere close to that tall, it will easily eclipse any other free-standing structure on the planet. The tower is being constructed with a Y-shaped cross-section, designed to maximize views of the Persian Gulf for the given amount of floor space. The exterior of the tower is scalloped and the setbacks spiral around the tower as it rises, both of which give the tower an Islamic flair.
3. World Trade Center, New York, United States
Just one of the sheer, block-like towers would make this list. Having two of them side-by-side makes them three times as impressive. Most skyscrapers narrow in floor area as the height increases. The World Trade Center was as wide at the top as it was in the bottom, adding to its distinctive appearance and place as the centerpiece of the world's most iconic skyline. Sadly, both towers were destroyed in the 9/11 attacks, costing the world one of its wonders. One will never again get to enjoy the amazing vista one used to get when standing between the two towers and looking up.
4. La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
Construction began on Antonio Gaudi's modernist take on the cathedral in 1882. It is expected to be completed in 2026. What appears to be a Gothic-style cathedral in the distance is actually an avant-garde rendering of the traditional form, complete with Gaudi's trademark parabolic architecture and mosaics composed of crushed-up colored tiles. When complete, the church will have an unwieldy 18 towers, each one dedicated to an apostle, an evangelist, the Virgin Mary, or Jesus Christ himself. You can tell which is which by the oversized letter mounted atop each one. Most cathedrals have sculptures of saints or biblical scenes near the entryway, and the Sagrada Familia is no exception, except that the Sagrada Familia's sculptures range from unorthodox to disturbing. After being interrupted by the Franco regime, construction on the Sagrada Familia is making slow but steady progress. If and when it's finally done, it will prove a worth nominee to the list.
5. Second Life, Cyberspace
Okay, I'm taking a bit of creative license on this one. Basically, Second Life is The Matrix. From your own computer screen, your avatar can interact in a live, three-dimensional world with avatars controlled by other people across the globe. We're not talking IM's and chat rooms here. Retail outlets have set up stores in Second Life while Reuters has dispatched a full-time correspondent to the virtual world. Recently, virtual protestors threw virtual grenades and fired virtual guns at the virtual headquarters of very real French presidential candidate of Jean-Marie Le Pen. (Okay, fine, a disproportionate amount of this world is devoted to sex and gambling, but it's just giving people what they want.)
1. Temple Mount, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Temple Mount is a wonder not so much because of what it is, but because of what it was. The late Peter Jennings called it the most interesting half-acre in the world. According to legend, Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac, the final disposition of the Ark of the Covenant, and Muhammed's assent to heaven all took place right here, and Jesus' crucifixion happened just down the street. The problem is that the Temple of Jerusalem is long since destroyed. While the Western Wall remains, and while tourists can still walk around atop the Mount (should they choose to ignore the rabbinical opinion that doing so violates the biblical prohibition of entering the Holy of Holies), we are left to imagine the Temple in its former glory.
2. Burj Dubai, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesThis tower is scheduled to be completed in 2009. The official height is a closely-guarded secret, but conservative estimates put it at close to 2,700 feet and 162 stories. If the actual tower ends up anywhere close to that tall, it will easily eclipse any other free-standing structure on the planet. The tower is being constructed with a Y-shaped cross-section, designed to maximize views of the Persian Gulf for the given amount of floor space. The exterior of the tower is scalloped and the setbacks spiral around the tower as it rises, both of which give the tower an Islamic flair.
3. World Trade Center, New York, United StatesJust one of the sheer, block-like towers would make this list. Having two of them side-by-side makes them three times as impressive. Most skyscrapers narrow in floor area as the height increases. The World Trade Center was as wide at the top as it was in the bottom, adding to its distinctive appearance and place as the centerpiece of the world's most iconic skyline. Sadly, both towers were destroyed in the 9/11 attacks, costing the world one of its wonders. One will never again get to enjoy the amazing vista one used to get when standing between the two towers and looking up.
4. La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, SpainConstruction began on Antonio Gaudi's modernist take on the cathedral in 1882. It is expected to be completed in 2026. What appears to be a Gothic-style cathedral in the distance is actually an avant-garde rendering of the traditional form, complete with Gaudi's trademark parabolic architecture and mosaics composed of crushed-up colored tiles. When complete, the church will have an unwieldy 18 towers, each one dedicated to an apostle, an evangelist, the Virgin Mary, or Jesus Christ himself. You can tell which is which by the oversized letter mounted atop each one. Most cathedrals have sculptures of saints or biblical scenes near the entryway, and the Sagrada Familia is no exception, except that the Sagrada Familia's sculptures range from unorthodox to disturbing. After being interrupted by the Franco regime, construction on the Sagrada Familia is making slow but steady progress. If and when it's finally done, it will prove a worth nominee to the list.
5. Second Life, CyberspaceOkay, I'm taking a bit of creative license on this one. Basically, Second Life is The Matrix. From your own computer screen, your avatar can interact in a live, three-dimensional world with avatars controlled by other people across the globe. We're not talking IM's and chat rooms here. Retail outlets have set up stores in Second Life while Reuters has dispatched a full-time correspondent to the virtual world. Recently, virtual protestors threw virtual grenades and fired virtual guns at the virtual headquarters of very real French presidential candidate of Jean-Marie Le Pen. (Okay, fine, a disproportionate amount of this world is devoted to sex and gambling, but it's just giving people what they want.)
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Top Five World Wonders Substitutions
This list is reserved for potential new nominees to the list that would replace a structure in the same country which is already nominated.
1. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, United States
The Golden Gate Bridge would replace the Statute of Liberty, which, while a beautiful and enduring symbol of the American Dream, is undersized and rather unremarkable from an engineering standpoint. Not only is the Golden Gate Bridge gorgeous, it was the largest bridge of its type when constructed (remaining massive to this day) and conquers a notoriously difficult tidal channel.
2. Cathedral of Notre Dame, Chartres, France
The Eiffel Tower might be worthy of inclusion on the list, but we should still consider the Cathedral of Chartres. It is the pinnacle of gothic architecture, with intricate carvings around the doors and windows and a soaring vaulted roof which seems to hover over the cathedral, thanks to the flying buttress support system.
3. Forbidden City, Beijing, China
Nothing in the world can possibly rival the Great Wall for sheer mass and breadth. The Forbidden City, which not quite as large, is still remarkable in its own right. The former palace of China's emperors is a complex consisting of 800 buildings (including a Starbucks), spanning an area of 172 acres. The roofs of all the different buildings are covered in yellow tiles with a series of intricately carved statuettes on each corner, the number of which signify the status of the building.
4. Nazca Lines, Peru
Machu Picchu is a wonderful example of how the Incas tamed topography and harsh climate at high elevations in order to construct a self-supporting city in the heights on the Andes. Equally impressive, however, are the pictoglyphs in the Nazca desert. There are over seventy animal and human figures carved in the ground. Since many of the figures approach 900 feet in length, they are not visible except from the air. Lacking the technology to view their creations from above means that the Nazca people had to make their designs without the benefit of even seeing what they were doing.
5. Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia
The original list cheats by lumping The Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral together as one wonder, since they are actually separate structures, constructed at very different times. Instead, I propose the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. While not as stereotypically Russian as St. Basil's, the Winter Palace is a rococo masterpiece indicative of the imperial excess that eventually doomed the tsars. The palace, on the banks of the Neva river, has over 1,000 rooms, many of which are filled with ornately sclupted and gilded architectural flourishes.
1. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, United StatesThe Golden Gate Bridge would replace the Statute of Liberty, which, while a beautiful and enduring symbol of the American Dream, is undersized and rather unremarkable from an engineering standpoint. Not only is the Golden Gate Bridge gorgeous, it was the largest bridge of its type when constructed (remaining massive to this day) and conquers a notoriously difficult tidal channel.
2. Cathedral of Notre Dame, Chartres, FranceThe Eiffel Tower might be worthy of inclusion on the list, but we should still consider the Cathedral of Chartres. It is the pinnacle of gothic architecture, with intricate carvings around the doors and windows and a soaring vaulted roof which seems to hover over the cathedral, thanks to the flying buttress support system.
3. Forbidden City, Beijing, ChinaNothing in the world can possibly rival the Great Wall for sheer mass and breadth. The Forbidden City, which not quite as large, is still remarkable in its own right. The former palace of China's emperors is a complex consisting of 800 buildings (including a Starbucks), spanning an area of 172 acres. The roofs of all the different buildings are covered in yellow tiles with a series of intricately carved statuettes on each corner, the number of which signify the status of the building.
4. Nazca Lines, PeruMachu Picchu is a wonderful example of how the Incas tamed topography and harsh climate at high elevations in order to construct a self-supporting city in the heights on the Andes. Equally impressive, however, are the pictoglyphs in the Nazca desert. There are over seventy animal and human figures carved in the ground. Since many of the figures approach 900 feet in length, they are not visible except from the air. Lacking the technology to view their creations from above means that the Nazca people had to make their designs without the benefit of even seeing what they were doing.
5. Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, RussiaThe original list cheats by lumping The Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral together as one wonder, since they are actually separate structures, constructed at very different times. Instead, I propose the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. While not as stereotypically Russian as St. Basil's, the Winter Palace is a rococo masterpiece indicative of the imperial excess that eventually doomed the tsars. The palace, on the banks of the Neva river, has over 1,000 rooms, many of which are filled with ornately sclupted and gilded architectural flourishes.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Top Five World Wonders Additions
In order to be an addition to the list, a landmark must conform to the rules for inclusion on the original list and be sited in a country not already represented on the original list.
1. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Italy is on the list already, but since St. Peter's is in the sovereign territory of the Vatican City State, it can still qualify. Basically, St. Peter's is huge. The cavernous interior of the basilica is made of brightly colored and highlypolished marble, with ornate flourishes and statues inside. If any structure, just standing alone, could inspire conversion to a religion, it's St. Peter's.
2. Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
If a second structure, standing alone, could inspire conversion to a religion, it would be the Kaaba. The holiest site for Muslims is a black cube, constructed of marble and remnants of a meteorite, and standing 43 feet tall. It is surrounded by the Al-Haram Mosque which can accomodate 820,000 worshippers and covers 85 acres. During the Hajj, it is completely filled with worshippers, who pray in concentric circles around the Kaaba. It is also the only mosque in the world with seven minarets.
3. CN Tower, Toronto, Canada
The CN Tower's exclusion from the original list is striking, since it is far more remarkable from an engineering standpoint than the iconic but the less monumental Sydney Opera House. Simply put, the CN Tower is the world's tallest free-standing structure. At 1,815 feet, it towers over any skyscaper in the world. The observation deck is fitted with glass floors, allowing for a vertigo-inducing look straight down.
4. Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
For a while, these twin towers were the tallest buildings in the world, as measured to the tip of their spires. While they have been surpassed in that category, they remain the world's highest twin towers. The towers provide a firm yet gentle punctuation mark on the burgeoning skyline of Kuala Lumpur. The steel and glass the composes the facade glistens in the morning sunlight. If you look closely, you will notice that the towers are not circular but rather resemble this Islamic motif of seven-pointed stars.
5. Lalibela, Ethiopia
Lalibela contains eleven monolithic churches, each one hewn out of a single rock. The churches are all below ground accessible through a pit surrounding the church, with roofs level with the surface. The most famous of these churches is the Church of St. George, which was carved out of the ground in the shape of the cross. These churches are believed to date from the 12th century.
1. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican CityItaly is on the list already, but since St. Peter's is in the sovereign territory of the Vatican City State, it can still qualify. Basically, St. Peter's is huge. The cavernous interior of the basilica is made of brightly colored and highlypolished marble, with ornate flourishes and statues inside. If any structure, just standing alone, could inspire conversion to a religion, it's St. Peter's.
2. Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi ArabiaIf a second structure, standing alone, could inspire conversion to a religion, it would be the Kaaba. The holiest site for Muslims is a black cube, constructed of marble and remnants of a meteorite, and standing 43 feet tall. It is surrounded by the Al-Haram Mosque which can accomodate 820,000 worshippers and covers 85 acres. During the Hajj, it is completely filled with worshippers, who pray in concentric circles around the Kaaba. It is also the only mosque in the world with seven minarets.
3. CN Tower, Toronto, CanadaThe CN Tower's exclusion from the original list is striking, since it is far more remarkable from an engineering standpoint than the iconic but the less monumental Sydney Opera House. Simply put, the CN Tower is the world's tallest free-standing structure. At 1,815 feet, it towers over any skyscaper in the world. The observation deck is fitted with glass floors, allowing for a vertigo-inducing look straight down.
4. Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaFor a while, these twin towers were the tallest buildings in the world, as measured to the tip of their spires. While they have been surpassed in that category, they remain the world's highest twin towers. The towers provide a firm yet gentle punctuation mark on the burgeoning skyline of Kuala Lumpur. The steel and glass the composes the facade glistens in the morning sunlight. If you look closely, you will notice that the towers are not circular but rather resemble this Islamic motif of seven-pointed stars.
5. Lalibela, EthiopiaLalibela contains eleven monolithic churches, each one hewn out of a single rock. The churches are all below ground accessible through a pit surrounding the church, with roofs level with the surface. The most famous of these churches is the Church of St. George, which was carved out of the ground in the shape of the cross. These churches are believed to date from the 12th century.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
New 7 Wonders
Of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only one is left standing. In order to designate a new set of wonders for the modern era, Swiss adventurer Bernhard Weber established the New 7 Wonders Campaign. The campaign has nominated 21 sites from across the globe, inviting people worldwide to vote for their favorites. (After pressure from the Egyptian government, the Pyramids of Giza have been declared an honorary wonder, since they survive from the ancient list, so they may not be voted for.)
The New 7 Wonders campaign is not to be confused with the Seven World Wonders selected by USA Today and NBC's Today Show last year, which included natural formations such as the polar ice caps and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument along with the amorphous wonders of the internet and the migration in the Serengeti. Weber's list of finalists is subject to the conditions that the wonders must be man-made creations completed by the year 2000 and still standing. Each country may have no more than one representative.
To the complete surprise of no one, yours truly has plenty of opinions on this list. In an ongoing It's A Magical World series, I will provide my top five additions to the list, my top five substitutions (subject to the one-per-country rule), my top five otherwise disqualified nominees (for whatever reason), my analysis of the nine nominated sites I've visited, and finally, my votes for the New 7 Wonders. The official list will be unveiled in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007.
The list of nominees:
Acropolis, Athens, Greece*
Alhambra, Granada, Spain
Angkor Wat, Angkor, Cambodia
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Colosseum, Rome, Italy*
Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil*
Easter Island, Chile
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France*
Great Wall, China
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey*
Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan*
Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow, Russia
Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru
Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany
Petra, Jordan*
x-Pyramids, Giza, Egypt*
Statue of Liberty, New York, United States*
Stonehenge, Amesbury, United Kingdon
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Tombouctou, Mali
* denotes nominee I've visited
x-honorary selection as wonder
The New 7 Wonders campaign is not to be confused with the Seven World Wonders selected by USA Today and NBC's Today Show last year, which included natural formations such as the polar ice caps and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument along with the amorphous wonders of the internet and the migration in the Serengeti. Weber's list of finalists is subject to the conditions that the wonders must be man-made creations completed by the year 2000 and still standing. Each country may have no more than one representative.
To the complete surprise of no one, yours truly has plenty of opinions on this list. In an ongoing It's A Magical World series, I will provide my top five additions to the list, my top five substitutions (subject to the one-per-country rule), my top five otherwise disqualified nominees (for whatever reason), my analysis of the nine nominated sites I've visited, and finally, my votes for the New 7 Wonders. The official list will be unveiled in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007.
The list of nominees:
Acropolis, Athens, Greece*
Alhambra, Granada, Spain
Angkor Wat, Angkor, Cambodia
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Colosseum, Rome, Italy*
Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil*
Easter Island, Chile
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France*
Great Wall, China
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey*
Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan*
Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow, Russia
Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru
Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany
Petra, Jordan*
x-Pyramids, Giza, Egypt*
Statue of Liberty, New York, United States*
Stonehenge, Amesbury, United Kingdon
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Tombouctou, Mali
* denotes nominee I've visited
x-honorary selection as wonder
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)