Zodiac Signs as Buildings

 The Dancing House captures the youthful, playful energy of Aries. Nicknamed the Fred and Ginger house, this building’s bold use of shape mimics the bold energy of the ram. Built by Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry in 1996, the Dancing House represents action in the face of adversity, as it was built on the site of a previously bombed lot from the U.S. bombing of Prague. Despite the criticism that the house lacks a similar aesthetic to other buildings around it, like Aries, innovation and excitement are what make this building so special.

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1910, this house was built in the prairie style, a traditional American style grounded in the aesthetics of prairies.  The organic architecture style evokes a calm and peaceful nature, similar to Tauruses. As homebodies, Tauruses can appreciate the emphasis given to crafting the perfect home environment. While this building may seem simple at first glance, a closer look shows details such as geometric stained glass and a cohesive, muted color palette. Similar to how there’s always more than meets the eye with the elegant Taurus. 

 This cathedral can only be described as bright, loud, and busy. Geminis often receive the same label, and equally break the expectations of tradition, much like St. Basil’s Cathedral. St. Basil is a geometric wonder, a color experiment, an architectural marvel, a historical site and a church all rolled into one, just as multifaceted as Geminis. Built by Ivan Barma and Postnik Yakovlev in 1561, it has long been debated whether a place of worship should be so loud and busy in design, but Geminis can recognize the beauty in holding many identities.

Built by Ustad Ahmad Lahori in 1653 the romantic, emotional story behind the Taj Mahal’s building is what connects it to Cancers. The story behind the Taj Mahal tells the tale of a great Mughal emperor named Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal as a temple for his wife who passed away. Shah Jahan wanted the final resting place of his true love to be an incredible tribute to her spirit. The emotion-led design matches the emotional intuition only a Cancer could have. The temple is considered one of the greatest marvels of the world and is known globally for its beauty. Not everyone can understand the grand gesture of building such a monument for one’s wife, but the gentle Cancer can recognize the importance of caring not only in life but in the great beyond as well.

The Sant’Ignazio is a prime example of the Baroque architecture style; this building is dramatic, flamboyant, and majestic—three things that Leos are all too familiar with. Covered in ornate gold, theatrical figures Sant’Ignazio tells the grandiose stories of the Bible in a way that paints each tale in a life-or-death fashion, commanding the attention of all who view it. Built by Orazio Grassi in 1650,the maximalist aesthetic of this building may turn some people off from appreciating its beauty, but Leo knows that drama just means excitement. When you look past the maximalist decor, you’ll find a building that knows its purpose to a tee, just like Leos.

Constructed by unknown architects, and built potentially as early as the 5th century BC, the Petra upholds the traditional, structured values of Virgos. Refined and clean, Petra is an architectural marvel that once used to be a market, fortress, place of worship, and traveling hub. The intricate design of the Petra allowed it to excel in all its uses and perfect the concept of how a city should function, much like the perfectionist nature of Virgos. Though Petra is often overlooked when thinking of architectural marvels, its marvels of urban planning and design run on a plane of logic we don’t frequently see today, similar to the Virgos.

This grand palace required the work of multiple architects to build, beginning in 1623 and continuing up to 1715. Regal, ornate, and at times scandalous, the Palace of Versailles is an architectural masterpiece that holds two sides of history within its walls, just like the scales of the Libras. The frivolously ornate palace is crowded with delicate details and fixtures that capture the aesthetically minded energy of Libras. But behind the regal fixings of the palace is an intricate history of rebellion, uprisings, and social change. Libras are no strangers to seeing both sides of a story but when it comes down to the wire, you can trust Libras to align themselves with the major changemakers of the world.

 The pristine facade of Casa Mila may seem cold and uninviting from a distance but a closer inspection shows the unique angles and intricate garden center of the building. Both Scorpios and Casa Mila understand what it feels like to be judged from the exterior, but both know it's what's on the inside that really matters. Originally designed as a private residence by Antonio Gaudi and Josep Maria Jujol in 1912, the secretive beauty of Casa Mila matches the elusive energy of the Scorpio, with its hidden corridors and warmly toned interiors.

 The Osaka Castle is dynamic and proud. The building has served as a popular destination in Osaka for thousands of years. Constructed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583, the energetic beauty and uplifting structure of Osaka Castle capture the fiery Sagittarius energy to a tee. Sagittariuses pride themselves on their activeness and individuality, and the Osaka Castle has been an active part of Japanese history since it was first built in the 1500s, cited as being a major reason for Japanese reunification during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Though the Osaka Castle is surrounded by moats, gardens, and other distractions, at its heart, it's a structure that has been an icon of Japan for many years. Like the busybody Sagittarius, it can be difficult to fully capture the exquisite energy of this castle but once you do, it’s unforgettable.

Designed by Moshe Safdie in 1967, this complex building has earned its moniker as a cultural icon of Montreal. When thinking of brutalist architecture, you may first think of towering gray concrete, sharp edges, and seemingly unfeeling buildings. Habitat 67 has the hard edge often seen in the brutalist architecture as well as in Capricorns, but also like Capricorns, Habitat 67 shows that with planning and structure, you unlock a world of design choices. The thoughtful, futuristic design of Habitat 67 captures the forward-thinking intelligence of the Capricorn. The stone structure lends itself to extensive planning and design, similar to the ever-studious Capricorn. The end result of this meticulous planning is an optimistic vision of what the future can be.

The Space Needle was originally created for the 1962 World’s Fair by John Graham Jr. The futuristic alien look of the Space Needle exudes the same eclectic energy only Aquarians have. At one point, the Space Needle represented the future the world should strive to build for. Its design represents visions of a better tomorrow. This goal of community betterment is akin to Aquarians—the desire to promote the greater good. While few other structures today work to complete this vision presented by the Space Needle, it still represents the vision of a truly unique future. One that Aquarians are paving the way for today.

Few buildings in the world have the level of spiritual connection that the Kaaba has. The spiritual and dreamy Pisces also value the beauty of spirituality and understand the importance of respecting it. Though the Kaaba may seem simple given its mass importance, Pisces recognize that connection to the spiritual world does not rely solely on aesthetics. The Kaaba is an example of the ways spirituality can motivate individuals to achieve incredible feats, the Kaaba has been reconstructed multiple times by different unknown architects throughout history. This desire to honor spirituality and beauty reflects the Pisces.