5 Architectural Works to Know

The contemporary buildings featured on these pages are unique in their design and the technology used to construct them. Each is immediately identifiable, and the architects who created them are renowned for their vision and skill. Read on to learn what makes each one special.

Year completed: 2010 

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Function: Retail space, offices, residential units, and a hotel

Why it is important: The form of a local desert flower and Islamic architecture inspired the Burj Khalifa’s design. Featuring a foundation made of concrete and steel and a sleek aluminum and glass façade, it is the tallest building in the world. The 160-story building rises 2,716 feet above the Persian Gulf.

Architect: Santiago Calatrava

Year completed: 2016

Location: New York, N.Y.

Function: Transportation hub 

Why it is important: The Oculus replaced a train station destroyed during the tragedy of 9/11. Its name means “eye” in Latin, referencing the many skylights along the building’s rooftop. To architect Santiago Calatrava, the construction, which features an exterior made of steel and glass, resembles “a bird released from a child’s hands.”

Architects: David Adjaye, Phil Freelon, Zena Howard, and J. Max Bond Jr.

Year completed: 2016

Location: Washington, D.C.

Function: Museum 

Why it is important: Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., this museum honors the African American experience. The building, more than half of which is underground, is covered with a three-tiered ornamental bronze lattice. It can be modulated to control the amount of sunlight that enters. The building serves as a tribute to African American craftsmanship.