The Taj Mahal (late 1780s) by William HodgesNational Gallery of Modern Art
People build for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes it is for shelter, or for commercial reasons. Or it can be out of necessity, such as bridges or defensive structures.
But sometimes, and perhaps more often than you might imagine throughout history, people have built out of the purest reason of all: love.
Of course, there are many forms of love. There is the romantic devotion that lead to buildings such as the Taj Mahal, but there is also architecture created for no other purpose than people simply loved to do it. These buildings, often known as follies, are there simply to spread joy, fun and interest.
So, let's take a closer look at some of the world 's most famous buildings that exist purely for the love of it.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore - South Dakota, USA
Less a building than a gigantic sculpture, this is perhaps one of the most iconic constructions on the planet. Carved into the sheer granite of the Black Hills of South Dakota, Gutzon Borglum's stunning work features the heads of four presidents. Can you name them?
The four featured presidents are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. They were chosen to represent the represent the nation's birth, growth, development and preservation. So, you could say Mount Rushmore was created out of love for an entire nation.
Many buildings around the world have been created out of a sense of devotion, fun, playfulness or just for the sake of making something beautiful, including these three stunning examples.
La Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia - Barcelona, Spain
Perhaps no other single building is associated with its creator's devotion to their craft than the Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona, Spain. Although, ironically, it was not architect Antoni Gaudí who originally conceived or began the project. He took over in 1883.
Gaudí radically altered the original plans and then devoted the rest of his life to finishing his magnum opus. However, by the time he died in 1926, only a quarter of the project had been finished. Fittingly, he is buried in the crypt.
On occasions, architects are given licence by patrons or commissioners to really let their imaginations and passion run wild, allowing them to create buildings that don't fit the mould or create an entirely new paradigm. These often become iconic.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle - Bavaria, Germany
Built on a hill above the village of Hohenschwangau in southwest Bavaria, Germany, this castle was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in honour of composer Richard Wagner. The building epitomises both the Romantic style and the dramatic nature of Wagner's work.
The building is perhaps the ultimate example of the classic 'fairytale' castle, complete with conical towers and gothic windows. A fact which belies the relatively recent 19th century construction.
Gaudi (1951-12) by N R FarbmanLIFE Photo Collection
Want to know more?
If you love the unique architectural style of Antoni Gaudí then you can find out more about his work here.
