Celebrating Global Influences in Cities Around the World The five GIFs above provide a snapshot of just how essential migration and globalisation is to the places we all call home, and this rings true around the entire world. Beyond London, Paris, New York, Shanghai and Sydney, we researched ten further cities, and the story of foreign influences elevating the skyline’s aesthetic stayed the same. Out of the 200 buildings we researched in total, 124 of these were designed by someone from outside of the country in question. The globalisation of architecture accounting for 62% of some of the world’s most well-known, and well-regarded, buildings, a stat certain to inspire anyone looking to make an impact in a new country.
Read on to find out more about the additional 10 cities we researched...
Berlin, Germany A bustling hub of job opportunities, friendly locals and sightseeing aplenty, Berlin’s German-designed architecture is partnered with designs from key architects around the world, including the famous Frank Gehry, the Canadian-American architect behind the DZ Bank Building. Collaboration between cultures is also at the core of Berlin, with the likes of the Reichstag Building, Berlin Cathedral and Church of Friedrichstadt designed by a combination of nationalities, including French, British and Dutch, working alongside German architects.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates The Dubai skyline has emerged rapidly on the coast of the United Arab Emirates and it continues to grow with its booming tourism, meaning there’s no surprise that this has created jobs for a wide range of professions, including the architects of the world. Its skyline shares influences from around the world, most notably with the sky-high Burj Khalifa designed by American Adrian Smith, while Brit Tom Wright is responsible for the Burj Al Arab and Hazel Wong, hailing from Hong Kong, the lead architect of Jumeirah Emirates Towers.
Hong Kong, China Similar to Shanghai, the busy Hong Kong skyline is a great example of what migration and globalisation can achieve, with some of its key buildings being designed by people from outside of the country. Again, American-owned Kohn Pedersen Fox pops up, having designed both the ICC Centre and the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. Argentine-American César Pelli designed Hong Kong’s International Finance Centre, while Government House was designed by Charles St. George Cleverly.
Los Angeles, United States of America Over to the West Coast of America, and while American architects have designed some famous aspects of the downtown skyline, such as the US Bank Tower, the city does still benefit from a global outlook. Notably, the famous Griffith Observatory that punctuates the Hollywood hills was designed by British architect John C. Austin, while Argentine-born César Pelli (who then came to call Connecticut his home) designed LA’s 777 Tower.
Madrid, Spain Madrid, the capital of Spain has become a major tourist destination, and also an extremely appealing place for people to live. With its sunshine, job opportunities and striking architecture making Madrid a great place to be. The city’s style is thanks to an array of Spanish architects, but also those from elsewhere, including Filippo Juvarra, the Italian architect behind the Royal Palace of Madrid and MVRDV, the Dutch firm that designed the Mirador Building.
Mumbai, India Due to the country’s colonial history, English architects such as George Gilbert Scott (designer of the Rajabai Clock Tower) and Fredrick William Stevens (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) have influenced Mumbai architecture, alongside Scot George Witter, the creator of the Gateway of India. The likes of Swedish architect Axel Haig and his work on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus have also played a role in the development of the city, while many of the temples, towers and pagodas were designed by Indian architects such as Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil.
Oslo, Norway The Nordic city of Oslo is one that continues to grow, and has been assisted by the designs of architects from around the world, including the German-born architects behind the rebuilding of Oslo cathedral: Alexis de Chateauneuf and Heinrich Ernst Schirmer.
Sao Paulo, Brazil The sprawling skyline of Brazil’s buzzing financial centre posed a mammoth job for our researchers, with the city littered with notable buildings that seem to stretch as far as the eye can see. Out of the cities researched, Sao Paulo stood out as being heavily designed by Brazilian-born architects, however migrants such as Lina Bo Bardi, who was originally born in Rome, have still played a big part in making the city what it is today. Bo Bardi was responsible for the Museu de Arte, while German Franz Heep designed the Edificio Italia.
Tokyo, Japan Part of the draw of Tokyo, be it for tourists or migrants, is the beauty in the buildings, that collectively make the entire city such a feast for the eyes. Brimming with culture, some of Tokyo’s most famous buildings are thanks to foreigners, such as Prada Tokyo Aoyama (designed by Swiss firm Herzog de Meuron), the Tokyo International Forum (by Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly’s New York firm) and the Watarium Art Museum by Swiss architect Mario Botta.
Vancouver, Canada We recently revealed that
Canada is the country most people around the world are searching for a move to. Which is no surprise, due to its vast array of job opportunities, high earning potential and excellent health care. The country also seems to have been a draw for architects of the world, with Argentine César Pelli making his mark with the TD Tower, US firm Kohn Pedersen Fox with MNP Tower and Danish designer Bjarke Ingels, the architect behind Vancouver House. The great work of Canadian native James Cheng is also seen throughout the city, from the Fairmont Pacific Rim, to the ‘Living Shangri-La'.