3 great towns for fans of architecture

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA

Home to the world’s first skyscraper in 1884-1885, Chicago went through a construction boom following the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871, where up to 300 people were killed and more than 5 sq km of infrastructure burnt to the ground. Needless to say, the architecture of Chicago is not known for its age, rather its innovative designs. Chicago presents an array of beautiful architectural designs, ranging from art-deco high rises like the 37-storey Carbide and Carbon building (pictured) of 1929 to modernistic interpretations of the Aqua tower, designed by local architect Jeanne Gang, where concrete slabs appear to ripple like water being blown by the wind. Beautiful but practical, delicate yet sturdy, the city of Chicago is an architects’ oasis.

SEVILLE, SPAIN

While Barcelona might be on the top of your bucket list, you’d be foolish to neglect one of Spain’s greatest architectural cities, Seville. This beautiful city is comprised of multiple layers of history dating back to the 8th century — but it wasn’t until the 14th century that its wealth and art really began to flourish. The Casa de Contratacion (House of Trade) saw the discovery of the New World in 1492, and with this came a momentous opportunity for wealth and trade in Seville, perfectly situated on the navigable Guadalquivir river. Today, the city is overflowing with historical gems such as the Plaza de Espana and the Gothic-style Seville Cathedral — encapsulating the remnants of riches and Seville’s deep history of Islamic culture, religious influence and royal sovereignty.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA

The architecture of Moscow is outstanding, with the built environment altered and governed by those who ruled the country. From archaic wooden churches and modern European imitations to the iconic onion-domed formations you’ve seen in magazines, Russia’s architecture is inspired by a variety of styles. One of the most prominent of these is the Moscow Kremlin. Originally built in 1156 by Yuri Dolgoruki along the Moskva river, the Kremlin was constructed with numerous materials such as wood, white stone and now red brick, and has been used as a castle for numerous tsars, a parliament building and home for current Russian President, Vladimir Putin. Adjacent to the Kremlin stands the colourful domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral. The Orthodox church is a Unesco World Heritage ste with a unique and breathtaking design unlike any other in the world — the intricate brickwork and ancient artistry makes the history of Russia come alive. p45...

Travelling through LAX airport can be a bit fraught as it’s a large airport spread across nine terminals and they’re extremely securityconscious. For Kiwis travelling back from across the US to fly home, this can mean several lengthy trips through the dreaded TSA security line. But there is an alternative. Travellers who have carry-on or baggage that has been checked through and have already cleared TSA security at the first US airport they departed from (e.g. New York JFK) can transfer between the United, Delta or American Airlines terminals at LAX Airport and get to the Tom Bradley International terminal by taking the little known (but well signposted) “airside terminal connector pathway” rather than exiting the terminal and going back through security to catch their connecting international flight to Auckland. This saves a huge amount of time and hassle and is part of the reason why LAX is a lot better to transit through these days.