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Quizzes > Society & Culture

Famous Buildings Quiz: Identify Landmarks and Their Architects

Quick, free architecture quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Hannah BananaUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of stylized landmarks and buildings on teal background promoting free architecture quiz

This famous buildings quiz helps you spot iconic landmarks and match them with the architects who designed them. Move through quick image prompts, get instant results, and learn a few memorable facts along the way. If you want to keep exploring, try our world landmarks trivia, challenge your city knowledge with the guess the city quiz, or dive into styles and orders in the Greek architecture quiz.

Where is the Eiffel Tower located?
Paris, France
London, England
Rome, Italy
Berlin, Germany
The Eiffel Tower was constructed as the entrance arch to the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris. It has become one of the world's most recognizable landmarks. It stands on the Champ de Mars and is named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel.
Who designed the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao?
Frank Lloyd Wright
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Le Corbusier
Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry's design for the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao opened in 1997 and is renowned for its flowing titanium curves. It revitalized Bilbao's economy and is considered a masterpiece of contemporary architecture. Gehry's sculptural approach broke with conventional museum design.
The Colosseum is an ancient amphitheater located in which city?
Athens, Greece
Rome, Italy
Alexandria, Egypt
Istanbul, Turkey
The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, was completed in 80 CE in Rome. It could hold up to 80,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Its distinctive elliptical shape and vaulted entrances remain iconic.
Who was the architect of the Sydney Opera House?
Frank Lloyd Wright
Jørn Utzon
M.C. Escher
Wright & Lloyd Wright
Danish architect Jørn Utzon won the international competition to design the Sydney Opera House in 1957. His radical shell-like forms were inspired by sails from ships in Sydney Harbor. Despite construction controversies, the building was completed in 1973.
In which city is the Sagrada Família located?
Barcelona, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Valencia, Spain
Seville, Spain
Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece, the Sagrada Família, is situated in Barcelona. Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day, funded by patron donations. The basilica blends Gothic and Art Nouveau forms.
Who designed Fallingwater, the house built over a waterfall?
Frank Lloyd Wright
Le Corbusier
Walter Gropius
Antoni Gaudí
Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater in 1935 for the Kaufmann family in Pennsylvania. It is celebrated for its organic integration with the waterfall and natural surroundings. Horizontal cantilevers and local stone highlight Wright's 'organic architecture' philosophy.
The Taj Mahal was built as a mausoleum for which figure?
Sita
Cleopatra
Nefertiti
Mumtaz Mahal
The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1632. The white marble mausoleum is renowned for its symmetrical gardens and calligraphy. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an icon of Mughal architecture.
What architectural style characterizes Notre-Dame de Paris?
Renaissance
Gothic
Romanesque
Baroque
Notre-Dame de Paris, completed in the 14th century, is a prime example of French Gothic architecture. It features flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, and large rose windows. Its vertical emphasis and light-filled nave typify the style.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is located in which country?
Peru
Mexico
Egypt
Sudan
The Great Pyramid at Giza was built around 2560 BCE as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu. It remains the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Located near Cairo, Egypt, it originally stood at 146.6 meters.
Who designed the Chrysler Building in New York City?
William F. Lamb
William Van Alen
Shreve & Lamb
Raymond Hood
Architect William Van Alen designed the Chrysler Building, completed in 1930. It was briefly the world's tallest building and is celebrated for its Art Deco crown. The stainless steel cladding and ornamentation reflect the automobile theme.
Big Ben is the nickname for the bell in which tower?
Elizabeth Tower (Palace of Westminster)
Tower Bridge
Westminster Abbey
St. Paul's Cathedral
The name 'Big Ben' refers specifically to the Great Bell housed in Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster. The tower was completed in 1859 and is a symbol of London. The clock and bell are world-famous.
Which city is home to the Burj Khalifa?
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Dubai, UAE
Doha, Qatar
Abu Dhabi, UAE
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai opened in 2010 and stands at 828 meters, making it the tallest building in the world. Its Y-shaped floor plan maximizes views and natural light. It was designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Which architect designed the Centre Pompidou in Paris?
Jean Nouvel
Renzo Piano & Richard Rogers
Norman Foster
Zaha Hadid
The Centre Pompidou, opened in 1977, was designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. Its 'inside-out' design exposes structural elements and services on the exterior. It revolutionized museum architecture with its flexible, open-plan interiors.
Which Italian city is famous for its Leaning Tower?
Pisa
Florence
Rome
Venice
The Leaning Tower of Pisa began tilting during construction in the 12th century due to unstable soil. Located in Pisa's Piazza dei Miracoli, it serves as the cathedral's freestanding bell tower. Its unintended tilt has made it an architectural icon.
On which hill is the Acropolis located?
Palatine Hill, Rome
Zion Hill, Jerusalem
Acropolis Hill, Athens
Campus Martius, Rome
The Acropolis of Athens sits atop a rocky outcrop called Acropolis Hill. It houses ancient monuments like the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Propylaea. It has been a sacred site since Neolithic times.
Which modernist house was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe?
Villa Savoye
Fallingwater
Farnsworth House
Robie House
Farnsworth House, completed in 1951 in Illinois, exemplifies Mies van der Rohe's minimalist modernism. Its floor-to-ceiling glass walls and steel frame blur the boundary between inside and nature. It embodies the credo 'less is more.'
The Pantheon in Rome was originally completed in which century CE?
4th century CE
1st century BCE
3rd century CE
2nd century CE
Emperor Hadrian rebuilt the Pantheon around 118 - 125 CE. Its unreinforced concrete dome remains the world's largest of its kind. The oculus at the dome's apex provides light and structural relief.
Who designed the Guggenheim Museum in New York?
Richard Meier
Frank Lloyd Wright
I. M. Pei
Frank Gehry
Frank Lloyd Wright's design for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (opened 1959) features a spiral ramp gallery under a domed skylight. It broke museum conventions with its continuous interior circulation. The building remains a landmark of modern American architecture.
Who designed the Villa Savoye near Paris?
Le Corbusier
Alvar Aalto
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Walter Gropius
Completed in 1931, Villa Savoye embodies Le Corbusier's Five Points of Architecture: pilotis, free plan, free façade, horizontal windows, and roof garden. Its white, ribboned façade exemplifies International Style. It remains a modernist icon.
Which skyscraper is a classic example of the International Style in New York?
Chrysler Building
Sagrada Família
Seagram Building
Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Seagram Building, completed in 1958 and designed by Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, is a hallmark of International Style. Its bronze-tinted glass façade and minimalist plazas influenced skyscraper design worldwide.
Which museum's glass pyramid entrance was designed by I. M. Pei?
British Museum, London
Louvre Museum, Paris
Metropolitan Museum, New York
Uffizi Gallery, Florence
The Louvre Pyramid, completed in 1989, serves as the main entrance to Paris's Louvre Museum. I. M. Pei's design of glass and metal contrasts with the historic palace. The structure provides natural light to the underground lobby.
The Parthenon is located on which Athenian landmark?
The Agora
The Acropolis
Mount Lycabettus
The Forum
The Parthenon, dedicated to Athena, crowns the Acropolis of Athens. Built between 447 and 432 BCE, it represents Doric temple architecture. Its sculptures and proportions influenced Western art for millennia.
Which U.S. skyscraper became the world's tallest in 1973?
Bank of America Tower
Chrysler Building
Sears Tower (Willis Tower)
Empire State Building
The Sears Tower, completed in 1973 in Chicago, reached 442 meters and held the title of world's tallest building until 1998. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, its bundled-tube system revolutionized skyscraper engineering.
Who designed the Barcelona Pavilion for the 1929 International Exposition?
Le Corbusier
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Frank Lloyd Wright
Richard Neutra
Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Pavilion features minimal walls of glass and marble with an open plan. Its simplicity and floating roof are milestones in modern architecture. The original was dismantled in 1930 and reconstructed in the 1980s.
In what year was the Sydney Harbour Bridge completed?
1920
1950
1932
1940
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, designed by John Bradfield, opened in 1932. Its steel arch spans 503 meters, earning it the nickname 'Coathanger.' It took eight years to build, employing thousands of workers.
What does the term "cantilever" refer to in architecture?
A triangular decorative element
A type of vaulted ceiling
A style of stained glass window
A beam or slab projecting beyond its support with no visible bracing
A cantilever is a rigid structural element extending horizontally and supported at only one end. Famous examples include Fallingwater and Frank Lloyd Wright's designs. Cantilevers create overhangs without external bracing.
Who designed the Lotus Temple in Delhi?
Zaha Hadid
Fariborz Sahba
Richard Rogers
Frank Gehry
Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba completed the Lotus Temple in 1986. Its 27 free-standing marble-clad 'petals' form the Lotus shape. The structure welcomes people of all faiths and is one of the most visited buildings in the world.
What style is Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow?
Russian Orthodox (tent-roof and onion dome)
Byzantine
Gothic
Baroque
Saint Basil's Cathedral, completed in 1561, blends Russian tent-roof and onion-domed churches. Its colorful, patterned domes and asymmetrical chapels showcase unique Muscovite architecture. It stands on Red Square as a symbol of Russia.
Which movement features ornate decoration and grandeur, as seen at Versailles?
Baroque
Renaissance
Neoclassical
Modernist
The Palace of Versailles, begun in 1661, epitomizes Baroque architecture with its opulent decoration, symmetry, and grand scale. Baroque emphasizes movement, contrast, and dramatic use of light. Versailles influenced European palace design for centuries.
The Chrysler Building's crown is an example of which style?
Art Deco
Beaux-Arts
Postmodern
Neoclassical
Completed in 1930, the Chrysler Building's spire features stainless steel cladding and sunburst motifs typical of Art Deco. Its geometric patterns and automotive-inspired details reflect the style's optimism.
The principle 'form follows function' is attributed to which architect?
Le Corbusier
Walter Gropius
Louis Sullivan
Frank Lloyd Wright
Louis Sullivan, known as the 'father of skyscrapers,' coined 'form follows function' in the late 19th century. This principle asserts that the shape of a building should primarily relate to its intended function. His Wainwright Building in St. Louis exemplifies this concept.
Who designed the National Congress Building in Brasília?
Oscar Niemeyer
Richard Neutra
Lúcio Costa
Roberto Burle Marx
Oscar Niemeyer designed Brasília's National Congress, completed in 1960, featuring twin towers flanked by a dome and a saucer-shaped hall. His bold curves and concrete forms symbolize modern Brazilian identity. Niemeyer's work shaped the city's futuristic character.
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao's exterior is clad in which material?
Stainless steel
Glass curtain wall
Aluminum panels
Titanium
Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Bilbao uses thousands of titanium panels to create its shimmering, undulating exterior. Titanium's lightweight and corrosion-resistant properties suit the museum's complex curves. The cladding contributes to the building's iconic status.
The term 'flying buttress' is most closely associated with which architectural style?
Gothic
Baroque
Romanesque
Renaissance
Flying buttresses, which transfer roof thrust to exterior supports, are hallmark elements of Gothic cathedrals like Notre-Dame. They enabled higher walls and larger windows during the 12th - 16th centuries. Their skeletal appearance defines Gothic exteriors.
Who was the chief collaborator with Le Corbusier on Chandigarh's design?
Alvar Aalto
Pierre Jeanneret
Walter Gropius
Mies van der Rohe
Swiss architect Pierre Jeanneret worked closely with Le Corbusier on Chandigarh's master plan and public buildings from 1951. Jeanneret supervised many of the sector projects, ensuring consistency with Corbusier's vision. Their partnership defined the city's modernist aesthetic.
The Pantheon's dome remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome. What is its diameter?
43.3 meters
50 meters
60 meters
30 meters
The Pantheon's coffered dome spans 43.3 meters (142 feet) without steel reinforcement. This Roman engineering marvel has stood since 125 CE, demonstrating the sophistication of ancient concrete technology. The oculus at its apex relieves weight and admits light.
Which arch type is characteristic of the Great Mosque of Córdoba?
Horseshoe arch
Triumphal arch
Segmental arch
Pointed arch
The Great Mosque of Córdoba (8th - 10th centuries) features distinctive red-and-white striped horseshoe arches, a hallmark of Moorish architecture. These arches rest on double-tiered arcades, creating a forest of columns. The design influenced later Islamic and Western architecture.
The term 'Brutalism' comes from the French 'béton brut,' meaning what?
Rough stone
Raw concrete
Exposed steel
Brutal concrete
Brutalism, prominent in the 1950s - 1970s, derives its name from 'béton brut' (raw concrete). Architects like Le Corbusier popularized the use of exposed concrete surfaces and modular forms. The style emphasizes structural honesty and monumental scale.
Who designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles?
Frank Gehry
I. M. Pei
Renzo Piano
Zaha Hadid
Opened in 2003, the Walt Disney Concert Hall was designed by Frank Gehry. Its stainless steel curves create dynamic forms and excellent acoustics inside. Gehry's design represents a landmark of 21st-century architecture.
The Petronas Towers were designed by which architect?
Norman Foster
I. M. Pei
César Pelli
Ove Arup
Argentinian-American architect César Pelli completed the Petronas Towers in 1998. At 452 meters, they were briefly the world's tallest twin towers. Their design incorporates Islamic geometric motifs in a modern skyscraper form.
What is the primary material used for the shells of the Sydney Opera House?
Timber covered with copper
Glass-and-steel frame
Granite blocks
Precast concrete clad with ceramic tiles
Jørn Utzon's shell vaults are made of precast concrete segments covered in over a million glazed ceramic tiles. This system provided both structural strength and visual brightness. The shells were assembled on-site in a series of precast panels.
In masonry, what does 'rustication' refer to?
Decorative brick pattern
Ornamental keystones
Roughened block faces with recessed joints
Polished marble finish
Rustication involves leaving the faces of stone blocks rough or projecting, with deep grooves along the joints. It was widely used in Renaissance and Baroque palaces to convey strength. The Palazzo Medici in Florence is an early example.
The 'Sky Garden' is a feature of which London skyscraper?
Heron Tower
20 Fenchurch Street (Walkie-Talkie)
The Shard
The Gherkin
The Sky Garden, a three-story public garden with observation decks and restaurants, crowns 20 Fenchurch Street, known as the 'Walkie-Talkie.' Opened in 2015, it offers panoramic views of London's skyline.
Who designed The Shard in London?
Zaha Hadid
Norman Foster
Renzo Piano
Richard Rogers
Italian architect Renzo Piano designed The Shard, completed in 2012. At 310 meters, it is Western Europe's tallest building. Its glass façade and tapering form evoke a shard of glass.
Which building by Alvar Aalto features undulating wooden interior walls?
Finlandia Hall
Centre Pompidou
Guggenheim Museum
Sydney Opera House
Finlandia Hall in Helsinki (1971), designed by Alvar Aalto, features a concert chamber with wave-like birch wood paneling. The fluid interior contrasts with its white exterior marble. Aalto's humanist modernism shines through the organic forms.
Which skyscraper was the first to exceed 100 floors?
Burj Khalifa
Chrysler Building
World Trade Center
Empire State Building
Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building has 102 floors and was the first skyscraper to exceed 100 stories. It held the title of the world's tallest building until 1970. Its Art Deco style remains iconic.
The Persian garden layout concept 'chahar b?gh' refers to what?
Sunken courtyard with central fountain
Four-part quadrilateral garden divided by walkways or water channels
Terraced hillside orchard
Dome-covered pavilion
Chahar b?gh ('four gardens') is a Persian garden layout divided into four sections by water channels or pathways. It symbolizes the four rivers of paradise in Islamic tradition. This quadripartite design influenced Mughal gardens like the Taj Mahal's.
The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo is famous for surviving which event intact?
1945 firebombing
1995 Kobe earthquake
1923 Great Kant? earthquake
1896 Sanriku tsunami
Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel, opened in 1923, employed a floating foundation and cantilevered floors. It withstood the Great Kant? earthquake hours after opening, demonstrating innovative seismic design. The building was demolished in 1968.
The shells of the Sydney Opera House are derived from sections of what geometric form?
A cylinder
A paraboloid
A sphere
A torus
In 1963 Utzon refined the shells by deriving them from the surface of a single sphere of radius 75 meters. This uniform geometry simplified construction and allowed modular precasting. The technique unified the design.
Who articulated the theory of 'critical regionalism'?
Bernard Tschumi
Rem Koolhaas
Robert Venturi
Kenneth Frampton
Architectural historian Kenneth Frampton introduced 'critical regionalism' in the early 1980s to advocate designs rooted in local culture and climate while engaging modernism. He argued against placeless global architecture. The concept influenced postmodern and contemporary practices.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Iconic Structures -

    Engage with this quiz architecture challenge to recognize renowned buildings by their defining features and visual cues.

  2. Match Architects to Their Works -

    Apply your knowledge from the famous architects quiz to correctly associate visionary designers like Minoru Yamasaki and Frank Gehry with their landmark creations.

  3. Analyze Architectural Styles -

    Examine key elements of modern, postmodern, and classical design as you navigate the buildings and architects trivia.

  4. Recall Landmark Histories -

    Utilize the architectural landmarks quiz to remember significant dates, locations, and cultural contexts of iconic structures worldwide.

  5. Sharpen Vocabulary and Concepts -

    Enhance your architectural terminology and conceptual understanding through an interactive architecture quiz online format.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Recognizing Modernist Icons -

    The modernist era championed minimalist forms that emphasize function over ornamentation, as seen in Minoru Yamasaki's original World Trade Center towers. Remember Louis Sullivan's mantra "form follows function" to quickly spot modernist landmarks in any quiz architecture challenge. This understanding anchors you when matching architects to their signature creations.

  2. Deconstructivism and Frank Gehry -

    Frank Gehry's deconstructivist style bends and twists conventional geometry, exemplified by the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Use the mnemonic "Gehry's Galaxy of Metal" to recall his swirling titanium curves when taking an architecture quiz online. Spotting these dynamic forms instantly links you to Gehry in a famous architects quiz.

  3. Gothic vs. Neoclassical Mnemonic -

    Differentiate Gothic revival from Neoclassical landmarks by their silhouettes: pointed arches and flying buttresses versus grand domes and columns. A fun memory trick is "Gothic is pointy, Neo is domey," which helps you swiftly identify structures like the Palace of Westminster or the U.S. Capitol in buildings and architects trivia. This simple phrase boosts recall under pressure.

  4. Structural Formulas for Cantilevers -

    Understanding the bending moment formula M = wL²/2 for a uniformly loaded cantilever gives you insight into overhanging marvels like Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. Rehearse this equation mentally to link structural innovation with iconic designs during your architectural landmarks quiz. Mastery of basic formulas strengthens both your technical knowledge and quiz performance.

  5. Memory Palace for Quiz Success -

    Arrange famous buildings by region in a mental "memory palace" room - place Gaudí's Sagrada Familia in the Barcelona corner and Piano & Rogers' Centre Pompidou in the Paris wing. When tackling a quiz architecture or architecture quiz online, mentally touring this palace helps you retrieve architects' names and styles instantly. This spatial technique is gold for acing any buildings and architects trivia.

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