5 Structures You Didn’t Know Were Designed By Famous Architects

Individuals like Antoni Gaudí, Zaha Hadid, and Frank Lloyd Wright are internationally renowned for their revolutionary architecture. But even the most famous architects may fly under the radar on occasion, and at times, these visionaries have taken on smaller projects with less fanfare. From an unusual coffee shop in Japan to an Austrian ski jump and a seemingly nondescript condo building in New York City, here are five structures you may not have known were designed by architectural pioneers.

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church – Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Visionary architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s career was winding down in the mid-1950s when he assumed one of his last major undertakings: the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Wright wasn’t exactly known for designing Greek-inspired structures, but he consulted his wife, Olgivanna, who was of Eastern Orthodox heritage, for the project. 

This Orthodox church, however, exemplified Wright’s unorthodox design style. The architect took traditional Byzantine concepts and updated them to fit a modern Midwest aesthetic. One of the most impressive features is the 106-foot-wide dome — instead of being affixed to the rest of the structure, it floats atop thousands of ball bearings. 

Unfortunately, construction on the church didn’t begin until five weeks after Wright’s death in 1959, so he never saw this project come to life. When it finally opened in 1961, the church captured the hearts and minds of many, and it remains one of Wright’s most fascinating works.

Starbucks Coffee at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Omotesando – Fukuoka, Japan

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is known, in part, for designing the Japan National Stadium for the 2020 Summer Olympics. But you may be surprised to learn that he’s also the visionary behind several unique Starbucks locations throughout Asia. One of his most intricate creations is a Starbucks located in Fukuoka, Japan, near the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shinto shrine. 

Kuma and his associates created an X-shaped support system using roughly 2,000 long cedar dowels, resulting in a visual spectacle that’s both practical and awe-inspiring. Kuma’s ingenuity is also on display at a Tokyo-based Starbucks roastery, a multiterraced facility adorned with hundreds of faux cherry blossoms made from copper. You’ll also find Kuma’s influence at a Starbucks that is contained inside 29 stacked shipping containers in Hualien, Taiwan.

The Centurion – New York, New York

We can thank I.M. Pei for some of the world’s most gorgeous pyramidal structures, such as the Louvre Pyramid in Paris and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. But in a stark departure from his most innovative designs, Pei is also responsible for designing a luxury condominium building on West 56th Street in New York City. 

The Centurion is the first ground-up residential condo complex designed by Pei, who enlisted the help of his son, Sandi, while working on the project. Its design features various angled setbacks, symmetrical windows, and limestone that Pei imported directly from a favorite French quarry. 

If you’re a busy New Yorker hustling down the sidewalk, it’s easy to overlook the fact that this seemingly quotidian apartment complex was designed by one of history’s greatest architects. The building opened in 2009, adding to a laundry list of New York City-based projects designed by Pei, including the Four Seasons Hotel and the Jacob Javitz Center.

Bergisel Ski Jump – Innsbruck, Austria

The Bergisel Ski Jump, the crown jewel of Innsbruck, Austria, played a pivotal role in both the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, but its modern redesign is what makes it truly special. While the ski jump had existed in one form or another since 1926, the Austrian Ski Federation hoped to make the once-rudimentary structure into a standout attraction. 

The federation enlisted the help of a then up-and-coming architect by the name of Zaha Hadid to bring their vision to fruition. Hadid took on the project in 1999, and she redefined the idea of a traditional ski jump, adding a tower that contained a cafe and viewpoint. Not only did this offer a bird’s-eye view of the athletes, but it also provided a place to gaze out upon the surrounding Alps. 

The Bergisel Ski Jump was also highly acclaimed for its minimalist, sleek design — a far cry from the many rudimentary ski jumps that preceded it. Hadid’s work was completed in 2002, and the tower now plays an important role in local tourism. The project also helped Hadid gain much-deserved global recognition.

Hill College House – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Hill College House is a first-year dormitory located at the University of Pennsylvania. But even though it may come across as your standard college dorm at first glance, the building is far from ordinary, as it was designed by Eero Saarinen — a Finnish-American architect who created the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, among many other iconic structures. 

According to legend, Saarinen met with school officials in the late 1950s to discuss the idea for a new women’s dormitory. School officials stressed that the new building had to be safe and secure above all else, and those words are said to have heavily influenced Saarinen’s final design. 

He created a fortress-like structure, going so far as to incorporate a drawbridge, a moat, and a spiked fence into the plan. Construction lasted from 1957 to 1960, overlapping with Saarinen’s work on the famous TWA Terminal at JFK Airport in New York City. The building was updated in 2017 to include more modern amenities such as air conditioning, though Saarinen’s original design concepts are still present today.