Architecture is about more than constructing buildings. It’s about personal expression, whether through the architect and their personal vision or the community that inspired the creation of the structure. Nowhere in the world will you encounter more unique, beautiful, and pleasurable styles of buildings than in the United States. Across America, you’ll find unique buildings that are more than just places to live or work—they’re impressively massive works of art. Here’s a list of the most unique architectural gems across the United States. Get ready to gas up your vehicle and explore these distinctive architectural treasures from coast to coast.
Fallingwater, Pennsylvania
Frank Lloyd Wright changed the look of architecture, both at home and abroad. While it’s difficult to decide on a particular masterpiece from this master architect, Fallingwater certainly ranks high in Wright’s oeuvre. Displaying Wright’s fondness for creating a building that meshes with its space, Fallingwater is so named because it’s nestled above a waterfall. Fallingwater gives the impression that it grew there.
The New Mexico Pueblo-Revival Homes
To understand the architecture of New Mexico, one needs to understand that local builders have long honored the state’s history. Whether emulating the living spaces of the original inhabitants, reflecting Spanish colonial styles, or looking to the future with sustainable “Earthship” designs, New Mexico has some of the most unique architecture in the country. Modern adobe structures of New Mexico embody the culture and environmental practicality native to the desert region.
The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
Want to see Gilded Age opulence in all its ridiculous splendor? Architect Richard Morris Hunt created The Biltmore Estate, one of America’s largest homes, for George Washington Vanderbilt II. This 250-room mansion is truly one of a kind, showcasing the French Renaissance style to an absurd degree. The last Vanderbilt moved out decades ago, though George’s descendants still own it, and the estate is now open for tours.
Auditorium Building, Chicago
Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan formed a partnership in the late 1800s that led to some of the most beautiful buildings ever created. Adler’s engineering aptitude and Sullivan’s creative genius truly flowered when they designed the Auditorium Building in downtown Chicago. This building was a hotel as well as a concert venue and office building. Brimming and glimmering with beauty, the Audiotirum truly demonstrates Sullivan’s adage that form must always follow function.
Those are some of the most unique architectural gems across the United States. The United States boasts a fascinating tapestry of architecture, each reflecting its cities and state’s heritage, environment, and artistic ambition. Hit the road to see the above and other edifices and “hear” the stories they tell!
