A lot of the skyline pictures from the 1930's NY City were taken by air ship (blimp) or air plane...

 

When you first see this one, it isn't that impressive until you see this is built from small bricks and when it was built, it pushed the technical boundaries so far, everyone believed it would fall down but, Brunel was a genius! It is STILL a railway bridge over a century later!!


Maidenhead Railway Bridge is designated at Grade I for the following principal reasons: * Structural interest: a highly innovative structure that made pioneering use of calculus to push the techniques of arch design far beyond their previous limits; the two principal spans are believed still to be the longest and flattest brick arches ever built; * Historic interest: one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s most celebrated bridge designs

 

The age and beauty of this amazed me on my first visit. I have gone back on subsequent trips to take the tour again and again. How did they manage to build this nearly 1000 years ago???

The Canterbury Cathedral.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_Cathedral

 

If you drop your lunch don't grab for it.

 

I know it's on a smaller scale but still an incredible build back in the 30's and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is called Fallingwater and is outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. The documentary showed how difficult it was to both clear the land and to bring in building materials, all the while respecting the land around the build. Truly an interesting watch.

There is even a Lego edition of this home. Definitely worth a Google search.

 

Great thread JPT!

Old engineering and building feats fascinate me also.

On of my favorites is the Erie Canal, arguably the single most important transportation system in American history. The quest for a water route west was shared by many people, including George Washington. The original plan was rejected by the federal government as being too costly, but Gov DeWitt Clinton, who was a US Senator at the time, resurrected the plan and formed a Canal Commission to develop the plan and to build it. Started in 1817 and finished in 1825 at a cost of $7 million, it was done without a civil engineer or experienced canal builders.

The cost of moving one ton of freight dropped from $100 to $10, which facilitated a huge increase in trade between the Great Lakes territories and the Eastern states. Virtually every major city in New York State lies along the path of the canal.



Travel from Albany to Buffalo took two weeks by stagecoach in 1825. The Erie Canal shortened the journey to five days.



The Erie Canal built the Empire State. It secured New York City's position as the nation's busiest port, most populous city, and foremost seat of commerce and finance.

 

What about the Great Pyramid?

 

The Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a marvel of German engineering and even Forrest Gump ran on the Parkway. The Parkway runs thru my county.

 

Really? I live in a neighboring county. I guess I can say Caldwell county? I hope it's not against the rules.

 

Some lovey buildings there they are amazing

 

This is my view of Manchester UK

 

One that is dear to my heart is the Calgary Tower, originally called the Husky Tower named after Husky Oil (one of the biggest oil companies at the time) and was built at a cost of only 3.5 million dollars in 1967. It opened in 1968 and was renamed the Calgary Tower in 1971. It stands 626 (639 with the antenna) ft or 190.8 m and was the 2nd tallest structure in Canada at the time after the CN Tower in Toronto. In my childhood home we had a clear view of the Robin Hood Flour Building that was torn down and that is where it was built. My dad took weekly pictures of it's construction from start to finish and I still love looking through them which brings back so many memories both good and bad.



It has a 360 degree revolving restarant and observatory at the top that make a complete revolution approx one hour. The observatory has a glass floor that gives a clear view straight to the ground below.



The Olympic Torch for the 1988 Winter Olympics held here was designed after the tower and the Calgary Tower also had a torch built on top and burned during the games and is still lit for special occasions Including Canada Day and can be seen for 100's of kms when lit.



I could go on and on but think I may have lost some readers by now lol.

I just want to add one more thing that some of you may find seriously cool. Here is a link to the Tower itself that gives an interactive 360 degree panoramic view with options that allow you to zoom in and out and up and down to home in on such things as the Rocky Mountains that are less than 100 kms from Calgary to the west ... or even check out the sunrise to the east, all user friendly and interactive keeping in mind that the view is from 2011 and Calgary has grown a lot since then and some of the newest buildings aren't blocking the view lol. Do yourself a favor and check it out, you won't be disappointed even if you don't know or give a fuck where Calgary is.

http://www.calgarytower.com/panorama/index.php

 

Will have a look at that chick I have seen that before I would love to go out side on the roof of it lol yes it's amazing building love to go there x

 

If you build it they will cum...

 

You won't be disappointed with the Panoramic view and all it can do. The movie Eddie the Eagle (UK Olympic Ski Jumper in the 88 Olympics) just came out and has plenty of Calgary in it including the tower.

 

Looks good that film going to watch it and I be thinking of you when I see the Tower x

 

Awesome pics! I have some very old photos, newspaper clippings, and other mementos from ancestors who worked in construction in NYC, on skyscrapers, bridges, and the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty.

Your top pic is from the Empire State building, which is featured (after completion) in a cute pic of construction workers at the Pan Am Building (now called the Met Life Building).

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When I worked in Manhattan, we always got a laugh from the many tourists who thought any tall building was the Empire State Building and started snapping pictures!

My fave skyscraper in Manhattan is the Chrysler Building:

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LIFE photographer Margaret Bourke-White, well-known for her images on skyscrapers in the 1920s and 30s, lived in an apartment there. I've read that the building wouldn't rent to a woman (despite her fame and income), so Time, Inc. had to co-sign her lease!

This is a pic of her taking pictures atop one of the eagles on the Chrysler Building:

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Working in Midtown for many years, Grand Central was NOT a fun place during rush hour, but when you subtract about a half-million comuters, it really is a beautiful space.

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I still have and use one of the first house-warming gifts I received at my first apartment in Manhattan- salt and pepper shakers of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings!

Being a Brooklyn Girl, though, my absolute fave bit of NY architecture is no surprise:



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I'm also fascinated with and amazed by the cathedrals and castles of Europe. England, Ireland, and Italy are favorite destinations. But it's 2:30 a.m., so I'll post some pics here the next time.

 

Some stunning buildings in new York Love to go there

 

Those are amazing pics @aesopstails, those early skyscrapers are really quite beautiful art-deco structures. That pic of the girl out on the grotesque is particularily striking - I'm terrified of heights so I am very impressed by her feat there.

This whole thread is a delight, isn't it? Who'da thunk that a sensible thread on architecture would prove so popular on a porn forum?

 

I work at heights and she as balls of steel. And I know did not expect this kind of chat on here but I like it