I found this article from this link,
http://www.onlineclasses.org/2011/02/16/10-most-architecturally-impressive-college-campuses/
from the main website of Online Classes which I think is interesting and worth to be shared with my readers here too. I am introduced to this article by email from the author of this brilliant article and she recommended me to share it on my blog, both following in the same direction; architecture.
So I read the article. It is a long article, but it worth a read and even to research further as those paragraphs do not explain fully on each university’s stunning architecture. However, the picks of the top 10 here is not internationally-made. All the universities listed are on the West, without exploring further to the East. Hence, I find it not to be the best one, but still interesting. Enjoy!
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Whether you’re an architecture student or just want to attend college in a beautiful setting, choosing a school with a great architectural look and feeling can be a nice bonus when it comes time to get your education. While some schools focus more on function than aesthetics, these ten schools have struck a balance between creating buildings that are useful for students while still being attractive – even stunning – to look at. Check out these college campuses to see buildings and layouts that are historically significant, beautiful and products of some of the greatest architectural minds in history, perfect for students and sightseers alike.
1. Princeton University, Princeton, NJ:Founded before the American Revolution, Princeton is one of America’s original Colonial Colleges, and the architecture on campus reflects that rich history. Part of the appeal of Princeton’s campus architecture is that it looks like a movie set. Matching gothic, ivy-covered buildings surround broad stretches of green lawns and tree-lined pathways, creating the perfect stereotypically collegiate setting. The campuses’ oldest building, Nassau Hall was the biggest college building in North America when it was constructed in 1756 and still boasts charming colonial architecture despite being nearly destroyed in a series of fires during the 1800’s. One of the campus’ most impressive buildings, however, is its chapel — one of the largest campus chapels in the nation. Continuing the gothic architecture found on the rest of campus, the chapel features stunning archways and priceless stained glass, making it an appealing destination for students of any, or no, religious affiliation.
2. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA: This public university also has a great history behind it, and the layout of the campus and the design of many of its buildings were done by one of our nation’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. Perhaps the most famous products of Jefferson’s handiwork at the campus are the famed Lawn, a broad open space where students still gather today, and the Rotunda, a building which originally served as the school’s library and today is a World Heritage Site. Even architecture buffs who are not impressed with Jefferson’s affinity for the Neoclassical (the Rotunda bears a striking resemblance to the Pantheon in Rome) will find the layout and design of the school fascinating. Jefferson built it around the idea of an “Academical Village,” paying close attention to the layout and function of the buildings just as much as the aesthetics of them and placing both classrooms and student housing around a central lawn.
3. The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK:Few architects and enthusiasts in the world will deny the influence of this iconic campus on the development of others around the world. It inspired many other colleges to imitate its grand gothic style, leading the way as the oldest university in the English-speaking world. On campus, students will find an amazing assortment of architectural marvels, from chapels and shrines to centuries-old academic cloisters, all interspersed with broad quadrangles and lawns. One of the most striking and famous buildings on Oxford’s campus is the Radcliffe Camera. Built in the mid-1700’s, the building was created to house a library, and with a Palladian style inspired by those in Venice and ancient Greece, the building is still striking to this day. Of course, it is hardly the only standout on campus, and students and visitors to the school will also be awed by the Christ Church Cathedral, Sheldonian Theatre, Tom Tower and the numerous parks and arboretums on campus.
4. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO: A great departure from the gothic campuses of Oxford and Princeton, this Colorado campus is wholly modern. Situated in the Rockies, the school enjoys an epic setting for the buildings designed by world-renowned architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. The modern style seems to hint at the design of an aircraft or spacecraft– appropriate for the academy’s purpose– as all the buildings are simple, streamlined and clad in aluminum. The most well-known, lauded and impressive building on campus is the Cadet Chapel. While this building was controversial when it was first built, today it is regarded as one of the greatest examples of modern American architecture and has been designated a historic landmark. Composed of an accordion-like collection of triangles that form the spires, the aluminum and glass building is at once shocking and beautiful and worth the time for any student or visitor to see.
5. Kenyon College, Gambier, OH: This private liberal arts college in Ohio often makes lists of most beautiful college campuses– and for a reason. Aside from the lush lawns and gorgeous trees that fill the campus, the architecture and layout of the school isn’t anything to scoff at. Designed around a central “Middle Path,” a tree-lined trail that connects the campus, the school has an intimate, pastoral feel right from the start. Adding to that atmosphere is a collection of Gothic and Greek Revival buildings. Some of the most notable of these buildings are Old Kenyon, residence hall first constructed in 1827 and featuring Gothic spires and arches, and Ascension Hall, a castle of a building in the Victorian Gothic style that is home to departments like Classics, philosophy and religious studies.
6. Yale University, New Haven, CN: While its Ivy League neighbors like Princeton and Harvard may revel in having a uniform collection of gothic buildings, Yale’s more eclectic mix makes it stand out from the pack. The campus has its share of beautiful Gothic and Colonial Revival buildings as well as the traditional quads and courtyards, it’s also home to some much more modern and architecturally impressive buildings as well. There’s the Brutalist Art and Architecture Building, the whale-shaped Ingalls Rink, the modernist Art Gallery and the stunningly minimalist Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library. What the campus gives up in uniformity it more than makes up for with unique, interesting and cutting edge buildings on campus.
7. University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy: As one of the oldest universities in the Western world, and one of the oldest still in operation, this college campus is impressive simply for the longevity of some of the buildings on its campus. The word campus is used loosely here, as the school is integrated throughout the city of Bologna, immersing students in the surrounding environment- a beautiful pre-Roman city that is still vibrant today. Sprawling loggias, beautiful arches and red tile roofs make for an unforgettable architectural experience on campus, with some of the oldest buildings dating back to 1088. Notable university attractions include the Archiginnasio of Bologna, no longer in use today, and the striking botanical gardens, the fourth oldest in Europe.
8. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH: While most of the colleges on this list are striking in their architecture because they have a long history or represent older architectural styles, The University of Cincinnati is on a different wavelength altogether. It features some wonderful examples of some of the biggest names in modern architecture today, including Michael Graves, Peter Eisenman and Frank Gehry. Students can take courses and study in wide open, modern spaces that still give a collegiate feel without relying on traditional models for academic buildings. The eclectic collection of buildings on campus, ranging in style from the neoclassical to the minimalist, gives students a living education in architecture.
9. Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland: This age-old college has often been compared to Oxford University in its layout and architecture, but architects have described it as being much more accessible and intimate than the grand, sprawling campus at Oxford. One of the most notable structures on campus is the Old Library, built in 1592 and founded by Queen Elizabeth. The Long Room as the center of the library gives it the feel of a cathedral, one created perhaps for the worship of literature and knowledge rather than a deity. The Baroque-inspired decor creates an impressive setting for the school’s collection of old books and manuscripts, and it is no wonder it is one of the most acclaimed college buildings in the world. Of course, the rest of the campus is worth a look as well, with Classical and Gothic buildings separated by wide swaths of open, green space.
10. Stanford University, Stanford, CA. This Southern Californian school already has an advantage with being set in such a scenic part of the country, but the architecture that students and visitors will find on campus also makes the school worth a visit. Over the years, Stanford has made an attempt to have a cohesive feel between all the buildings on its campus, meaning new constriction has to blend seamlessly with the California Mission Revival style of its oldest and most historic buildings. This doesn’t mean the buildings on the campus are dull, however. Quite the opposite. Making use of color, materials and scale, architects working on the campus have managed to merge the modern with the traditional, and the campus has a wonderfully unified and attractive feel as a results. Landmarks on the campus include the Stanford Memorial Church, Hoover tower and the Lou Henry and Herbert Hoover House, though the palm-lined main drive is not to be missed either.
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This article above can be debated, because the question of which universities are more stunning and beautiful in terms of architecture is too subjective. Everyone would have different opinions. But there is one exact truth; the architecture of the university I’m studying right now (Limkokwing University at Cyberjaya) sucks!
Remember, campus isn’t in a single building,…it’s a complex of many buildings!
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