Over one million tiles span 1.62 hectares atop Sydney Opera House. Located on Bennelong Point, each of its sail-like panels weighs 15 tonnes and the whole structure is held together by tensioned steel cables. Jørn Utzon’s winning design officially opened in 1973 and today it’s an unmissable sight, both on the outside and in.
Samarkand’s Gur-i Amir Mausoleum features a bright-blue dome at 41 feet (12.5m) tall and 49 feet (15m) wide and is decorated with rosettes and white spots. Mounted on a tall cylindrical drum, this bulbous rooftop needed a hidden inner dome and extensive cross bracing for support. The mausoluem’s design has the wow-factor for good reason – it’s the final resting place of Tamerlane (1336-1405), the founder of the Timurid empire that spanned much of Central Asia.
The grandiose Hospices de Beaune started life as a complex of hospitals and healthcare foundations for the sick and poor in the 15th century. The distinctive roofs feature flat, glazed tiles forming diamond, grid-like patterns. Polychrome roofs like these were status symbols in the Middle Ages and also covered 13th-century cathedrals and 14th-century high-end residences. The hospices were later gifted a wine estate which still produces prestigious Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to this day.
Bangkok’s Grand Palace is a complex of beautiful buildings constructed in various traditional Thai styles. Among the highlights (and there are a lot of them), there’s a Ceylonese-style golden stupa, Thai-Khmer-style Royal Pantheon and the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha from the Ayudhaya period. Perhaps most impressive is either the Phra Maha Montian Group, a series of seven connecting buildings or the Phra Asadha Maha Chedi, formed of eight prangs (towers), with their colours representing different Buddhist concepts.
Position yourself along one of Dubrovnik’s fort bastions or walls and look out over this eye-catching sea of Baroque-era terracotta tiles. After much of the city was damaged during the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990s, the French city of Toulouse supplied some 200,000 tiles to help restore this historic Old Town to its former glory. With views of these iconic red riles backed by the glistening Adriatic Sea, the effort certainly paid off.
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You might not know this, but St Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the most significant Gothic structures in Austria. Construction started in the 12th century and its unmissable roof is noticeably tall and steep, reaching 125 feet (38m) above the ground and 361 feet (111m) in length. But size isn’t everything: 230,000 glazed tiles form a mosaic-like pattern of the Royal and Imperial double-headed eagle and the coat of arms of Vienna. Climb the south tower or take the lift to the north tower for a closer look.
Undeniably one of the most famed rooftops in the US is the United States Capitol dome. Designed by Thomas U. Walter, construction took place 1856-1866 and the dome now stands at 287 feet (87m). Made of cast-iron steel, it features scores of columns, pilasters, brackets and windows and was painted to appear as the same material as the rest of the building. At the top stands the bronze Statue of Freedom which, at 19.6 feet (6m) tall, weighs 15,000 pounds (6,800kg).
Prague’s National Theatre has a somewhat unusual but beautiful roof, a curved rectangular shape that juts over the top of the building. The night-sky-blue tiles are decorated with stars to symbolise ambition and just over five pounds (2.5kg) of 24-carat gold was used in the plating. Built in the 19th century, it’s best viewed at sunset when the shimmering gold roof can be admired from afar.
Is it any wonder that one of the quirkiest rooftops in the world was designed by Antoni Gaudí? This Modernist building drew controversy when it opened in 1912, having pushed both boundaries and rules. Casa Milà (aka La Pedrera) consists of two apartment blocks structured around two courtyards. Its curved roof features a sculpture terrace which, among other distinctive elements, includes twisting, freestanding chimneys. Today Gaudí’s architecture gives enough reason to visit Barcelona alone.
Combining Islamic, Persian and Hindu elements, the Taj Mahal’s five-domed roof is a masterpiece in its own right. The largest dome is a high drum at 80 feet (24.4m) high and almost 59 feet (17.7m) wide and was constructed from marble-clad bricks inlaid with intricate lotus designs. At its top is a bronze gilded finial with a crescent moon pointing towards the sky. The surrounding four domes are smaller versions both in design and material, complete with bronze spires for architectural consistency.
The glass-and-steel structure that sits atop the Reichstag was designed by architectural giant Norman Foster and opened in 1999. Its position above the austere 19th-century building makes for a striking sight when viewed from afar. Around the dome’s outer edges is an ascending ramp leading to a panoramic observation deck, while skylights at the base allow you to peer down into the parliamentary debating chamber directly below.
With its eight interlinking bubble-like domes, Cornwall’s Eden Project looks striking amid the greenery. These transparent biomes have to be one of the most recognisable roofs in the UK although its entire structure is just as unique. Its geodesic design lends itself to its position on the uneven and shifting sands of the clay pit the site is located on. Created by Grimshaw Architects in 2005, the rooftop includes solar panels and was built with sustainably sourced materials.
The largest mosque in Pakistan was initially a controversial one. Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay used an eight-sided concrete shell flanked by thin, Turkish-inspired minarets, instead of a traditional Islamic design with bulbous domes. However, upon its completion in 1986, its beauty was finally revered. The shape was inspired by a desert Bedouin’s tent, a type used by ancient nomadic Mesopotamia, Nabatea and Sinai tribes.
This Taj Mahal-looking structure was built for King George IV during the early 19th century by esteemed architect John Nash (of Regent Street fame). It’s not the classical-inspired Regency-era architecture we see but an influential mix of Indian, Oriental and Mughal themes that the king adored. The roofline features ten tall minarets at 48 feet (14.6m) high, 18 shorter minarets and 22 spires, with the main onion dome at 36 feet (11m) in diameter. While it’s undergone restoration work over the years, its appearance is still as striking as ever.
Roofs were a big deal in medieval Japan and symbolised social and hierarchical status. Himeji Castle was built in the 16th and 17th centuries as a daimyo’s (feudal lord) residence, army garrison, armoury and administrative and political centre. Its importance can be clearly seen in its multi-layered roofs which largely include hipped-gabled styles. The curved eaves represent a heron spreading its wings and this, along with its elegant white colour, understandably gave it the nickname ‘White Heron Castle’.
The Hagia Sophia you see today is third-time-lucky after the previous two burned down. The current dome dates to AD 557 and rests on a circle of window-buttresses, topped with a gold spire. At 101 feet (31m) in diameter, the faded blue-green top matches the smaller domes surrounding it. In 2020 the church-turned-museum officially became a mosque and remains an iconic symbol of Istanbul.
Although it only opened in 1989, Thean Hou Temple resembles a traditional Chinese temple with its vivid red and gold colours. It’s not technically a tower or pagoda but this temple uses similar east-Asian styles with wide, multi-tiered roofs and broad eaves that originated around 3 BC. One of the largest (and oldest) in Southeast Asia, the temple follows Taoist, Confucian and Buddhist temple traditions and is adorned with swallowtails, dragons and phoenix roof sculptures.
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This ribbon-like rooftop is a Frank Gehry creation who also designed Bilbao’s Guggenheim and Paris’s Cinémathèque Française (also other worthy beautiful roof contenders). The contemporary chateau was built in 2006 and is Gehry’s only completed hotel. The 5-star Marriott features curved titanium sheets representing movement. They appear suspended in the air but are actually supported by thin columns and their tinted colours represent different shades of wine and paraphernalia the area is acclaimed for.
Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands is an all-rounder. It’s home to a luxury hotel, restaurants and shops but its amazing roof – which resembles a cruise ship – is at the heart of the action. Here you’ll find the world’s largest rooftop pool, an observation deck and much more. This sleek, modern roof was designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 2010. It’s also home to a lush green oasis park, all in all making it a beautiful roof both to look at and enjoy.
Built in the high Victorian Gothic Revival style in 1876, Ottawa’s Library of Parliament is known for its distinct round shape. And its roof has had a lotta makeovers – it originated with a purple and green slate roof with an intricate polychrome pattern, before a tornado wreaked havoc and was reclad in copper in the 19th century. The roof was then completely replaced in 2006 with Heather & Little Limited installing steel decking, copper, lead-coated copper and monel sheet metal roofing and new ornamental copper finials, which should see it through the next hundred years or so.
Inspired by Indian architecture, Casa Folha (which translates as 'Leaf House') is a private residence in Angra dos Reis, just an hour’s drive from Rio de Janeiro. The roof is essentially one big leaf that shelters the house from the hot sun. Designed by Mareines + Patalano Arquitetura in 2008, the roof is made of laminated reforestation wood (eucalyptus) and covered in small forestation wood tiles (pinus taeda) to create a beach house that combines man with nature.
Steeped in history and symbolism, Tongkonan is a traditional house of the Toraja people who reside in Tana Torajia, a region in South Sulawesi. The houses are structured with bamboo and are curved like a boat, giving them this distinctive – and slightly imposing – appearance. Tongkonan roofs are also decorated with ornamental panels and traditional motifs. You can appreciate them for yourself on a guided tour.
The imposing House of Five Senses roof looks like a jester’s hat, which is perhaps fitting as the main entrance to the fairy-tale-themed Netherlands Efteling Theme Park. However, the design is believed to have been inspired by the houses of the Minangkabu people of Indonesia – which, interestingly, has a few comparisons with the Tongkonan roofs also on this list. This dramatic roof opened in 1996 and its five peaks symbolise the five senses you’re bound to endure on the chaos of rides, rollercoasters and more beyond.
Originally built in the Gothic style in the 14th century, the Matthias Church only received its colourful roof in the 19th century. The Zsolnay factory produced high-quality art ceramics which could withstand weather extremes, making them a perfect choice for rooftops across Hungary. Diamond patterns in orange, green, red and white adorned the rooftop before it was completely redecorated with 150,000 new tiles in the early 2000s. Amazingly, you can buy the old tiles in the church’s gift shop.
The Great Golden Mountain Stupa, or the Shwedagon Pagoda, is one of the most beautiful – and significant – religious monuments in the world (needless to say it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Situated on Singuttara Hill, this bell-shaped stupa shimmers in gilded gold with concentric rings rising from the base. It’s topped with an ‘umbrella’ spire which is encrusted with precious stones like diamonds, sapphires and rubies. Scientists believe it was built between AD 6 and 10 and today it stands at a height of 367 feet (112m).
No, you haven’t stumbled into a fairy tale, this is The Thatch House, one of the affectionately named Mushroom Houses of Charlvoix. Built in 1918 as a private residence, today it’s available to rent for a holiday getaway in northern Michigan, close to the Canadian border. The thatched roof was hand-reaped in Europe before being shipped to the US and was constructed using specialised timber work. Its flowing roof almost reaches ground level, giving it its funghi-like appearance.
Nestled within the canyon of the Guáitara River, Santuario de Las Lajas was designed by architect Lucindo Espinoza and constructed using ashlar masonry stone in 1949. This Roman Catholic Church follows the Gothic Revival and Neo-Gothic styles, highlighted with its cross-shaped rooftop common in European Medieval models. The rows of pinnacles and studs of flying buttresses complement the soft grey and white tones of this spectacular church. It’s a popular pilgrimage and tourist site alike today – you can even reach it by cable car.
Widely known as the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun is both similar and unique from other Thai temples. It follows traditional northern Thai temples with its tiered roofing and Buddhist elements but, unlike most others, there is no gold trimming. Or any colour at all for that matter – the entire temple is a brilliant white, symbolising the purity of Buddha. The three-tiered roof features intricately carved Naga serpents which gives the temple a sharp silhouette against the sky. Artist Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat started building the complex in 1997 but work is expected to continue for decades.
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The hilltop village of Oia is famed for its white-washed buildings that cascade towards the sea. Two of it main churches are topped with a blue dome, which were painted in the colours of the Greek flag during the 1960s and 1970s. Oia is one of the most popular (and romantic) places to visit in Santorini, so the best time to photograph these cute cupolas is between November and March before the crowds descend.