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16 buildings you need to visit before you die

Wow. Just…wow.

THE FIRST BUILDINGS were built some 12,000 years ago.

We’ve come a long way since then — creating temples to our gods, houses for our operas, and museums for our art that rival nature’s beauty.

Here are 21 buildings you need to see before you kick the bucket.

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, is the world’s tallest building, standing at 2,717 feet.

Travel Trip 1 Day 5 Cities AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

You can see why the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing gets its nickname, ‘The Egg.’

you-can-see-why-the-national-center-for-the-performing-arts-in-beijing-gets-its-nickname-the-egg stuckincustoms stuckincustoms

The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, houses an aquarium, an opera house, and an IMAX theatre all in one.

the-city-of-arts-and-sciences-in-valencia-spain-houses-an-aquarium-an-opera-house-and-an-imax-theatre-all-in-one opalsson opalsson

The legendary architect Christopher Wren designed St Paul’s Cathedral, arguably the center of London. It opened in 1708.

the-legendary-architect-christopher-wren-designed-st-pauls-cathedral-arguably-the-center-of-london-it-opened-in-1708 grandhi grandhi

Completed in 1561, St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow is now a part of Russian national identity.

completed-in-1561-st-basils-cathedral-in-moscow-is-now-a-part-of-russian-national-identity kycheng kycheng

After the Empire State Building opened in 1931, it was the world’s tallest building for almost 40 years. It still attracts lots of attention, even from the sky.

World Trade Center Spire AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The Süleymaniye Mosque presides over Istanbul like the sultan its named for, Süleyman the Magnificent.

TURKEY POPE AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Frank Lloyd Wright’s residential masterpiece Fallingwater is nestled in Stewart Township, Pennsylvania.

frank-lloyd-wrights-residential-masterpiece-fallingwater-is-nestled-in-stewart-township-pennsylvania via via

Construction started on la Sagrada Família in Barcelona in 1882. While surreally breathtaking, the cathedral is still being built.

Spain Travel Stock Stephen Rafferty Stephen Rafferty

The Dancing House in Prague was originally known as ‘Fred and Ginger’ for the way it resembles Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as they burn down a dance floor.

CTK Photobank Stock Czech News Agency / Press Association Images Czech News Agency / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Notice the incredible harmony between the Golden Temple in Kyoto, Japan, and the ‘Muromachi’-style garden surrounding it.

notice-the-incredible-harmony-between-the-golden-temple-in-kyoto-japan-and-the-muromachi-style-garden-surrounding-it jaako jaako

Everybody in Beijing has a special name for the CCTV Headquarters: ‘big boxer shorts.’

China Olympics CCTV Tower AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Contrary to what you might think, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rio de Janeiro is not, in fact, a spaceship.

contrary-to-what-you-might-think-the-museum-of-contemporary-art-in-rio-de-janeiro-is-not-in-fact-a-spaceship Soldon Soldon

The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, is the center of the Sikh religious tradition.

the-golden-temple-in-amritsar-india-is-the-center-of-the-sikh-religious-tradition Chris Gold Chris Gold

Mont St. Michel in Normandy, France, is as rugged as it is beautiful.

mont-st-michel-in-normandy-france-is-as-rugged-as-it-is-beautiful Peter Daems Peter Daems

The Great Pyramid of Giza (center) in Egypt is the elder statesman of great buildings. Egyptologists estimate it was built between 2560–2540 BC.

PA-19679984 Mel Longhurst Mel Longhurst

Read: What is the worst building in Ireland?

Read: What redesigning a bus shelter says about Cork City

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    Mute Denise Friary
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:37 PM

    The building I need to visit is the Lotto HQ .

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 7:58 PM

    If I visited the Lotto HQ then I could probably visit all the others!

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    Mute Dylan
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:36 PM

    Seen them now thanks to this article. I can die happy.

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    Mute Dylan
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:59 PM

    Aw the name was changed

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    Mute David Gillen
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 6:35 PM

    Surely Newgrange, which pre-dates the Pyramids by a few thousand years should be on the list.

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    Mute Anto Harris
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 6:41 PM

    Prob cos it’s so extensively re-built David but yeah it looks sweet so bring it on..

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    Mute Pól Mag Shamhrain
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 8:32 PM

    Absolutely but the best building that has been build in recent years was the Salk Institute in Californa. Give it a look. It should have been put on the list.

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    Mute Tom Red
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:53 PM

    Michael lowry’s house is a must see before you die, it has it’s own Dunnes stores sign on the east wing extension…..

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 7:28 PM

    Now all we need is a comment about the government. 21 comments so far and we’re still missing one… What’s up?

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    Mute all kinds of gains
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:34 PM

    Maybe title should read “you need to visit….”

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    Mute Jack Bowden
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:54 PM

    Yeah exactly. Otherwise, St James Hospital and and maybe a hospice should be on the list. :-)

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    Mute Anto Harris
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 6:33 PM

    What!!! No Phibsborough Shopping Centre??

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    Mute John Deane
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:43 PM

    Well its hard to visit them places if you dont have the money to do it.

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    Mute john mullins
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 8:27 PM

    The Alhambra palace in Granada is surely one of the most beautiful buildings on the planet

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    Mute Neil Crowley
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 9:47 PM

    Yes, had the pleasure of visiting this amazing place few years ago.

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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:42 PM

    The Oratory of the Sacred Heart in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. Seriously ! Great building. Big surprise !

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    Mute Shane Cal
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 7:18 PM

    Hard to see how the county hall in Cork failed to make the list.

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    Mute Glen Hoddle
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:41 PM

    Seen most of the buildings – close up – and was in the Frank Lloyd Wright house. If FLW was still alive, we wouldn’t all be living in boxes!

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    Mute Silent Majority
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:48 PM

    Liberty Hall not worthy of a mention?

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    Mute Ablitive
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 6:04 PM

    And Hawkins House.. I had the privilege of being in that building at one time.

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 8:37 PM

    The Casino in Marino. One of the top 10 buildings of its type in Europe. Magnificent. All school children should be brought there as part of their education.

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    Mute Glen Hoddle
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 6:13 PM

    There is no building in this country that would be even close to making this list.

    And just a few in the UK.

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    Mute Pól Mag Shamhrain
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 8:44 PM

    CIT Library in Cork, Lyric Theatre in Belfast, Grand canal theatre, An Gaelaras in Derry, Newgrange etc are all spectacular buildings. But then again most of the buildings mentioned in this article are high budget projects built in economic booms.Our buildings are more rationale because we have less money.

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    Mute Banga Ncube
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 6:33 PM

    There is no rush for those who believe in life after death.

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    Mute karl kenny
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 5:46 PM

    Siptu building (tallest building in Dublin) not on the list?!

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    Mute Conor Heffernan
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 6:21 PM

    I wouldn’t cross the road to see half of them!!!

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    Mute Banga Ncube
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 6:34 PM

    Half of them are not across any particular road.

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    Mute James
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 6:27 PM

    I’m surprised Cork didn’t make the list.

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    Mute Emer Walsh
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    Aug 24th 2014, 10:38 AM

    On route to visit the la sagrada familia in barcelona now :)

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    Mute Martin Healy
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 9:56 PM

    The Haigh Sophia is far more impressive than the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. 1600 years old extraordinary

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    Mute Bon Jonham
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    Aug 23rd 2014, 7:05 PM

    No liberty hall????

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    Mute John Paul Carroll
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    Aug 24th 2014, 11:47 AM

    I don’t know why you need to visit them – I’ve always found that the most amazing buildings look best from the outside -no need to go in. That goes for old ones like Notre Dame in Paris and the Cologne cathedral, but also for impressive modern stuff like the Atomium In Brussels: kind of a disappointment inside.

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    Mute konner Rea
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    Aug 24th 2014, 3:08 AM

    The county hall in Cork.

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    Mute Margaret Doyle Hanley
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    Aug 24th 2014, 12:42 AM

    Why’s the Pheonix park not in there?
    + Mountjoy Jail.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Aug 24th 2014, 11:42 AM
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