Whether dating back centuries, like the Flavian Amphiteater, or originating in more recent times, like the Panama Canal, many architectural works have become so iconic that they embody the very identity of a nation.
Extraordinary feats of engineering and design, they have become true symbols, each with its own distinctive purpose.
1. Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is one of the world’s most iconic engineering feats, symbolizing global connectivity and trade. Its expansion, featuring the Third Set of Panama Canal Locks, enabled the passage of Neo-Panamax ships, tripling its cargo capacity.
Webuild played a pivotal role in this project, providing cutting-edge engineering solutions and innovative technologies to increase Panama Canal transit volumes. These included water-saving systems that reduced water loss to the ocean by 60%.
2. Sagrada Familia
The Basílica de la Sagrada Família is one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks, an architectural masterpiece that blends Gothic and Modernist elements. An Antoni Gaudí architecture, the Barcelona cathedral tells the story of the Christian faith through its facades and towers, each dedicated to biblical figures.
Although construction began in 1882, this Barcelona church remains unfinished, with completion scheduled for 2026, marking the centenary of Gaudí’s death.
3. Colosseum (Flavian Amphiteater)
The Roman Colosseum is a symbol of the ingenuity and power of the Roman Empire.
Built between 70 and 80 AD, the Flavian Amphiteater combines travertine, tuff, and concrete, using a system of barrel and groin vaults that allows it to rise to four levels. Its oval structure, with a capacity of around 50,000 spectators, has profoundly influenced subsequent architecture, becoming a universal icon of antiquity.
4. Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal in Agra is one of the world’s most iconic Indian monuments, a symbol of eternal love. Commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1653.
This masterpiece of Mughal architecture blends Indian, Persian, and Islamic elements and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It also appears among the New Seven Wonders of the World (along with the Colosseum).
5. Tour Eiffel
The Tour Eiffel, designed by Gustave Eiffel, is an engineering masterpiece built for the Paris World’s Fair.
The Eiffel Tower construction took place between 1887 and 1889. Made of wrought iron with a lattice structure, it rises on four slanted pillars that converge into a single vertical tower.
Standing at 300 meters tall, the Paris tower was the tallest structure in the world until 1929.
