Tag: architecture

  • Originality Consists in Returning to the Origin — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Exterior view of Casa Vicens, Barcelona, Antoni Gaudí, 1883–85.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Today the questions all relate to June 25th


    One

    The building above is Casa Vicens, Barcelona, Spain, which was designed and built starting in 1883. Who was the architect who designed it?

    Answer: Antoni Gaudí.

    Antoni Gaudí, born 25 June 1852, began his architectural studies in Barcelona in 1869/70, graduating in 1878. He worked as a draughtsperson for architects like Francisco de Paula del Villar and Joan Martorell, who secured the Sagrada Família project for him in 1883. Gaudí dedicated much of his career to the Sagrada Família, which remained unfinished at his death in 1926. Known for his innovative structural systems and artistic projects like Park Güell, Casa Milà, and Casa Batlló, Gaudí is a candidate for sainthood, with Pope Francis declaring him ‘Venerable’ in April 2025.


    Two

    In 2024, China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe returned from the Moon carrying samples collected on the lunar surface. What was unique about these samples, and from what does the craft’s name ‘Chang’e’ originate?

    Answer: Samples were first from the far side of the Moon; Named after a Goddess.

    Chang’e, a goddess from Chinese legend who flew from Earth to the Moon, inspired the name of Chang’e 6, a lunar sample return mission. This mission launched on 3 May 2024, landed on the lunar far side on 1 June, and returned the first far-side samples to Earth on 25 June.


    Three

    The ballet, The Firebird, premiered in 1910. Who composed the ballet, and at what venue did it premiere?

    Answer: Igor Stravinsky; Paris Opéra.

    The Firebird, a ballet by Igor Stravinsky, premiered in Paris on June 25, 1910, marking his international success. Commissioned by Serge Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes, Stravinsky, then 27, drew from Russian legend and the ballet’s originality earned Stravinsky immediate international acclaim.


    Four

    In 1876, George Armstrong Custer made his last stand with his U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of Little Bighorn. In what U.S. state are the Battle of Little Bighorn National Monument and the Indian Memorial located?

    Answer: Montana.

    George Armstrong Custer, a U.S. Army officer, graduated last from West Point in 1861 but became a brevet brigadier general by 23. He played key roles in the Civil War and Indian Wars, dying at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. His legacy was shaped by his wife, Libbie.


    Five

    St. George Island was discovered in 1786 by Russian sea captain Gavriil Pribylov. The group of islands now known as the Pribilof Islands is named after Pribylov. In what body of water is St. George Island located?

    Answer: Bering Sea.

    The Pribilof Islands, discovered by Gavril Pribylov in 1786, include St. Paul and St. George. Inhabited by Aleuts in 1788, they became U.S. territory with the Alaska Purchase in 1867. Known for 800,000 northern fur seals, commercial sealing was banned in 1973 and 1985. The islands host diverse wildlife and nearly three million migratory birds.


    Originality Consists in Returning to the Origin

    Today the post title has no hidden meanings and is simply a quote by Antoni Gaudí, the answer to question one. It is sometimes quoted with ‘of’ instead of ‘in’, ‘Originality Consists of Returning to the Origin’.


  • Originality Consists in Returning to the Origin

    Exterior view of Casa Vicens, Barcelona (1883–85).
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Today the questions all relate to June 25th


    One

    The building above is Casa Vicens, Barcelona, Spain, which was designed and built starting in 1883. Who was the architect who designed it?


    Two

    In 2024, China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe returned from the Moon carrying samples collected on the lunar surface. What was unique about these samples, and from what does the craft’s name ‘Chang’e’ originate?


    Three

    The ballet, The Firebird, premiered in 1910. Who composed the ballet, and at what venue did it premiere?


    Four

    In 1876, George Armstrong Custer made his last stand with his U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of Little Bighorn. In what U.S. state are the Battle of Little Bighorn National Monument and the Indian Memorial located?


    Five

    St. George Island was discovered in 1786 by Russian sea captain Gavriil Pribylov. The group of islands now known as the Pribilof Islands is named after Pribylov. In what body of water is St. George Island located?


    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.  


  • Reach for the Sky—Answers

    Burg Khalifa.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    On 4 January 2010, Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, officially opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. So, today’s questions are all about structures which have been amongst the world’s tallest.

    One

    What building did Burj Khalifa replace as the tallest?

    Answer: Taipei 101 (aka Taipei Financial Center)

    Inaugurated in January 2010, the Burj Khalifa, standing at 163 floors and a height of 2,717 feet (828 metres), surpassed Taipei 101 — 1,667 feet (508 metres), — in Taipei, Taiwan. The Burj Khalifa also broke several other records including the world’s tallest freestanding structure, the highest occupied floor and the highest outdoor observation deck.


    Two

    Which medieval cathedral, whose governing body holds one of the original 1215 Magna Carta manuscripts, surpassed the Great Pyramid of Giza to become the world’s tallest man-made structure?

    Answer: Lincoln Cathedral

    Completed around 2560 BCE, the Great Pyramid of Giza originally stood at approximately 481 feet (146 metres), making it the tallest man-made structure ever built at the time. Remarkably, it retained this distinction for nearly 3,800 years, until the completion of medieval cathedrals including Lincoln Cathedral in England in the 14th century.

    Three

    Which monument did the Eiffel Tower surpass to become the tallest man-made structure in the world?

    Answer: The Washington Monument

    Completed in 1889, the Eiffel Tower stands 1,083 feet (330 metres) tall, exceeding the Washington Monument’s height of 555 feet (169 metres). The Eiffel Tower held the record as the world’s tallest man-made structure for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building surpassed it in 1930.

    Four

    True or false: the Lighthouse of Alexandria, aka the Pharos of Alexandria, was once the tallest building in the world.

    Answer: False

    The Pharos of Alexandria, the tallest lighthouse of the ancient world, was never taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, which remained the tallest man-made structure.


    Five

    What nearby structure did the Empire State Building replace as the world’s tallest building?

    Answer: The Chrysler Building

    When it opened in 1931, the Empire State Building reached 1,250 feet (381 metres), surpassing the Chrysler Building, which had briefly held the title at 1,046 feet (319 metres). The Empire State Building retained the world’s tallest-building title for nearly 40 years, until the completion of the original World Trade Center in 1970.


  • Reach for the Sky

    Burg Khalifa.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    On 4 January 2010, Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, officially opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. So, today’s questions are all about structures which have been amongst the world’s tallest.

    One

    What building did Burj Khalifa replace as the tallest?


    Two

    Which medieval cathedral, whose governing body holds one of the original 1215 Magna Carta manuscripts, surpassed the Great Pyramid of Giza to become the world’s tallest man-made structure?

    Three

    Which monument did the Eiffel Tower surpass to become the tallest man-made structure in the world?

    Four

    True or false: the Lighthouse of Alexandria, aka the Pharos of Alexandria, was once the tallest building in the world.


    Five

    What nearby structure did the Empire State Building replace as the world’s tallest building?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.