Architectural icon
An architectural icon is a building considered to be groundbreaking, or to claim uniqueness because of its design. == Definition == These outstanding buildings and ensembles meet several of the following criteria: widespread recognition popularity originality symbol value significance for the development of architecture representative of an architectural style Sabine Thiel-Siling writes in her preface to Architectural icons of the 20th century: "The buildings are spectacular for their time and their surroundings, whether through their constructive achievements or innovative use of materials, through their formal language or because they embodied a completely new type of building for the first time." Some buildings have developed into pilgrimage venues for architecture enthusiasts or have even become landmarks of cities, even countries.