The fact that some of the most opulent and spectacular structures from the history of our cities only survive in recollections and pictures is a sobering truth. Their eventual demise is a result of negligence, time, conflict, and natural calamities. Much of the lost architecture disappears in spite of community calls for its preservation, while others succumbs to the pressures of public development. These losses leave a lasting legacy on our cities, often inspiring new regulations and guidelines for the conservation of buildings that reverberate for generations. Come explore some of the most recognizable and hotly debated missing architectural artifacts from around the globe.
Pennsylvania Station in New York
The old Pennsylvania Station located in New York City is one of the most hotly debated and deeply felt losses in architectural history. Built in 1910, this Beaux-Arts masterpiece welcomed visitors with its imposing classical columns, pink granite façade, and soaring ceilings, acting as a stately entrance to the busy metropolis. Sadly, it was destroyed in 1963 to make room for Two Penn Plaza and the ugly Madison Square Garden. Following a public uproar, the New York Landmarks Law was passed, saving several future architectural masterpieces and igniting a citywide interest in architectural preservation. In late 2020, Pennsylvania Station reopened after a complete renovation, demonstrating the ongoing significance of safeguarding our architectural legacy.
London’s Crystal Palace
Built for the Great Exhibition of 1851—often referred to as the first World’s Fair—London’s Crystal Palace is a timeless representation of architectural creativity and industrial might. During the height of the industrial revolution, Joseph Paxton’s massive cast iron and sheet glass construction stood as a testament to engineering prowess. With a length of an astounding 1,851 feet (564 meters) and a height of 128 feet (39 meters), it eclipsed even the famous St. Paul’s Cathedral, symbolizing a new age of advancement and creativity.
The Crystal Palace, which held 14,000 exhibitors and dazzled onlookers with its enormous expanses of plate glass—an architectural wonder of never before seen in scale—was not just a venue but also a demonstration of state-of-the-art technology.
Cornelius Vanderbilt II House
When the opulent and imposing Cornelius Vanderbilt II House was finished in 1883, it was built for the famous business magnate’s eldest grandson. It was the biggest private mansion in the city when it was built, and it still holds that distinction today. It was located in New York City at the junction of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. Built by Vanderbilt to outperform his rivals, the house boasted an impressive 130 rooms and was a striking show of riches.
Covering a whole city block, the seven-story palace with its private garden and stable was the pinnacle of opulence. But tragedy came when the owner had a crippling stroke, which caused him to pass away too soon, only sixteen years after the house was finished.
The Pagoda
Known as “The Pagoda” because to its echoes of traditional Asian architecture, Miguel Fisac’s Jorba Laboratories building was a remarkable example of rationalist architecture. The laboratory complex was cleverly layered to produce a building that displayed multiple features depending on the interaction of light and time of day. It was located just outside of Madrid and had square, staggered levels.
Unfortunately, in 1999, because to budgetary constraints, developers decided to replace this architectural treasure with a bigger structure. The original “Pagoda” was demolished in spite of strong public protest, which signaled the end of an era of innovative architecture and rationalist design in the area.
Imperial Hotel in Tokyo
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel in Tokyo was a spectacular example of his architectural prowess, displaying his distinctive style on a scale rarely seen outside of Midwesterner individual homes. With its characteristic pyramid-shaped structure and elaborate Mayan themes, the Imperial Hotel was the pinnacle of the Maya Revival Style, thanks to the efforts of his pupil and allies, Arata Endo, Marion Mahony, and Walter Burley Griffin.
The Imperial Hotel opened in 1922 and was miraculously spared from harm by a devastating earthquake that devastated downtown Tokyo just a year after it opened. But time also brought new difficulties, as the hotel suffered damage during World War II and finally fell into disrepair and disrepair.
Wright’s architectural masterwork came to an end when it was decided in 1967 to destroy the hotel and replace it with a high-rise. However, a moving homage to the Imperial Hotel’s history can be found at the Meiji-Mura Museum, which is located close to Nagoya. There, the Imperial Hotel’s entry courtyard has been painstakingly restored to give guests a taste of its former splendor.
