World-renowned architect Antoine Predock saw in Tacoma’s misty and muted light a great opportunity to design a building. Using the soft light of the Pacific Northwest, the building reflects the surrounding industrial facilities, Mt. Rainier, and the neighboring museums that now mark Tacoma’s Cultural District.

Above photo by Lesleyk

Above photo by Michael D Martin

Above photo by Todd Mecklem

Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himeji-jō) is a flatland-mountain Japanese castle complex located in Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture and comprising 83 wooden buildings. It is occasionally known as Hakurojō or Shirasagijō (”White Heron Castle”) because of its brilliant white exterior.

It was registered as the first Japanese National Cultural Treasure by UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Japanese National Cultural Treasure in December, 1993. Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, it is one of Japan’s “Three Famous Castles”, and is the most visited castle in Japan.

Following photos by Roy Chan

Osaka Castle (大坂城・大阪城, Ōsaka-jō) is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.

Originally called Ozakajō, it is one of , and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one kilometer square. It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called Burdock piling, each overlooking a moat. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from sword-bearing attackers.

The Castle grounds, which cover approximately 60,000 square meters (15 acres) contain thirteen structures which have been designated as Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government, including the Toyokuni Shrine, dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Following photos by JKT-c

Following photos by Roy Chan

The Quadracci Pavilion had been designed by Santiago Calatrava for the Milwaukee Art Museum and opened on May 4, 2001. The structure of the pavilion contains a movable wing which opens up for a total wingspan of 217 feet during daytime and  folding over the arched structure at night or during tough weather.

Santiago Calatrava  is an award-winning Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer. Together with Félix Candela she had also designed the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències in the city of Valencia, Spain.

Following photo by opalsson:

Following photo by Mulad (closed wing):

Following photos by Luiz Castro

Following photos by tanakawho