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Historic Architecture : Ancient Buildings

Historical built environment projects from around the world. International older properties.

post updated 18 January 2026

We choose key examples of Historic Architecture. We aim to include ancient buildings that are either of excellent quality or interesting, or ideally both.

e-architect cover completed buildings, renovations and architectural exhibitions across the world. The focus here is on internationally-significant older properties.

Historic Buildings

We have 2 pages of Historical Architecture selections.

Historic Architecture : A-I (this page)

Historic Buildings : J-Z

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Historic Architecture Designs

Historic Buildings – latest additions to this page, arranged chronologically:

21 Jun 2013
Preservation of Oasis Sites, Guelmim Region, Morocco
Design: Salima Naji

photo : Cemal Emden
Preservation of Oasis Sites
For the last decade Salima Naji, trained as an architect and anthropologist, has worked to save the heritage of several oasis towns in the anti-Atlas mountains of Morocco. This ambitious undertaking involves four sites that range in scale from communal granaries to partially abandoned fortified towns.

21 Jun 2013
Tabriz Bazaar Rehabilitation, Iran
Design: ICHTO East Azerbaijan Office

photo : Amir Anoushfar
Tabriz Bazaar Rehabilitation
The Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex was officially protected in 1975 and has been covered by special stewardship measures until 2010, when it was added to the World Heritage List. The complex covers 27 hectares with over 5.5 kilometres of covered bazaars.

21 Jun 2013
Thula Fort Restoration, Yemen
Design: Abdullah Al-Hadrami

photo : Cemal Emden
Thula Fort Restoration
Threatened by the disruption that might ensue from the construction of a road, the Thula community, with the help of The Social Fund for Development, has undertaken a series of historic preservation projects to protect cultural assets, including rebuilding the walls of burial grounds and walls of agricultural terraces, restoring the Bab al Mayah gate, watch towers, paths and waterways, and repairing the cistern that remains in use to this day.

19 Jun 2013
Birzeit Historic Centre, Palestine
Design: Riwaq

photo : Riwaq
Birzeit Historic Centre
This five-year project, part of a rehabilitation master plan initiated by Riwaq, has transformed the decaying town of Birzeit, created employment through conservation and revived vanishing traditional crafts in the process. Community involvement was encouraged from the start, including local NGOs, the private sector, owners, tenants and users, all working with the municipality.

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Major Historic Building Designs, alphabetical:

St Paul’s Cathedral, City of London, England, UK
Design: Sir Christopher Wren

photo © Adrian Welch
Summary of key aspects of the building:
– Church of England cathedral
– seat of the Bishop of London
– dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604.
– St Paul’s sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London
– present church dating from the late 17th century
– built to an English Baroque design of Sir Christopher Wren
– as part of a major rebuilding program which took place in the city after the Great Fire of London
– was completed within his lifetime.
– one of the most famous and most recognisable sights of London
– dominating the skyline for 300 years.
– 365 feet (111m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1962

Royal Opera House, London, England, UK
Design: Dixon Jones Architects

photo © Nick Weall
Royal Opera House London
Following final presentations to the jury at the end of January, the Board of Trustees of the Royal Opera House has selected Stanton Williams Architects to carry out a feasibility study for the ‘Open Up’ project. This decision marks the culmination of a six month competition process involving seven firms of architects.

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Historical Architecture

Key Historic Architecture Designs + Projects, alphabetical:

Altes Museum, Berlin, Germany
Design: Karl Friedrich Schinkel Architect

picture © Isabelle Lomholt
Altes Museum Berlin

Berliner Dom, Berlin, Germany
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photo © AW
Berliner Dom Building

Calton Hill – various buildings, Edinburgh, southeast Scotland
Design: various architects
Calton Hill ancient monuments
picture © Isabelle Lomholt
Calton Hill – mostly Greek Revival buildings

Christ Church, Spitalfields, East London, UK
Design: Nicholas Hawksmoor Architect

photo © Adrian Welch
Christ Church Spitalfields

Church of St George, Mayfair, west London, UK
Design: John James

picture © Adrian Welch
Mayfair Buildings

Downing College Buildings, Cambridge, UK
Design: various architects

picture © IL
Downing College

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Design: various architects / masons
Edinburgh Castle Scottish Historic Architecture
photo © IL
Edinburgh Castle

, Cambridge, UK
Christopher Wren Architect

photograph © Adrian Welch
Emmanuel College – Chapel

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK
Design: George Basevi

building photo © AW
Fitzwilliam Museum

Gesù, Rome, Italy
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image © Adrian Welch
Gesù church

Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona
Architect: Lluis Domenech i Montaner

building photo © Thomas Boczko
Hospital de Sant Pau

Royal Albert Hall, west London
Design: Francis Fowke

picture © Nick Weall
Royal Albert Hall

Town Hall Copenhagen, Denmark
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image © AJW
Copenhagen Town Hall

Key Historic Public Spaces

Area Sacra, Largo Argentina, Rome, Italy

photo © AW

Campo de’ Fiori, Rome

picture © AW

Circo Massimo – Circus Maximus, Rome

photograph © Isabelle Lomholt

Historic Gateways

More Historic Architecture online soon

Architectural Designs

Italian Architecture

Rome Architecture Photos

Historic Architects

Historic Tower Architecture

Historic Paris Architecture

Buildings / photos for the Historic Building – ancient architecture designs resource page welcome.