These memorial structures pay tribute to people who have lost their lives in tragic accidents. From 9/11 to a number of natural disasters that have occurred throughout the world, certain events that happen throughout one's life need a piece of architecture to serve as a reminder for such happenings.
The 9/11 structure was recently completed in New York, commemorating the thousands of people who lost their lives on that historic day. The building is distinct and geometric, and also features pieces of the original Trade Center Towers in the middle of the design. The layout of memorial structures varies across the world, but all of them serve the same purpose: to remind people of events that should never be forgotten.
17 Distinct Memorial Structures
18
Nature-Transforming Memorial Sites
The Norway Memorial Site Will Be Transformed into a Sanctuary
17
Honeycomb Architecture
The Acme UN Memorial Building Metaphorically Unites Nations
16
Commemorative Witch Structures
Steilneset Memorial Honors Witch Trial Victims from 17th Century
15
Inset Landscape Structures
The Seoul Memorial Park by HAEAHN Features Fluid Elements
14
Parks of Remembrance
Pentagon Memorial
13
Glittering Facade Memorials
Stephane Malka Creates the Ardent Chapel to Respect Those Persecuted
12
Commemorative Upside-Down Architecture
Martin Papcun & Atelier SAD Design Memorial in Munich
11
Arboreal Memorials
The Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge by M3architecture Harks Back to 1891
10
Futuristic Historical Hubs
The Space Race Museum Memorializes the Quest to Outer Space
9
Conceptual Death Architecture
A Place of Remembrance by Michael Jantzen is Minimal and Modern
8
Fauxhenge Memorials
Manmade Monuments Mimic the Iconic Ancient World Marvel
7
Stone Maze Memorials
The Wall of Memory Pays Homage to Deceased Nuns
6
Modern Genocide Remembrance Shrines
The Boardwalk Holocaust Memorial is an Abstract Sanctuary
5
Metal Pole Memorials
The Minnesota Fallen Firefighters are Commemorated with a Forest of Posts
4
Historically Inspired Garden Structures
The Memorial Pot Reminisces on Traditional Korean Food
3
Quake-Resistant Stadiums
The New UC Berkeley Memorial Stadium Could Withstand a Natural Disaster
2
Scannable Headstones
These QR Code Headstones Give a Virtual Connection to Those Departed
1
Geometric Memorial Structures (UPDATE)
The 9/11 Memorial by Snohetta Commemorates Ground Zero
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Man-Made Waterfall Architecture
The Shore Vista Boat Dock is Serenely Sweeping
QR Coded Pavilions
The Russian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale Exhibits Technology
Subway Art Museums
The Stockholm Metro Brings Culture to Public Transit Stations
Chimera Capsule Architecture
'A Room for London' by Sanzpont Embraces the City's Seasons
Nature-Transforming Memorial Sites
The Norway Memorial Site Will Be Transformed into a Sanctuary
Real-Life Pixelation Art
Stephane Malka Rue Sans Frontieres Installation is Truly Compelling
Contemporary Crater Architecture
Teshima Art Museum Makes an Elegant Mark in the Landscape
Reskinning Nature
Bobby Neel Adams Turns Trees Into Transformers
Fairy Tale Book Sculptures
Su Blackwell's Art from Books Animates the Pages of Storybooks
Underwater Webchitecture
The Dancing Water Pavilion Revitalizes Interaction with the Han-River
Stacked School Structures
The Basque Culinary Center is Simple Outside and Spicy Inside
Literary Spaceship Architecture
The Dalian Public Library is Inspired by a Rose Petal
Recycled CD Architecture
Atelier Feichang Jianzhu Combines Green and Music Scenes
Animate Urban Installations
Epiphyte Pavilion Will Enhance the Environment of its City Surrounds
Enchanting African Treehouse Havens
This Game Reserve Lodge in South Africa is Whimsical and Sweet
Historic Museum Memorials
The 9/11 Museum Gives You an Inside Look on The Disastrous Event
Landscape-Integrated Installations
The Timmelsjoch Museum is Gravity-Defying Architecture
Personified Landscape Illustrations
Artist Ash White's Illustrations Make People Bigger Than Life
Spiral Christmas Trees
The Tannenboing Holiday Decoration is a Neat Twist on a Holiday Classic
Overgrown Pedestrian Overpasses
Issy les Moulineaux Promenade is a Natural Connection in Paris
Projected Print Background Editorials
Marique Schimmel is Surreal in Vogue Netherlands March 2014
Art Museum Skate Shops
The Nike Bowery Stadium 'The Wave' Exhibit is a Surf and Skate Oasis
Towering Toy Houses
James May Builds Real Life LEGO Architecture in the UK
Computer Monitor Memorials
Family Honors Dead Son With Computer Gravestone
Gigantic Wooden Sculptures
The Jaakko Pernu 'Timberline' Designs are Influenced by Human Nature
Zigzagging Cultural Hubs
Zaha Hadid's Riverside Museum Connects Glasgow City to the River
Underground Theme Parks
The Intercontinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland is Futuristic
Glowing Invisible Skyscrapers
Korea's 'Cheongna City Tower' Will Blend with the Sky
Ribbed Architectural Generators
Hydramax Port Machines Gather Renewable Waterfront Resources
Mod-U-Lar Planter Perches
Punka Seating System Accommodates People and Plants in Many Arrangements
Swirling Head Sculptures
Artist Manolo Valdes Creates Outdoor Exhibit for the NY Botanical Gardens
Sprouting Public Benches
TreeIt by nITro Appears to Capture the Starry Sky at Night
Modern Ziggurat Architecture
Tiago Viegas' Crea Building Challenge Channels Ancient Cultures
Social Media Tombstones
Tweet & Share with the Dead Using the E-Tomb
Blocked Yarn Grafitti Art
The HOT TEA Artist Duo Design Throughout New York
Damaged Road Art Installations
The Pop Up Studio Pothole Contest Invites Locals to be Imaginative
Theatrical Furniture Exhibitions
This Chinese Furniture Showcase Took the Form of a Play
Eden-Esque Solar Gardens
The Marina South Gardens Shelters With Solar Supertrees
Pedestrian-Only City Centers
Norway's Snohetta Designs a Car-Free Times Square
Modern Globular Menageries
The Saint Petersburg Zoo Mimics the Earth's Transformation
Tech-Savvy Tombstones
The RosettaStone Tablet is a Technology-Enhanced Memorial Product
Prismatic Pathways
Experience Something Magical As You Walk 'Your Rainbow Panorama'
Minimalist Dumping Landscapes
Photographer Matthias Heiderich Zooms in on 'Monte Kali' in Germany
Bathtub-Shaped Museums
Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum Boasts a Fixture-Resembling Extension
Textured Ebony Fashion
The Stylist Magazine 'The Woman in Black' Editorial Stars Joan Smalls
Squid-Like Jetty Structures
The St. Petersburg Eye Affords a Great View of the Gulf
Eco-Friendly Buildings
Powerhouse Kjorbo is the First Building Renovated to Be Energy-Positive
Vertical Tent Pods
A-KAMP47 by Malka Architecture Provides Shelter for the Homeless
Loopy Research Facilities
The Snohetta 'Max-Lab' Concept is Inspired by the Mobius Strip
Stacked Stick Structures
The Wood Pallet Facade by Stephane Malka is Bold and Dynamic
Beautifully Explosive Nature Photography
This Photography Series Before the Echo is Bright & Bold
Radiating Ramp Installations
The Koo Jeong-A Glow in the Dark Skate Park is Mesmerizing
Alien Athletic Architecture
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium Has a Glass Roof and Seats 80,000
Mystical Foam Cloud Installations
This Art Installment is Designed with an Unusual Material
Ominous Spiked Installations
Ma Yansong Designs an Interesting Piece of Globetrotting Art
Commemorative Witch Structures
Steilneset Memorial Honors Witch Trial Victims from 17th Century
Playground-Inspired Architecture
Salzburg's Lanserhofwiese is Colorfully Playful
Virtual Grieving
Blogosphere Seeks Solace Through Michael Jackson Burial Video
Agriculturally Blended Architecture
Acadia Parish Conference Center Becomes Part of the Farmscape
South Africa Couture Campaigns
The Louis Vuitton Spring Campaign is Inspired by Nature and Travel
Colossal Columnal Architecture
The Seoul International Train Station Defines Spaces with Posts
Whimsical Cemetery Photos
The Series Starring Natalia Andriyasova by Andrew Akimov is Enchanting
Scenic Panoramic Pavilions
The Norwegian Wild Reindeer Center is a Fun-Filled Site
Audiophile-Centric Coffins
The Catacoffin is a Unique Coffin Allowing You to Rock for Eternity
Intricately Staggered Wall Churches
The 100 Walls Church Takes the Anti-Form with Hidden Passages
Fungus-Like Lighting
Material Immaterial Lab Uses Recycled Paper to Construct Organic Home Decor
Glittering Facade Memorials
Stephane Malka Creates the Ardent Chapel to Respect Those Persecuted
25 Cremation Innovations
From Cremated Jewelry to Blown Glass Memorials
Commemorative Upside-Down Architecture
Martin Papcun & Atelier SAD Design Memorial in Munich
Gorgeously Bleak Landscapes
Scottish Highlands by Loic Le Quere is Dark and Mysterious
Shuttered Volcano Architecture
The Taichung Convention Center Ecorupts in Taiwan
Trefoil Tunnel Monuments
The Innovation Pavilion Embodies Sculptural Beauty and Symbolism
Smoldering Civic Architecture
Liu Chien-Sheng's Pushkinsky Cinema Makes Gas a Building Component
Musical Cylinder Structures
The Loopcamp by Malka Architecture Creates Sound With Wind Power
Eerie Animal Burial Captures
Troy Paiva's Pet Cemetery Photos Will Captivate and Scare
Triple-Latticed Domes
The Trilux Pavilion is Illuminating
Arboreal Memorials
The Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge by M3architecture Harks Back to 1891
Futuristic Historical Hubs
The Space Race Museum Memorializes the Quest to Outer Space
Nazi Home Exhibitions
The 'Topography of Terror' Documents Not Celebrates Germany's Worst
Lilly Pad Architecture
OOAD and OOIIO Architectural Firms Have Created a Floating Community
Circular Sustainability Parks
The Sensational Garden by Nabito Architects Brings People Together
Steel Politician Structures
The Nelson Mandela Memorial by Marco Cianfanelli Commemorates a Hero
Pockmarked Monolithic Museums
The Zoo Basel Ozeanium Looks Like an Eroded Underwater Boulder
Standing Paper Art
Grove Rotating Trees Make Paper Multi-Dimensional
Surreal Socket Structures
Statoil by Souverein Comments on the Energy Consumed by Buildings
Curvilinear Caged Architecture
The Cairns Institute Design is Inspired by Tropical Landscapes
Fauxhenge Memorials
Manmade Monuments Mimic the Iconic Ancient World Marvel
Massive Floating Stages
This Stadium/Pitch in Singapore is the World's Biggest Floating Stage
Egg Cup Architecture
Check Out the Soumaya Museum in Mexico City by Lar & Fernando Romero
Billion Dollar Stadium Concepts
The New Minnesota Vikings NFL Stadium Plan Will Seat 65,000 Fans
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
The Panteon Nube Looks like a Contemporary Ice Cave
Giant Aluminium Spheres
'Nouaison' by Hoberman Associates is a Tribute to Wine Making
Cowboy Boot Architecture
Studio Pei Zhu Stomps Out the Competition With 'Skybond' Tower
Interactive Body Ink
The Random Tattoo by Fred Bosch Can Be Scanned
Spherical Architectural Photography
The Orb Project by Edward Neumann Depicts Contained Landscapes
Scannable Corn Fields
The Kraay Family Creates the World's Largest QR Code Using Farm Land
Stone Maze Memorials
The Wall of Memory Pays Homage to Deceased Nuns
Monumental Moments Memorials
Google's Memories for the Future Remembers the 2011 Japan Earthquake
Modern Genocide Remembrance Shrines
The Boardwalk Holocaust Memorial is an Abstract Sanctuary
Gingerbread Presidential Memorials
Get Creative and Patriotic with Your Holiday Dessert Ideas
Gigantic Glass Installations
Shanghai's Museum of Glass by Tilman Thuermer Sparkles and Shines
Italian Beer Brand Installations
The House of Peroni Pavilion + Installation is Located in London
Eco World Cup Arenas
Brazil's Mineirão Stadium Receives Rooftop Solar Panels
Sinister Sculpture Depictions
The Mattia Mognetti Graveyard People Portrait Series is Emotive
Slithering Skate Ramps
The California Skateparks Snake Run Course is Twisty-Turny
Geeky Arenas
The Wanangkura Stadium Has a Computer Generated Appearance
Celebrity Grave Neighbours
Resting Place Next to Marilyn Monroe for Auction on Ebay
Dark Ominous Etchings
These Black and White Illustrations Contain Spooky Content
Eco-Conscious Soccer Stadiums
Weston Williamson Designs an Arena with a Responsive Roof
Building Block Structures
Antwerp's Museum Aan de Stroom Offers a Look into the City's History
Kite-Captured Landscapes (UPDATE)
Photographer Gerco de Ruijter Shoots Interesting Terrain
Scannable Throw Rugs
Harc Lee's QR Carpet is Social Media Flooring at Its Finest
Waffle Architecture
House 1 & House 2 by TAKA Looks Like Breakfasty Goodness
Zeppelin Airship Architecture
Bellemo & Cat Create a Cocoon House From Aircraft Engineering
Tombstone-Inspired USBs
Digital Cemetery by Hadas Arnon is a Resting Place for Deceased's Data
Automotive Noise Absorbers
Sound Drops Reduce the Din of Freeways to Make Use of Urban Niches
Planted Memorials
Matilda Wigg Erixon's 'My Life Urn' is a Lifelong Tribute
Tournament Stadium Dwellings
Qatari Diar Repurposing the Olympic Village has Possibilities
Lumber Lattice Walkways
The Stretch Urban Campus Connector Treats Timber Like Thread
Recycled Pallet Installations
HG-A + Live Components Compose the 'Tectonic Landscape' Piece
Historically Inspired Garden Structures
The Memorial Pot Reminisces on Traditional Korean Food
Coral-Like Subway Canopies
The Donostialdea Metro-Station Entrance by Snohetta is Sculptural
Social Media Mourning
Websites Like i-Memorial Promise to Keep You Connected Well After Death
Morbid USB Archives
The Digital Cemetery Lets You Keep Digital Memories of the Deceased
Innovative Dance Memorials
Patrick Swayze's Touching 'Dancing With the Stars' Tribute
Virtual Memorials
'1000Memories' is a Website for Family & Friends to Remember the Dead
Skyline-Mirroring Installations
The Dan Graham Design Sits Atop the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Celeb Grave Livestream Feeds
An Andy Warhol Birthday Calls for a 24/7 View of His Resting Place
Monumental Black Layered Blocks
The Behemoth by Jason Martin is a Massive Cork Structure
Hidden Hillside Exhibition Halls
The Moesgard Museum by Henning Larsen Architects Blends Right In
Inspiring Cross-Continent Ventures
On the Up Tells the Story of Social Entrepreneurs in Africa
Somber Cemetery Snacks
These Graveyard Cupcakes are So Cute, They’re to Die For
Celeb-Made Cult Photography
Moby’s ‘Innocents’ Portrays the World’s First
Airy Cocoon Abodes
AR Design Studio's 4 Views House is Designed Around a Central Garden