Architecturally Sound Trivia Quiz

Answer: Painted Ladies, USA

"Victorian" refers to the period of Queen Victoria's reign in the mid to late 1800s. The bonus of this style of architecture was that houses could be built on a small parcel of land, as they are typically tall and narrow, and can be built close to other buildings. Towers, turrets and bay windows were decorated with mass-produced trim in an effort to create something unique and unusual.

The Painted Ladies can be found in San Francisco, California, USA. Whilst they are a mix of Edwardian and Victorian houses and buildings, they are named such due to them being repainted in the 1960s in an effort to enhance their architectural details.

Although the colours are not typically Victorian, the style definitely is - tall, narrow and built over a basement.

Answer: Taj Mahal, India

Key features of Mughal architecture include uniform pattern and structure, bulbous domes and slender minarets. This style of architecture was developed from the sixteenth century across the Indian subcontinent. Building of the Taj Mahal started in 1632 in the city of Agra. It is made of marble and houses the tomb of Shah Jahan's favourite wife, as well as the builder of the mausoleum.

Answer: Lund Cathedral, Sweden

Romanesque architecture is characterised by semi-circular arches and is the style of medieval Europe. Buildings built in this style give the impression of strength and solidity, which could have something to do with the thickness of walls and very small openings for windows and doors.

The Romanesque style is otherwise known as Norman architecture and eventually developed into the Gothic style. Lund Cathedral was built in "typical" Romanesque style from sandstone and is quite dark inside with only small windows allowing sunshine into the interior.

Answer: Palace of Versailles, France

Baroque architecture was used to express the "triumph of the Catholic church". The term "baroque" referred to "extravagant, deformed, abnormal, unusual, absurd, and irregular" in both art and design. Buildings were theatrical and used light and shadow to create drama in design, with many details showing movement with curves and shapes, or artwork giving the impression of endlessness. The Palace of Versailles was the main royal residence of France from 1682 to 1789.

Answer: Anne Hathaway's Cottage, England

Tudor architecture was the last movement of medieval architecture in England mainly during the 1500s. Tudor houses were typically timber framed, filled with wattle and daub, or occasionally brick. Residences were typically square, or simply shaped, with a steeply pitched thatch or slate roof. Anne Hathaway's Cottage is typical of Tudor style - a twelve-room farmhouse with thatched steep-pitched roof and visible framing.

The house is where Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare's wife, lived as a child.

Answer: Fagus Factory, Germany

Bauhaus, an art school in Germany, was founded by Walter Gropius and literally means "building house". Key ideas of the Bauhaus movement were simplicity in design and mass production. Decorative details were replaced with functional design; design based on the purpose and function of the building and decorative features served a purpose in the construction of the building and was not just there for ornamental purposes. Fagus Factory was designed by Walter Gropius and Adolf Meyer and is one of the earliest examples of Bauhaus architecture.

Answer: The White House, USA

Neo-classical architecture was a return to grandeur in design and is characterised by blank walls and an excessive use of columns. It reflected the desire to return to ancient Greek and Roman ideals. The White House is the official workplace and residence of the President of the United States of America and is located in Washington, DC.

The design of the building was based on Leinster House in Dublin by the architect James Hoban.

Answer: St Peter's Basilica, Italy

Renaissance architecture resembles ancient Greek and Roman thought and typified a period in Europe between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. It was first developed in Florence, before spreading to other Italian cities, and moving further into Europe. Common to the Renaissance style were square, rectangular or symmetrical shapes, Roman-type columns were in abundance, arches and domes were popular, although ceilings were generally flat and the façade of a building was usually symmetrical around a vertical axis. St Peter's Basilica can be found in Vatican City and the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture in the world, and is considered one of the holiest Catholic shrines, apparently being the final resting place of Saint Peter.

Answer: Westminster Abbey, England

Gothic architecture flourished during the high and late Middle Ages in Europe, fitting between the Romanesque and Renaissance architecture periods. Gothic architecture originated in France and was widely used in churches and cathedrals. The use of rib vaults and flying buttresses allowed more space and height for windows, and the abundant use of stained glass was typical in this style of architecture. Westminster Abbey is one of the most notable religions buildings in the United Kingdom and traditional place of coronations and burials for British monarchs.

It was first built in 960AD and was the first church in England built in the Romanesque style. Henry III rebuilt the abbey using Gothic styling in the thirteenth Century.

Answer: Sydney Opera House, Australia

Expressionist architecture came about after the introduction of new technologies, such as reinforced concrete, steel, and plate glass. Expressionism draws from many influences, with designs considered a little "off the wall". Typical building shapes aren't usually part of this type of architecture, with curves and sweeps drawing the eye along the structure and deliberate angles and points sometimes used to break the continuity and flow of the building.

The Sydney Opera House was built throughout the 1960s as a performing arts centre.

It was designed by Jan Utzon, who won a competition to design the final building.