5 Iconic Roof Stuctures of the World

Over the years we have worked on an extensive list of roofing projects. From flat roof garages to large scale commercial premises, our experienced team are capable of tackling just about any problem put in front of us. Recently however we read about the repair work being carried out on the Congress building in Washington. It is a massive project to repair one of the most iconic buildings in the western hemisphere and we thought we would use this week’s blog to look at just a few more of the most iconic roof structures around the world. Capitol Dome, Washington Construction work on the halls of Congress in Washington began under President George Washington in 1793, though an expansion in 1850 doubled the building's size and gave us the structure we know today. There is however nothing more eye-catching than the cast-iron roof which rises 289-feet into the air. Its famed dome is currently undergoing $60 million worth of renovation work to remove rust, repair cracks and re-paint. The work is due for completion in the autumn of 2016. Sydney Opera House, Sydney Opened in 1973, the opulent Sydney Opera House is the work of renowned Danish architect Jorn Utzon. It is located against the lavish backdrop of Sydney harbour and in total took 15 years to construct from start to finish. The mammoth theatre actually contains several distinct venues, with 1,500 performances attended by 1.2 million visitors every year. However, the theatre is most commonly known for its shell-shaped sections of roofs; each of which combined are covered by more than one million ornate ceramic tiles. Grand Palace, Bangkok The initial construction of the palace began in 1782 and was the legendary home of the King of Siam. Nowadays it is no longer the home of royalty, but continues to be one Asia’s most popular tourist attractions. Situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the site is made up of a complex of buildings and continues to be used for official state functions. It is renowned for its plush interiors, though nothing catches the eye more than the buildings red and gold tiered roofs. Covered in intricately assembled tiles, the roof’s golden spires cover the building's 2.3 MILLION square-feet footprint. St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome Following more than a century of work, St. Peter’s Basilica was consecrated in 1626. Designed by a series of the Renaissance’s leading artists and situated in the centre of the Vatican, it is one of the world’s largest churches. Though designed by several artists, nobody is credited more for its beauty that legendary painter Michelangelo. Having served as chief architect on the project between 1546 and 1564, Michelangelo designed the building’s iconic iron and concrete roof. It measures 138 feet in diameter and at a height of 448-feet it is the tallest domed roof in the world. St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow Situated in Moscow’s iconic Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral is a famed image of the Russian nation. Completed in 1561 under the reign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the decorative building served as a church until being seized by the Soviet Union in 1928. Nowadays it serves as museum and its colourful series of roofs makes it instantly recognisable around the world. Each roof comprises of an onion-shaped dome which is composed of stone and covered with tin. Centred on a rising middle structure, each creatively seals eight different side churches. It is safe to say that these impressive structures are bigger than anything we are likely to work on in Norfolk, but there is no denying their beauty! By Martin Falbisoner (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons