Revealed: World's most overlooked buildings

On January 4, 2010, Burj Khalifa opened to the public. To this day, there are a few man-made structures that are so instantly recognisable to people all over the world. Burj Khalifa remains one of the world’s most iconic structures, providing the backdrop to many a love story.

Yet there are plenty of lesser-known but worthy structures that go without recognition. Here are 10 stunning but often overlooked structures around the world.

Makoko Floating School

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Built for the waterfront slum of Makoko in Nigeria’s largest city, the floating school is a pilot project that is designed to address the twin challenges of climate change and population growth in coastal Africa. The wooden school structure is built on a floatation platform made of plastic barrels and was produced using local materials and resources.

Pakistan Monument

Location: Islamabad, Pakistan

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Pakistan’s stunning flower-shaped national monument represents the country’s four provinces and three territories. From the air, the monument appears in the shape of a star and crescent moon - reflecting the symbols shown on Pakistan’s flag.

Museo el Castillo

Location: Medellín, Colombia

A French castle is the last thing visitors to Colombia’s second largest city would expect to see. Once the home of a wealthy family, the Museo el Castillo was built in 1930 in the style of a Gothic castle encircled with French-style gardens. The building now houses the belongings of its former tenants, including artwork and furniture.

Moscow School of Management

Location: Skolkovo, Russia

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Designed by Tanzanian-born architect David Adjaye, the Moscow School of Management, or SKOLKOVO, is the largest private business school in Russia. The building was designed to function as an entirely independent community to protect its residents from the country’s harsh winters. Accommodation is available on site for students, teachers and administrative staff.

Moulay Ismail Mausoleum

Location: Meknès, Morocco

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The mausoleum is the final resting place of Moulay Ismail Ibn Sharif, a sultan of Meknès in the 17th Century and one of Morocco’s greatest rulers. Open to non-Muslim visitors, the building’s beautiful courtyards and inner shrine are stunning examples of Moroccan craftsmanship.

Museum of Islamic Arts

Location: Doha, Qatar

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Located on the Doha waterfront, the museum houses a large collection of Islamic art, as well as an education center and library. The building’s design by award-winning architect I.M. Pei was heavily influenced by ancient Islamic architecture and draws its inspiration from the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo.
 
Shwenandaw Monastery

Location: Mandalay, Myanmar

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This historic Buddhist monastery is one of the best examples of traditional Burmese teak  architecture and wood-carving in Myanmar. Also known as the Golden Palace Monastery, the structure is the only surviving building of the former Royal Palace built by King Mindon in the mid-nineteenth century.

Pagaruyung Palace

Location: Western Sumatra, Indonesia

Pagaruyung Palace was the royal palace of the Pagaruyung Kingdom, the seat of the

Minangkabau kings of West Sumatra. It is an example of traditional Rumah Gadang architecture, the style of housing built by the Minangkabau ethnic group. Originally built from timber, the palace has been destroyed by fire several times, most recently in 2007. These days it houses a museum and is a popular tourist destination.

José Vasconcelos Library

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

Named after José Vasconcelos, the philosopher and former president of the National Library of Mexico, this building is both a library and a botanical garden. The steel, concrete and glass building is offset by its natural surroundings of water and gardens. But it is the stunning interior of this building that secures its inclusion on this list.

Islamic Development Bank

Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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While the Kingdom Center Building is easily Saudi Arabia’s most recognisable building, the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah is just as noteworthy. Combining Islamic design with modern architecture, the structure is actually two individual towers united under a single roof structure to give the appearance of a single office building.

(Information provided by Lamudi, a property portal)

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