Google Earth recently relaunched with a host of new features to help people explore the world in even more detail without ever having to leave the air-conditioned comforts of their homes.
One of the most fascinating new features is known as Voyager and it allows people to “experience interactive stories from around the world.” Anyone can now take guided, interactive tours of famous cities, cultural landmarks, and lost civilizations. These tours have been curated by entities such as BBC Earth, DigitalGlobe, and The Ocean Agency.
Two tours, specifically, will be of interest to anyone with a passion for architecture: Frank Gehry Buildings and Architecture by Zaha Hadid.
Frank Gehry Buildings showcases eight of the architect’s designs from around the world such as the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany, Dancing House in Prague Czech Republic, and Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle Wash. Each building comes with a short blurb explaining the building’s main function.
Frank Gehry's Dancing House. Courtesy Google Earth.
Architecture by Zaha Hadid features six of the late architect’s buildings such as the London Aquatics Center, the Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruch Austria, and Havenhuis in Antwerp, Belgium.
As one moves from building to building, the map zooms out, moves over the globe to the next landmark’s location, and then zooms back in. Once at the site, one is free to move around and zoom in and out as one pleases, or allow Google Earth to automatically pan slowly around the building. Building’s can be viewed in either 2D or 3D. Each building can be explored in Street View, as well.
Voyager allows people to view these often times very familiar structures in a more macro context. Instead of the professional pictures everyone has come to associate with a building like Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall or Hadid’s MAXXI, people can now gain a better understanding of how the buildings fit into their site and the overall city.
Zaha Hadid's MAXXI museum. Courtesy Google Earth.
Other current Voyager tours include Museums Around the World, Lost Civilizations from Above, Hemingway’s Hangouts, and Following Charles Dickens.
Related Stories
Sustainability | Jul 13, 2023
Deep green retrofits: Updating old buildings to new sustainability standards
HOK’s David Weatherhead and Atenor’s Eoin Conroy discuss the challenges and opportunities of refurbishing old buildings to meet modern-day sustainability standards.
Contractors | Jul 13, 2023
Construction input prices remain unchanged in June, inflation slowing
Construction input prices remained unchanged in June compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices were also unchanged for the month.
Government Buildings | Jul 13, 2023
The recently opened U.S. Embassy in Ankara reflects U.S. values while honoring Turkish architecture
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has recently opened the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. The design by Ennead Architects aims to balance transparency and openness with security, according to a press statement. The design also seeks both to honor Turkey’s architectural traditions and to meet OBO’s goals of sustainability, resiliency, and stewardship.
Affordable Housing | Jul 12, 2023
Navigating homelessness with modular building solutions
San Francisco-based architect Chuck Bloszies, FAIA, SE, LEED AP, discusses his firm's designs for Navigation Centers, temporary housing for the homeless in northern California.
Sponsored | Fire and Life Safety | Jul 12, 2023
Fire safety considerations for cantilevered buildings [AIA course]
Bold cantilevered designs are prevalent today, as developers and architects strive to maximize space, views, and natural light in buildings. Cantilevered structures, however, present a host of challenges for building teams, according to José R. Rivera, PE, Associate Principal and Director of Plumbing and Fire Protection with Lilker.
Building Owners | Jul 12, 2023
Building movement: When is it a problem?
As buildings age, their structural conditions can deteriorate, causing damage and safety concerns. In order to mitigate this, it’s important to engage in the regular inspection and condition assessment of buildings for diagnosis.
Mass Timber | Jul 11, 2023
5 solutions to acoustic issues in mass timber buildings
For all its advantages, mass timber also has a less-heralded quality: its acoustic challenges. Exposed wood ceilings and floors have led to issues with excessive noise. Mass timber experts offer practical solutions to the top five acoustic issues in mass timber buildings.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 11, 2023
Converting downtown office into multifamily residential: Let’s stop and think about this
Is the office-to-residential conversion really what’s best for our downtowns from a cultural, urban, economic perspective? Or is this silver bullet really a poison pill?
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 10, 2023
California updates building code for adaptive reuse of office, retail structures for housing
The California Building Standards Commission recently voted to make it easier to convert commercial properties to residential use. The commission adopted provisions of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) that allow developers more flexibility for adaptive reuse of retail and office structures.
Laboratories | Jul 10, 2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture opens nation’s first biosafety level 4 containment facility for animal disease research
Replacing a seven-decade-old animal disease center, the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility includes the nation’s first facility with biosafety containment capable of housing large livestock.