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Are you looking for some interesting Architecture quiz questions? You’ve come to the right place!
Architecture is the art of designing and building. It comprises a lot of technical elements as well as a lot of aesthetic ones.
While architecture is not always the first form of art we think of, it’s one that we are all quite fascinated about.
As an avid traveller myself, I absolutely love discovering new buildings and learning about how they were built and why the architects made specific choices.
Needless to say that I had a lot of questions to ask my guide when I went to New York City!
If that’s a topic you are particularly interested in, these 5 rounds of architecture quiz questions with answers will be perfect for you.
They will test your knowledge of all things architecture related including different approaches and famous buildings.
Round 1: Easy Architecture Trivia Questions
- Which French architect and structural engineer designed the Eiffel Tower?
- What is the tallest building in the world?
- Which architecture style is derived from the work of Andrea Palladio?
- The neoclassical movement began in which century?
- The Barbican, Boston City Hall and Habitat 67 are all designed in which architectural style?
- What is the name of the traditional round tent used by nomadic tribes in Central Asia?
- Hellensitic architecture refers to architecture from or based on that of which civilisation?
- Though now a mosque, the Hagia Sophia was originally built as what?
- Which British monarch took a keen interest in architecture, creating designs for the development of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Brighton Pavilion and Carlton House?
- What kind of building is the Taj Mahal?
Round 1: Easy Architecture Trivia Questions and Answers
- Which French architect and structural engineer designed the Eiffel Tower? Gustave Eiffel
- What is the tallest building in the world? Berg Khalifa
- Which architecture style is derived from the work of Andrea Palladio? Palladian
- The neoclassical movement began in which century? 18th century
- The Barbican, Boston City Hall and Habitat 67 are all designed in which architectural style? Brutalism
- What is the name of the traditional round tent used by nomadic tribes in Central Asia? Yurt (or Ger)
- Hellensitic architecture refers to architecture from or based on that of which civilisation? Ancient Greece
- Though now a mosque, the Hagia Sophia was originally built as what? A Church
- Which British monarch took a keen interest in architecture, creating designs for the development of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Brighton Pavilion and Carlton House? George IV
- What kind of building is the Taj Mahal? Mausoleum (or Tomb)
Round 2: Architecture Multiple-Choice Questions
- Which of the following is not one of the seven architectural design principles?
- Balance
- Scale
- Emphasis
- Utility
- What is the heaviest building in the world?
- The Pentagon Building, Virginia
- One World Trade Centre, New York
- The Palace of Parliament, Bucharest
- The Imperial Palace, Beijing
- Which of the following buildings is not built in the Romanesque style?
- Saint Geoge’s Basilica, Prague
- Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Santiago de Compostela
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa
- Fractal scaling is a key proponent of the traditional architecture of which region?
- Polynesia
- South Asia
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Central America
- Which architect designed the MI6 building in London?
- Terry Farrel
- Nicholas Grimshaw
- Robert Venturi
- Micahel Graves
- According to a famous quote by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, ‘architecture begins when you put two [whats] together well’?
- Bricks
- Stones
- Sticks
- Idea
- Structural expressionism is also known as what?
- Cubism
- Postmodernism
- Futurism
- High-Tech architecture
- How many years did it take to build the Taj Mahal?
- 22 years
- 72 years
- 122 years
- 172 years
- Danish architect Jørn Utzon was relatively unknown before he was commissioned to design which iconic building?
- Woolworth Building, New York
- Sydney Opera House, Sydney
- Møsgård Museum, Århus
- The Gherkin, London
- In which country did Peter Vetsch build his first ‘Earth Houses?’
- Belgium
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Ireland
Round 2: Architecture Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers
- Which of the following is not one of the seven architectural design principles? D. Utility
- What is the heaviest building in the world? C. The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest
- Which of the following buildings is not built in the Romanesque style? B. Saint Paul’s Cathedral
- Fractal scaling is a key proponent of the traditional architecture of which region? C. Africa
- Which architect designed the MI6 building in London? A. Terry Farrel
- According to a famous quote by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, ‘architecture begins when you put two [whats] together well’? A. Bricks
- Structural expressionism is also known as what? D. High-Tech architecture
- How many years did it take to build the Taj Mahal? A. 22 years
- Danish architect Jørn Utzon was relatively unknown before he was commissioned to design which iconic building? B. The Sydney Opera House
- In which country did Peter Vetsch build his first ‘Earth Houses?’ c. Switzerland
Round 3: Architecture Quiz – True or False
- The primary solids are considered to be the circle, triangle and square.
- The mortar for the Bridge of Eggs in Lima, Peru was made from ten thousand egg whites instead of water.
- The Romanesque style is characterised by square arches supported by columns.
- Though originally designed in the Baroque style by architect Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli, Cathrine the Great ordered that neoclassical elements be included in the final design for the Winter Palace to symbolise Russia’s closeness to Europe.
- Vaulted cupolas and swivelling colonnades are both key features of Baroque architecture.
- The first five Pritzker Architecture Awards were all awarded to American architects.
- In 2020, President Trump signed an executive order requiring all new federal buildings in Washington DC and new federal courthouses nationwide to be built in the neoclassical style.
- It took over 200 years to build the Notre Dame in Paris.
- In order to make art more accessible to the general population, the Soviet Union built elaborate bus stops in various local architectural styles.
- Though originally built as a display of wealth for influential land owners, Pagodas took on a religious function as Buddhism spread through East Asia.
Round 3: Architecture Quiz Answers – True or False
- The primary solids are considered to be the circle, triangle and square. False, those are the primary shapes.
- The mortar for the Bridge of Eggs in Lima, Peru was made from ten thousand egg whites instead of water. True.
- The Romanesque style is characterised by square arches supported by columns. False, it’s characterised by semi-circular arches.
- Though originally designed in the Baroque style by architect Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli, Cathrine the Great ordered that neoclassical elements be included in the final design for the Winter Palace to symbolise Russia’s closeness to Europe. True.
- Vaulted cupolas and swivelling colonnades are both key features of Baroque architecture. True.
- The first five Pritzker Architecture Awards were all awarded to American architects. False.
- In 2020, President Trump signed an executive order requiring all new federal buildings in Washington DC and new federal courthouses nationwide to be built in the neoclassical style. True.
- It took over 200 years to build the Notre Dame in Paris. True
- In order to make art more accessible to the general population, the Soviet Union built elaborate bus stops in various local architectural styles. True.
- Though originally built as a display of wealth for influential land owners, Pagodas took on a religious function as Buddhism spread through East Asia. False, Pagodas have always been religious buildings.
Round 4: Medium Architecture Trivia Questions
- What is the term for a structural piece of wood, stone or metal jutting from a wall, used to carry a superincumbent weight?
- What is unique about 33 Thomas Street in New York (formerly known as the AT&T Long Lines Building)?
- Which early proponent of the Art Nouveau movement was given the title of Baron by King Albert I for his contribution to Brussels’ architectural landscape?
- What is the name for an empty floor in a building that designers for New York skyscrapers have been known to use to bypass city limits on building height?
- Which architectural movement is characterised by buildings with organic, amoeba-shaped forms?
- Which iconic stadium’s porous structure, chosen to represent its status as a collective, public building, earned it the nickname ‘the Bird’s Nest’?
- Which American architect is regarded as the father of modern American architecture for laying the groundwork for skyscraper design?
- What building material do the UNESCO listed churches in Binarowa, Blizne, Dębno, Haczów, Lipnica Murowana, and Sękowa all have in common?
- Who designed the Casa Batlló in Barcelona?
- Which earthenware building material is used in Pueblo Revival and Territorial Revival architecture?
Round 4: Medium Architecture Trivia Questions and Answers
- What is the term for a structural piece of wood, stone or metal jutting from a wall, used to carry a superincumbent weight? Corbel
- What is unique about 33 Thomas Street in New York (formerly known as the AT&T Long Lines Building)? It has no windows
- Which early proponent of the Art Nouveau movement was given the title of Baron by King Albert I for his contribution to Brussels’ architectural landscape? Victor Horta
- What is the name for an empty floor in a building that designers for New York skyscrapers have been known to use to bypass city limits on building height? Mechanical Void
- Which architectural movement is characterised by buildings with organic, amoeba-shaped forms? Blobitecture (or Blobism)
- Which iconic stadium’s porous structure, chosen to represent its status as a collective, public building, earned it the nickname ‘the Bird’s Nest’? The Beijing National Stadium
- Which American architect is regarded as the father of modern American architecture for laying the groundwork for skyscraper design? Louis Sullivan
- What building material do the UNESCO listed churches in Binarowa, Blizne, Dębno, Haczów, Lipnica Murowana, and Sękowa all have in common? Wood
- Who designed the Casa Batlló in Barcelona? Antoni Gaudí
- Which earthenware building material is used in Pueblo Revival and Territorial Revival architecture? Adobe
Round 5: Hard Architecture Trivia Questions
- Which architect won the inaugural Pritzker Architecture Award in 1979?
- In which country would you find the Hakima Complex, the highly praised redesign of a desalict mosque into a modern mosque and secular library?
- The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow was originally built in the early 19th century but was torn down by the Communist regime, who used the site to build the largest [what] in the world?
- What is the name of the movement founded by Swedish architect Eric Norin which aims to bring classical aesthetics back to modern urban design?
- What is the name of the most famous of Petra’s rock-cut façades?
- Complete the quote by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright: ‘A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise his clients…’
- Which architect designed the London Aquatics Centre, MAXXi Museum, Guangzhou Opera House and Broad Art Museum?
- What is the term for a wedge-shaped element (usually a stone) found around the curve of an arch?
- Which New York museum is known to create a calming effect on its visitors for its curved shapes, natural light and neutral colours?
- Which sustainable home built by Colombian architect Octavio Mendoza is known by locals as Casa de Flintstones?
Round 5: Hard Architecture Trivia Questions and Answers
- Which architect won the inaugural Pritzker Architecture Award in 1979? Philip Johnson
- In which country would you find the Hakima Complex, the highly praised redesign of a desalict mosque into a modern mosque and secular library? Niger.
- The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow was originally built in the early 19th century but was torn down by the Communist regime, who used the site to build the largest [what] in the world? Swimming pool.
- What is the name of the movement founded by Swedish architect Eric Norin which aims to bring classical aesthetics back to modern urban design? Uprising Movement
- What is the name of the most famous of Petra’s rock-cut façades? The Treasury (or Khazneh)
- Complete the quote by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright: ‘A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise his clients…’ To plant vines
- Which architect designed the London Aquatics Centre, MAXXi Museum, Guangzhou Opera House and Broad Art Museum? Zaha Hadid
- What is the term for a wedge-shaped element (usually a stone) found around the curve of an arch? Voussoir
- Which New York museum is known to create a calming effect on its visitors for its curved shapes, natural light and neutral colours? Guggenheim Museum
- Which sustainable home built by Colombian architect Octavio Mendoza is known by locals as Casa de Flintstones? Casa Terracota
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