93 Stunning Architectural Masterpieces That Might Make You Want To Plan Your Next Trip (New Pics)

Across the Atlantic, another woman was making history of her own. Julia Morgan became California’s first licensed female architect in 1904 and went on to design more than 700 buildings throughout her career.

Her most famous project was Hearst Castle, an enormous estate in California that looks like something straight out of a European fairy tale. In 2014, she became the first woman to receive the American Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal, although the honor came more than 50 years after she passed away.

Thankfully, the following generations of female architects have gained much greater recognition. One of the most famous was Zaha Hadid, whose bold, flowing designs challenged traditional ideas about what buildings could look like.

In 2004, she became the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize, one of the profession’s highest honors. Interestingly, Hadid originally studied mathematics before pursuing architecture, which may help explain her fascination with unusual geometric forms. Her work has since become some of the most recognizable in modern architecture.

Looking at all these different approaches, it’s clear that there’s no single way to create great architecture. Some architects find inspiration in nature, while others experiment with materials or develop entirely new techniques.

And although styles will continue to change, it’s exciting to imagine which of today’s creations people might still be admiring hundreds of years from now. For now, we’re lucky to have so many incredible examples from different periods of history to enjoy.