Architectural landmarks can define a city. A mention of Paris conjures images of the Eiffel Tower, whilst no description of Sydney is complete without mentioning its inspiring Opera House. How disorientating it must be, therefore, to encounter a familiar architectural wonder far removed from the city, or country to which it belongs. As it happens, many of our most famous structures have their own "twins," heavily-inspired by their originals, that you may not have been aware of.
Tower Bridge, London
In March 2017, we reported on a copy of London’s famous Tower Bridge, which emerged in the Chinese city of Suzhou. Although completed in 2012, the replica of London’s Victorian landmark has recently been doubled, to accommodate a five-lane highway.
Elizabeth Tower, London
Located in Kolkata, India, this 1/3 scale replica of London’s iconic clock tower (often referred to by the name of its bell, Big Ben) was opened in October 2015. A result of the Bengal Chief Minister’s dream of making Kolkata as glorious as London, the 30m tall tower has attracted a wave of criticism from local residents who perceive the project as a waste of public money.
The Colosseum, Rome
On New Year’s Eve 2006, the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf in China was opened to the public. Amongst its 18th century inspired hotels, boulevards, and casino, there exists a replica of Rome’s famous Colosseum. Equipped with 2,000 seats, the amphitheater serves as an outdoor concert venue, with a semi-ruined structure taking inspiration from its identical Roman twin.
Moai Statues, Easter Island
In a business district of Beijing, China, a row of Easter Island’s famous Moai statues line a pedestrian walkway. The replicas were erected in 2011, in contrast to the Easter Island originals, which date between 1250 and 1500AD. Fortunately, only 12 of the 887 ancient originals have been replicated.
Bonus – Window of the World Theme Park, China
Featuring miniaturized replicas of the some of the most famous architectural landmarks in the world, the Window of the World theme park in Shenzhen, China has made architecture the main attraction of a fun amusement theme park. The 48 Ha park contains 130 replicas of iconic buildings and monuments, including the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Correction Update: This article has been amended to clarify that these structures are heavily-inspired renditions of the original buildings, rather than true identical twins as suggested by the original text. We have also removed one example which featured an incorrect image description and which didn't match the theme of the article. Thank you to our readers for their feedback on the post.
Twice as Nice? Suzhou's Latest Architectural Homage Copies London's "Tower Bridge"
It's common knowledge that China has "at least 10 White Houses, four Arcs de Triomphe, a couple of Great Sphinxes and at least one Eiffel Tower," report the New York Times . But now photographs of a copy of London's famous Tower Bridge (a Victorian riparian gateway to the city) in the Chinese city of Suzhou have emerged - and it's been adapted to suit a five-lane highway.
