Bat Trang Pottery Museum listed among world's 26 most beautiful buildings
VOV.VN - Vietnam's Bat Trang Pottery Museum has featured in UK-based travel magazine Time Out's updated ranking of the world's 26 most beautiful buildings to visit in 2026, sharing the global spotlight with architectural icons such as Italy's Pantheon and Egypt's Pyramids of Giza.
The museum's inclusion is particularly notable given its recent completion in 2021, placing the modern landmark alongside centuries-old wonders.
"Architecture comes in all kinds of weird and wonderful forms, and choosing the world's most beautiful buildings requires an appreciation not only of intricate craftsmanship and striking design but also of the clever use of materials and innovative construction techniques," UK-based travel magazine Time Out wrote.
Ranked 17th on the list, the Bat Trang Pottery Museum sits in a centuries-old pottery village on the outskirts of Hanoi, celebrating a ceramic-making heritage that dates back to the 11th century.
According to Time Out, "Despite the village's age, one of its newest buildings is one of its most striking – the Bát Tràng Ceramic Community House. Insights from villagers, local artisans and pottery experts informed the design of this place, a bold, tiered structure which references the shape of potters' wheels."
The museum comprises two main sections. The front four-storey block houses exhibition spaces, with the ground floor serving as a ceramic plaza, the second and third floors showcasing Bat Trang's historic glazes and ceramic works, and the top floor featuring a landscaped green space. The rear four-storey block accommodates commercial facilities, homestay accommodation for visiting experts and artisans, and restaurants highlighting Bat Trang's culinary heritage.
India's Taj Mahal topped the list, followed by London's Barbican Estate, one of the world's best-known examples of Brutalist architecture. Other landmarks featured include Hallgrímskirkja in Iceland, Sagrada Família in Spain, Ad-Deir in Petra, Jordan, Fondation Louis Vuitton in France, Nasir al-Mulk Mosque in Iran, and the Museum at Eldridge Street in New York City.
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