From Gotham City passing by Metropolis 1927, Star Wars' Tatooine or Kamino, Electropolis and more, countless are the architectural styles and worlds that we have only seen through the screen or paper, but that never were.
In our shared reality, history has seen such magnific Projects being designed but never accomplished, too. Futuristic reshapes of Paris like Le Corbusier's 'Plan Voisin', or the 'Cenotaph for Newton' by E.L. Boullée, are just examples of larger-than-life planifications that just exceeded the resources, the capabilities, and the public opinion of their times and stayed simply as that - drafts.
Here we bring 5 of the most important and biggest buildings ever designed whose base idea has been imprinted in Architecture forever:
1. Tatlin’s Tower: The Monument That Never Was
In 1919, Russian artist and architect Vladimir Tatlin envisioned a radical monument for the future—The Monument to the Third International, known as Tatlin’s Tower. This spiraling iron and glass structure, designed to rotate dynamically, symbolized progress and modernization. Though never built, its visionary design remains an icon of Constructivist architecture, inspiring generations of architects and designers. #TatlinTower #Constructivism #AvantGarde #UnbuiltArchitecture #Tatlin
2. Architecton dwelling project K.Malevich: The Geometry of Utopia
In the 1920s, Kazimir Malevich—pioneer of Suprematism—designed the Architectons, abstract geometric models envisioning a radical new approach to architecture. Floating, asymmetrical, and devoid of function, these sculptural forms rejected tradition, aiming for a utopian, gravity-defying future. Though never realized as dwellings, their influence echoes in modern minimalist and futuristic design. #Malevich #Architectons #Suprematism #AvantGarde #AbstractArchitecture #UnbuiltVision #ModernistIcons #FuturistDesign
3. 1492 Columbus by Melnikov: A Really Modern tribute to the Past
Designed in 1929 by Konstantin Melnikov, the 1492 Columbus project was a visionary proposal for a grand monument celebrating the Age of Exploration. Conceived as a towering, dynamic structure, it reflected Melnikov’s bold Constructivist ideals, blending geometric abstraction with symbolic representation. If you like this style, it is very worth having a look at all the entries to the 1929 Monument to Christopher Columbus competition. #Melnikov #1492Columbus #Constructivism #AvantGarde #UnbuiltArchitecture #ModernistVision
4. Krutikov’s Flying City: A Utopian Dream in the Sky
In 1928, Soviet architect Georgy Krutikov imagined a radical future—The Flying City. Designed as a network of airborne dwellings suspended above the Earth, this visionary project aimed to free humanity from land constraints. Blending Constructivism with futuristic technology, Krutikov’s concept remains one of the most ambitious unbuilt projects in architectural history. A bold dream of a gravity-defying utopia! #FlyingCity #Krutikov #Constructivism #FuturistArchitecture #AvantGarde #UtopianDesign #UnbuiltArchitecture #VisionaryCities
5. The Hotel Attraction: Gaudí’s Unbuilt Vision for New York
In 1908, Antoni Gaudí designed a breathtaking skyscraper for New York—the Hotel Attraction. With its organic shapes, soaring domes, and intricate details, the project was decades ahead of its time. Though never built, its influence can still be felt in modern architecture. Imagine the Manhattan skyline with a touch of Gaudí’s genius! #Gaudi #HotelAttraction #NYCArchitecture #UnbuiltMasterpiece #ArchitecturalVision #Modernisme
The non-consecution of these buildings doesn't mean that they didn't inspire future projects and architects themselves.
In fact, the echo of these buildings is as present as ever, and movements like the Bauhaus, Modern Architecture, and Sci-Fi masterworks have drank from the fountains of futurism and out-of-the-box thinking of these designs. If anything, these were bold ideas, and boldness rocks.
And you? Would you like to mention any other architectural project that would have liked to see made?