There is nothing more inspiring than an impressive piece of architecture. Buildings have a way of inspiring people and profoundly affecting the way they feel. A nice building can make you feel proud to be a human. I have been fortunate enough to travel the world and I have seen an incredible array of buildings that make you proud to be part of the human race.

What amazes me is that many of the most impressive of structures were created long before automated machinery and way before long distance communication and long distance travel. The Egyptian and the Aztecs were building incredible structures entirely independently of one another. Here is my list of incredible buildings that have inspired me to become an architect in the hope that one day I'll be able to create a building that will have an effect on someone.

Golden Temple - Amritsar, India

You can't really do better than making a palace out of gold. For sheer outlandishness this gem of a building hits the top spot on my list of great buildings. Set in the Punjab area in the North West of India the temple is extremely close to the Pakistan border. The place is more than a building. With thousands of visitors entering the temple every day it is always bustling. But with the congestion there is also a profound feeling of peace and the feeling that you are welcome.

Sikh religion dictates that no Sikh should ever let another person go hungry and they have a kitchen that serves food to everybody that wants it free of charge. The golden temple sits in the middle of a lake and can only be accessed by a walkway. The lake is surrounded by a white palace that acts both as a boundary for protection and as a home to the Sikh gurus.

The Pyramids - Egypt

The pyramids are the most recognisable pieces of architecture in the world and have provoked awe and wonder since the Fourth Dynasty (c. 2575-2465 B.C.). They are among the largest structures in the world. They are visited by thousands of people every year. Put together without any kind of automated equipment many archaeologists, scientists and engineers still marvel at how they were made. The Pyramids in Cairo are surprisingly close to the city and provide a wonderful reminder of the contrast between past and present civilisations.

Nasque Jahan Square - Esfahan, Iran

One of the most underrated and unknown architectural masterpiece in the world is the Nasque Jahan Square in Esfahan, Iran. Perhaps it is because Iran is still yet to open fully to tourism and that western travellers have an irrational fear of the country. But the Nasque Jahan Square is one of the most impressive places in the world. It is an enormous enclosed square that is home to two of the most beautiful and large mosques in the world. Recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage site the square is flanked by many buildings including the Ali Qapu palace and the Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque which, in my opinion, is even more impressive than the Taj Mahal which is another fine example of Islamic architecture. The combination of incredible buildings, the clean geometric layout of the square and the vastness of the whole place really knock you sideways. It is a shame that more people don't enjoy this incredible example of architectural genius.