Valencia Opera House, Spain

Designed by Santiago Calatrava

The building, designed by Santiago Calatrava and named in honor of the queen, is meant to raise the city's profile by giving it a landmark in the style of the Sydney Opera House or the Bilbao Guggenheim. Calatrava's design is built from concrete and steel and covered with gleaming, crushed tiles. Its four performance spaces include a 1,700-seat concert hall, and holds 4,000 seats in all .