The "Architecture Olympics"

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With the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver fast approaching, I have been thinking more and more about everything that I see as a form of competition. Not just sports - imagine the top culinary chefs facing off, car manufacturers revving up, and the politicians... well, let's just leave politics out of this. With this premise in mind, I bring you the hypothetical "Architecture Olympics."

Our arrival in New York reminded me of what America is good at architecturally, with its bright lights and towering buildings probably offering the best chance for America to grab a medal. Call it our Michael Phelps of prefabrication. Yet my travels to over 23 European nations has convinced me that the Old World still may still hold the edge. Here's my breakdown of Europe's top architecture, by nation.

Honorable Mention

FRANCE

Paris - it's iconic, but you know what Lloyd Christmas said about the French.

BELGIUM

Bruges - not just the site of a Colin Farrell movie

SLOVENIA

Bratislava is a definite darkhorse

DISQUALIFIED DUE TO ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES: Holland, Russia

BRONZE MEDAL: Switzerland

The Swan is real... I'm serious.

When you look at Switzerland, you want to go over and touch it to make sure its real. You consider having your dinner served on the ground - it's that clean. Oh yeah, and the lakes have swans, because, well... why not. Add in the Alps as a backdrop and cowbells for your soundtrack, and you pretty much have the picture. Or was it just the chocolate in my hand that influenced my vote?

Lakefront Luzern

SILVER MEDAL: Austria

Innsbruck's colorful buildings stand out against the snow

They may have won the gold at the 2009 European Football Championships, but the silver in building beauty goes to Austria. Vienna might be the most underrated architectural city in Europe. Salzburg is alive with the sound of music. And my last hometown of Innsbruck makes the Tiroleans' swell with pride. In a word with many slashes, Austria is quaint/beautiful/cute/cool.

Salzburg

There's a reason that the word Alm has no English translation.

GOLD MEDAL: Italy

Positano

No one does iconic architecture better than the country that gave us the Coliseum, Leaning Tower, and the Vatican. And like the wine, it seems to get better with time. Just taking a glance at these masterpieces provides the same calming effect as a glass of Chianti. Here's a few of my favorite shots from the Gold Medalist in the 2009 Architecture Olympics, Italy.

Venice Street, aka Canal

What more can I say? Colorful Cinque Terre

~ J. Twice