Describe a modern building – IELTS Cue Card

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Sample Answer 1

Modern architecture is a construction style that prioritizes utility and a streamlined appearance above adornment. Sharp, crisp lines are common in this design. The modern building comes in a variety of styles across the world. However, today I’d like to discuss a well-known modern Indian structure, the Lotus Temple.

The Lotus Temple, also known as the Baha’i House of Worship, is not only an icon of modern Indian architecture but also one of the most visited religious establishments in the world. The Temple, which is situated on a 9.7-hectare plot near Nehru Place in South Delhi, is a place of worship open to people of all races, faiths, and castes.

This House of Worship is shaped like a lotus flower, considered sacred by most Indians. It is intended to express the Baha’i Faith’s simplicity, clarity, and freshness and serve as a symbol of humanity’s faith and harmony. The structure comprises three levels of nine petals each, each erupting from a pedestal that raises the edifice above the plain. The first two layers bend inward to encompass the inner dome, while the third layer curls outward to create canopies over the nine openings. The center chamber is 34 meters in diameter and stands 33.6 meters above the podium.

The whole superstructure of the Lotus temple is designed to function as a series of skylights with glass at the apex of the inner petals, beneath the outer petals, and on the exterior side of the entry petals, which is why I enjoy this architectural design. Moreover, light filters into the center hall the same way as it does through a lotus flower, making it spectacular and eye-catching.

Sample Answer 2

I think the Musee Du Louvre, better known as the Louvre Museum, located in Paris, France is a great example of a modern building. It looks like a glass pyramid with intricate structures of geometrical lines running across all directions of the pyramid. It also sports an inverted glass pyramid that acts as a skylight, extending deep into the ground. The Louvre is a massive museum housing hundreds of beautiful artifacts and paintings from the Renaissance, making it a collection of timeless beauty. In fact, the Louvre houses The Mona Lisa, one of the most expensive paintings in history, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. The Louvre was initially built as a fortress during the reign of Louis XIV but was later renovated in the 19th Century under France’s most reputed architects. I love the Louvre because it’s such a juxtaposition, a timeless classic that blends with modern architecture. It’s the largest museum in the world, and it would take over 100 days to see all the art displayed in the Louvre. It was only opened to the public in 1793, and the well-known glass pyramid was unveiled in 1993. What’s interesting about the Louvre is its rich history that contributes to the uniqueness and peculiarity of the museum. 

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Vocabulary

1. Intricate

• Meaning: having many complexly interrelating parts or elements
  Example: The beautiful dress had intricate designs.

2. Inverted

• Meaning: : to turn inside out or upside down
  Example: These may be used in either the upright or the inverted position.

3. Fortress

• Meaning: a fortified place 
  Example: There was a fortress beyond the creek.

4. Reputed

• Meaning: having a good reputation
  Example: The reputed actress made an appearance at the gala.

5. Juxtaposition

• Meaning: the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect
  Example: Notice the juxtaposition between the sunny weather and rainy clouds over the horizon.

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