10 historical buildings whose original appearance we can only see in mock-ups (12 photos)

Nothing lasts forever, even if we are talking about something built from the most durable materials and representing real historical value.



Even the most impressive bridges and skyscrapers sometimes have to be demolished or rebuilt, making them less beautiful, but more practical and modern. And it’s impossible to count how many stunning buildings have not survived the wars!

Here are a dozen buildings from the past, whose original appearance we can only see in photos, drawings or models. Well, at least that way!

Bridge over the North Elbe in Hamburg, Germany







It was rebuilt in 1959.

Trocadéro Palace and the Palais de Chaillot, built in its place, Paris



The Trocadéro Palace was built in 1878, but Parisians did not like it. In 1937, a new palace appeared in its place, which still stands today.

Bamiyan Buddha statue in Afghanistan before and after destruction



The 6th-century statue was blown up by the Taliban in 2001.

Royal Opera House in Valletta, Malta



The theater, built in 1866, was destroyed in 1942 as a result of a Luftwaffe air raid.

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York was demolished to make way for the Empire State Building.



Years of hotel existence: 1893-1929.

Old San Francisco City Hall before and after the 1906 earthquake



In 1916, a new city hall was built in the city, which is located two blocks from the destroyed one.

Osborne Hall, Yale University's New Haven campus, and its replacement, Bingham Hall



Photos from 1901 and 2018. This place in the city was considered too loud for an educational institution, so a student dormitory was built here.

The New Netherland Hotel in New York and the Sherry-Netherland residential skyscraper built in its place



Years of hotel existence: 1892-1927.

Erzsebet Bridge in Budapest before and after restoration



The bridge was rebuilt after its destruction in 1945.

Bologna Towers, Italy



In the 12th-13th centuries, Italian Bologna was completely built up with towers - there were about 180 of them. Then it was believed that every wealthy resident of the city should have his own tower. Over time, the idea was recognized as unsafe (many buildings had a known property of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa) and the structures began to be shortened or completely dismantled.

About a dozen towers have survived to this day, but among them the tallest is the 97-meter Asinelli Tower (rightmost in the photo). The picture on the left shows a model of medieval Bologna with all the towers. The city is often called the ancestor of modern Manhattan.