(Photo: Courtesy of Hearst)

2. Norman Foster’s Hearst Tower
New York City long ago lost its architectural edge. Its new buildings tend to be slick, conventional, and boring. Lord Foster’s Hearst headquarters—a soaring zigzag attached to an Art Deco base—is an essential exception to this demoralizing trend. It disrupts the eye and enlivens the street. It arouses intense feelings of both like and dislike in New Yorkers, a sign of healthy architectural passion. Its hollowed-out interior, which has the otherworldly quality of a stage set, has even become a hot ticket. It isn’t easy to view unless you know someone inside.