EDITOR Grace Zhang｜PHOTO The Historic Park Inn Hotel, Pella, Decorah, University of Iowa, Basilica of St. John, Grotto of the Redemption, Des Moines
提起愛荷華州，人們腦海中浮現的往往是起伏的玉米田、田園詩般的農舍和小鎮生活。雖然這樣的印像不無道理，但許多人卻忽略了愛荷華州豐富多樣的建築景觀，它體現了該州的農業根基、移民遺產、藝術視野和創新精神。從舉世聞名的傑作到奇特的隱世瑰寶，愛荷華州的建築講述了一個鄉村州的故事：歷史與創意在磚塊、玻璃、鋼鐵和木材的交融中交織。
這個位於中西部的州，在文化舞台上常常被低估，卻擁有一些美國最令人意想不到、最引人入勝的建築。愛荷華州的建築不僅滿足於實用功能，更激發人們的好奇心，吸引好奇的旅行者，並提醒居民他們與社區、地方和歷史的深厚聯繫。
When people think of Iowa, they often picture rolling cornfields, rural farmhouses, and small-town life. While that image holds some truth to it, what many overlook is Iowa’s rich and varied architectural landscape, one that reflects the state’s agricultural roots, immigrant heritage, artistic vision, and innovative spirit. From world-renowned masterpieces to quirky hidden gems, Iowa’s architecture tells the story of a place where history meets creativity in bricks, glass, steel, and wood in a countryside state.
This Midwestern state, often underestimated on the cultural stage, is home to some of the most unexpected and fascinating buildings in America. Iowa’s architecture doesn’t just serve function; it inspires wonder, attracts curious travelers, and reminds residents of their deep connections to community, place, and past.
草原根源與建築創新
Prairie Roots and Architectural Innovation
愛荷華州最具代表性的建築遺產或許與弗蘭克·勞埃德·賴特息息相關，他是美國歷史上最具影響力的建築師之一。賴特的有機建築理念，即建築與自然和諧融合，在愛荷華州得到了令人嘆為觀止的體現。
Perhaps the most iconic architectural legacy in Iowa is tied to Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most influential architects in American history. Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture, where buildings blend harmoniously with nature, finds stunning expression in Iowa.
梅森城歷史公園飯店
The Historic Park Inn Hotel – Mason City
歷史悠久的公園飯店 (Park Inn Hotel) 位於梅森城，是弗蘭克勞埃德賴特設計的最後一家飯店。酒店最初於 1910 年開業，將草原學派建築風格與賴特獨特的設計理念完美融合。其簡潔的線條、強調水平線條的設計、藝術玻璃窗以及與周圍景觀的巧妙融合，使其成為一座歷史瑰寶，也是創新的鮮明見證。
遊客蜂擁至梅森城，不僅是為了酒店，也是為了附近的斯托克曼故居（Stockman House，同樣由賴特設計）以及城中的岩脊-巖谷歷史街區（Rock Crest-Rock Glen Historic District），這個街區遍布著賴特同時代人設計的草原學派住宅。這些建築群使梅森城成為中西部地區罕見的朝聖地，吸引來自世界各地的設計愛好者和建築師。
Located in Mason City, the Historic Park Inn Hotel is the last remaining hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Originally opened in 1910, the Park Inn combines Prairie School architecture with Wright’s distinctive vision. Its clean lines, horizontal emphasis, art glass windows, and integration with the surrounding landscape make it both a historical treasure and a living testament to innovation.
Visitors flock to Mason City not just for the hotel, but for the nearby Stockman House, also designed by Wright, and the city’s Rock Crest–Rock Glen Historic District, a neighborhood filled with Prairie School homes by Wright’s contemporaries. This cluster of architecture makes Mason City a rare Midwest pilgrimage site for design enthusiasts and architects from around the world.
歷史悠久的公園飯店 – 梅森城 Historic Park Inn Hotel – Mason City
小鎮特色：荷蘭、德國和斯堪的納維亞的影響
愛荷華州的移民歷史深深刻在小鎮的建築中，荷蘭山牆、德國木結構和斯堪的納維亞的簡約風格反映了塑造該州的文化。
Small-Town Character: Dutch, German, and Scandinavian Influences
Iowa’s immigrant history is etched into the buildings of its small towns, where Dutch gables, German timber framing, and Scandinavian simplicity reflect the cultures that helped shape the state.
佩拉：荷蘭建築與歐洲魅力
Pella: Dutch Architecture and European Charm
在佩拉，愛荷華州濃厚的荷蘭傳統得到了充分展現。小鎮的中心廣場給人的感覺更像是荷蘭，而非美國中西部。維梅爾風車高達124英尺，是美國目前仍在運行的最高穀物風車，也是社區對其起源的驕傲的有力像徵。佩拉市中心擁有磚砌的街道、山牆式店面、帶有百葉窗的荷蘭式窗戶，以及一條貫穿城鎮廣場的運河。遊客來到佩拉，不僅是為了一年一度的鬱金香節，也是為了欣賞小鎮精心保存、精心佈置的建築。
In Pella, Iowa’s strong Dutch heritage is on full display. The town’s central square feels more like the Netherlands than the American Midwest. The Vermeer Windmill, standing at 124 feet tall, is the tallest working grain windmill in the U.S. and a powerful symbol of the community’s pride in its origins.
Downtown Pella features brick streets, gabled storefronts, Dutch-style windows with shutters, and a canal that runs through the town square. Tourists visit Pella not only for the annual Tulip Time Festival, but also to admire the town’s architecture, which is meticulously preserved and charmingly curated.
維梅爾風車 – 佩拉 Vermeer Windmill – Pella
Decorah：北歐設計根源
Decorah: Nordic Roots in Design
在迪科拉，挪威文化遺產影響著小鎮的外觀和氛圍。韋斯特海姆挪威裔美國人博物館收藏了一系列傳統的挪威木屋和農場建築，展現了斯堪的納維亞的簡約風格和精湛工藝。即使是迪科拉的新建築也體現了這種傳統：簡潔的線條、天然的材料和實用的美感。
這些城鎮展現了愛荷華州的移民社區如何精心打造週邊環境，將舊世界的美學和建築結構帶入中西部腹地。
In Decorah, Norwegian heritage influences both the look and feel of the town. The Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum includes a collection of traditional Norwegian log houses and farm buildings, which highlight Scandinavian simplicity and craftsmanship. Even new construction in Decorah reflects this legacy, clean lines, natural materials, and functional beauty.
These towns showcase how immigrant communities in Iowa shaped their surroundings with care, bringing the aesthetics and structures of the Old World into the heart of the Midwest.
德科拉韋斯特海姆挪威裔美國博物館 Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Decorah
學術輝煌：愛荷華大學和愛荷華州立大學
愛荷華州最有趣的建築都位於大學校園裡，傳統與前衛設計在這裡完美融合。
Academic Grandeur: The University of Iowa and Iowa State
Some of Iowa’s most interesting architecture can be found on college campuses, where tradition meets cutting-edge design.
愛荷華大學-愛荷華城分校
University of Iowa – Iowa City
愛荷華大學校園融合了古典與現代風格。擁有新古典主義圓頂的舊國會大廈矗立在校園中心，曾是愛荷華州政府所在地。如今，它已成為一座博物館，象徵著公民的自豪感。而由佩利·克拉克·佩利建築事務所設計的愛荷華先進技術實驗室 (IATL) 則以反光玻璃和銳利的棱角，呈現出時尚的未來主義風格。 2016 年竣工的沃克斯曼音樂大樓是另一個建築亮點，它擁有引人注目的玻璃幕牆和高聳的表演空間，聲光交相輝映，光影交相輝映，熠熠生輝。
The University of Iowa campus blends classical and modern styles. The Old Capitol Building, with its neoclassical dome, stands at the heart of the campus and was once the seat of Iowa’s government. Today, it serves as a museum and symbol of civic pride.
In contrast, the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories (IATL), designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, offers a sleek, futuristic look with reflective glass and sharp angles. The Voxman Music Building, completed in 2016, is another architectural highlight, with a dramatic glass curtain wall and soaring performance spaces that echo sound and light with equal brilliance.
愛荷華大學愛荷華城分校舊國會大廈 Old Capitol Building, University of Iowa – Iowa City
愛荷華先進技術實驗室，IATL，愛荷華大學愛荷華城分校 Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories, IATL, University of Iowa – Iowa City
愛荷華州立大學艾姆斯分校
Iowa State University – Ames
愛荷華州立大學位於艾姆斯，校園內遍佈建築瑰寶。比爾德希爾樓（Beardshear Hall）採用布雜藝術風格建造，是該校歷史核心的象徵。附近的樞紐（The Hub）、柯蒂斯大樓（Curtiss Hall）和鐘樓（Campanile）則以紅磚和石灰石裝飾，體現了20世紀早期學院式的建築風格。
更現代化的建築，例如設計學院大樓，其樸素的混凝土和大膽的幾何造型，體現了愛荷華州立大學在建築和規劃教育領域的領先地位。這種新舊交融的建築風格展現了愛荷華州教育機構既傳承傳統，也大膽創新的一面。
In Ames, Iowa State University boasts a campus full of architectural gems. Beardshear Hall, built in a Beaux-Arts style, anchors the university’s historic core. Nearby, The Hub, Curtiss Hall, and the Campanile reflect early 20th-century collegiate architecture with red brick and limestone trim.
More modern additions like the College of Design building, with its stark concrete and bold geometry, reflect Iowa State’s leadership in architecture and planning education. This mix of old and new showcases Iowa’s educational institutions as spaces of both tradition and bold experimentation.
愛荷華州立大學艾姆斯分校比爾德希爾樓 Beardshear Hall, Iowa State University – Ames
愛荷華州立大學艾姆斯分校設計學院 College of Design, Iowa State University – Ames
神聖空間：教堂與精神建築
在愛荷華州，宗教建築為城鎮增添了美麗、特色和寧靜。
Sacred Spaces: Churches and Spiritual Architecture
Across Iowa, religious architecture adds beauty, character, and serenity to towns and cities.
聖約翰大教堂 – 得梅因
Basilica of St. John – Des Moines
愛荷華州最美麗、最華麗的教堂之一是位於得梅因的聖約翰大教堂。這座教堂於1927年竣工，擁有羅馬式建築風格，採用從德國進口的彩色玻璃，以及聳立在天際線上的穹頂。
One of the most beautiful and ornate churches in Iowa is the Basilica of St. John in Des Moines. Completed in 1927, the basilica features Romanesque architecture, stained glass imported from Germany, and a soaring dome that dominates the skyline.
聖約翰大教堂 – 得梅因 Basilica of St. John – Des Moines
救贖石窟——西本德
Grotto of the Redemption – West Bend
愛荷華州最引人入勝的宗教建築或許要數位位於西本德的救贖石窟了。這座宏偉的人工聖殿被一些人譽為“世界第八大奇蹟”，由來自世界各地的礦物和石材手工打造而成。救贖石窟由保羅·多伯斯坦神父歷時40餘年建成，擁有九個獨立的石窟，描繪了基督的生平，用從玫瑰石英到鐘乳石等各種材質建造而成。
救贖石窟不僅因其精神寓意而吸引遊客，更因其大膽的藝術設計——它打破了傳統的設計規則，卻又能觸動靈魂。
Perhaps the most fascinating religious structure in Iowa is the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend. Dubbed “the Eighth Wonder of the World” by some, this massive, hand-built shrine is made of minerals and stones from around the world. Built over 40 years by Father Paul Dobberstein, the Grotto features nine separate grottos depicting the life of Christ, constructed with everything from rose quartz to stalactites.
Visitors are drawn to the Grotto for its spiritual message, but also for its artistic audacity, a structure that defies traditional design rules and yet speaks to the soul.
救贖石窟 – 西彎 Grotto of the Redemption – West Bend
城市復興與現代設計
雖然愛荷華州的建築魅力主要體現在其小城鎮和鄉村地區，但其城市也正在經歷設計復興。
Urban Revitalization and Modern Design
While much of Iowa’s architectural charm lies in its small towns and rural areas, its cities are also experiencing a design renaissance.
得梅因：現代首都
Des Moines: A Modern Capital
愛荷華州首府愛荷華州是政府、商業和文化的中心，其建築風格也體現了這一點。愛荷華州議會大廈擁有閃耀的23克拉黃金圓頂和文藝復興式的設計，是美國最令人嘆為觀止的州議會大廈之一。
同時，得梅因市中心也透過克勞斯門戶中心等項目擁抱了現代建築，該中心由世界著名建築師倫佐·皮亞諾設計，將鋼鐵、玻璃和綠地融入一座尖端企業總部。
其他亮點包括得梅因藝術中心，其部分設計由埃利爾·沙裡寧、貝聿銘和理查德·邁耶共同設計，他們各自以各自的標誌性風格為博物館貢獻了一翼。這種獨特的建築合作使其成為藝術和設計愛好者的必遊之地。
Iowa’s capital city is a hub of government, business, and culture, and its architecture reflects this. The Iowa State Capitol, with its gleaming 23-karat gold dome and Renaissance Revival design, is one of the most stunning state capitol buildings in the U.S.
Meanwhile, downtown Des Moines has embraced modern architecture through projects like the Krause Gateway Center, designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, which combines steel, glass, and green space in a cutting-edge corporate headquarters.
Other highlights include the Des Moines Art Center, designed in parts by Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Richard Meier, each contributing a wing to the museum in their signature styles. This unique architectural collaboration makes it a must-see for art and design lovers alike.
克勞斯門戶中心 – 得梅因 Krause Gateway Center – Des Moines
得梅因藝術中心 – 得梅因 Des Moines Art Center – Des Moines
愛荷華州的建築為何如此吸引人並鼓舞人心
那麼，愛荷華州的建築為何如此特別？又為何持續吸引來自全國各地的遊客、設計師和藝術家？
- 真實性：愛荷華州的建築反映了移民、信仰、教育和創新的真實故事。它的建築瑰寶絕非人為製造或模仿。
- 驚喜：從弗蘭克·勞埃德·賴特設計的酒店到荷蘭風車和寶石覆蓋的石窟，遊客常常會對愛荷華州的景觀感到驚訝。
- 工藝：愛荷華州許多最美麗的建築都是手工打造的，精心雕琢，寓意深遠，充滿藝術感。這種精湛的工藝至今仍在建築中迴響。
- 社區連結：愛荷華州的建築不僅僅是居住者或機構，它們將社區凝聚在一起。無論是農業小鎮的教堂，或是校園的四合院，這些空間都能培養歸屬感。
- 保護與進步的交融：愛荷華州在歷史建築的保護與前瞻性設計之間取得平衡。這創造了過去和未來之間的對話，豐富了景觀。
Why Iowa’s Architecture Attracts and Inspires
So what makes Iowa’s architecture so special, and why does it continue to attract tourists, designers, and artists from across the country?
- Authenticity: Iowa’s buildings reflect real stories of immigration, faith, education, and innovation. There’s nothing manufactured or imitative about its architectural gems.
- Surprise: From Frank Lloyd Wright hotels to Dutch windmills and gemstone-covered grottos, visitors are often surprised by what they find in Iowa’s landscape.
- Craftsmanship: Many of Iowa’s most beautiful buildings were made by hand, with care, with meaning, and with artistry. That sense of craftsmanship still resonates in the architecture of today.
- Community Connection: Buildings in Iowa don’t just house people or institutions; they bring communities together. Whether it’s a church in a farming town or a campus quad, these spaces foster belonging.
- Preservation Meets Progress: Iowa balances the preservation of its historical structures with forward-thinking design. This creates a dialogue between past and future that enriches the landscape.
中西部傑作
愛荷華州或許以其農場和玉米作物聞名，但其建築展現了該州更深層的特質：創造力、韌性和文化自豪感。從風車和大教堂，到草原學派的住宅和閃耀的市中心天際線，愛荷華州的建築靜靜地、卻有力地印證著：美可以在任何地方蓬勃發展，即使在美國的中心地帶。
對於那些不滿足於常規，愛荷華州的建築提供了非凡的體驗：它們不僅填充了空間，更塑造了空間。
A Midwestern Masterpiece
Iowa may be known for its farms and corn crops, but its architecture reveals a deeper identity within the state, one of creativity, resilience, and cultural pride. From windmills and basilicas to Prairie School homes and gleaming downtown skylines, Iowa’s buildings offer a quiet but powerful testimony: beauty can thrive anywhere, even in the heartland.
For those willing to look beyond the expected, Iowa’s architecture offers something extraordinary: structures that don’t just fill space, but shape the place.
發表迴響