Imagine if Central Park looked like this. Said to be inspired by the gardens of the Palace of Versailles in France, John J Rink's designs have been brought to life in a series of renderings <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.budgetdirect.com.au%2Fblog%2Fwhat-central-park-could-have-looked-like.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">commissioned by</a> travel insurance firm Budget Direct.
Alternative Central Park —
Imagine if Central Park looked like this. Said to be inspired by the gardens of the Palace of Versailles in France, John J Rink's designs have been brought to life in a series of renderings commissioned by travel insurance firm Budget Direct.
Budget Direct Travel Insurance
Swirled topiary takes up almost the entirety of the park -- meaning minimal open space. There's a reservoir in the heart of the park next to a lake, and a museum, too.
Alternative Central Park —
Swirled topiary takes up almost the entirety of the park -- meaning minimal open space. There's a reservoir in the heart of the park next to a lake, and a museum, too.
Budget Direct Travel Insurance
Rink submitted his ideas to a design competition for the park in the 19th century. He lost to architect Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, whose designs have become an iconic part of New York City.
Alternative Central Park —
Rink submitted his ideas to a design competition for the park in the 19th century. He lost to architect Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, whose designs have become an iconic part of New York City.
Budget Direct Travel Insurance
It would have been impossible to realize Rink's designs, says Sara Cedar Miller, a historian who works at the Central Park Conservancy, because they didn't take into account the physical landscape of the site.
Alternative Central Park —
It would have been impossible to realize Rink's designs, says Sara Cedar Miller, a historian who works at the Central Park Conservancy, because they didn't take into account the physical landscape of the site.
Budget Direct Travel Insurance
Rink's designs would have cost "millions and millions" because they required creating a flat surface to build his French garden-inspired vision on, says Cedar Miller.
Alternative Central Park —
Rink's designs would have cost "millions and millions" because they required creating a flat surface to build his French garden-inspired vision on, says Cedar Miller.
Budget Direct Travel Insurance
Today, Rink's drawings are kept at the New York Historical Society.
Alternative Central Park —
Today, Rink's drawings are kept at the New York Historical Society.
Budget Direct Travel Insurance
Here's what the real Central Park looks like.
Real Central Park —
Here's what the real Central Park looks like.
STAN HONDA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Instead of an imposing single arch, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris could have been an elephant statue. A rendering of the design, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onstride.co.uk%2Fblog%2F7-city-structures-never-built-brought-to-life%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">commissioned by</a> financial services company On Stride, is shown here.
Alternative Arc de Triomphe —
Instead of an imposing single arch, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris could have been an elephant statue. A rendering of the design, commissioned by financial services company On Stride, is shown here.
On Stride
Designed by Charles Ribart in 1758, the "elephant house" design featured three stories inside the structure.
Alternative Arc de Triomphe —
Designed by Charles Ribart in 1758, the "elephant house" design featured three stories inside the structure.
Science History Images / Alamy
What the real Arc de Triomphe looks like today.
Real Arc de Triomphe —
What the real Arc de Triomphe looks like today.
GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images
Here's an avant-garde design for Tower Bridge in London that wouldn't look out of place in a modern-day architectural firm. The idea came from architect F J Palmer in 1877.
Alternative Tower Bridge —
Here's an avant-garde design for Tower Bridge in London that wouldn't look out of place in a modern-day architectural firm. The idea came from architect F J Palmer in 1877.
Historical Picture Archive/Corbis/Getty Images
Architect Horace Jones' famous gothic-style bridge was built instead, and has become an iconic London landmark.
Real Tower Bridge —
Architect Horace Jones' famous gothic-style bridge was built instead, and has become an iconic London landmark.
Dan Mullan/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
The then-conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Eugene Aynsley Goossens wanted a functional opera house.
Alternative Sydney Opera House —
The then-conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Eugene Aynsley Goossens wanted a functional opera house.
But in the end, a striking design by Danish architect Jørn Utzon was built by Sydney harbor.
Real Sydney Opera House —
But in the end, a striking design by Danish architect Jørn Utzon was built by Sydney harbor.
SAEED KHAN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
If architect John Russell Pope's vision had been brought to life, the Lincoln Memorial -- and the US five dollar bill -- would have looked very different today. This Greek-inspired design was in the style of a tiered edifice known as a ziggurat.
Alternative Lincoln Memorial —
If architect John Russell Pope's vision had been brought to life, the Lincoln Memorial -- and the US five dollar bill -- would have looked very different today. This Greek-inspired design was in the style of a tiered edifice known as a ziggurat.
U.S. National Archives
Architect Henry Bacon, who like Pope also submitted his proposal to the Lincoln Memorial Commission in 1912, won the race. Bacon's design was also inspired by Greek architecture.
Real Lincoln Memorial —
Architect Henry Bacon, who like Pope also submitted his proposal to the Lincoln Memorial Commission in 1912, won the race. Bacon's design was also inspired by Greek architecture.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images