Had things gone differently, France's Arc De Triomphe could have been a massive giant elephant!—at least, that is what architect Charles Ribart envisioned for the landmark back in 1759 before his proposal was rejected by the French Government. Similarly, Sydney's iconic Opera House, known for its distinctive roof, may have never become the masterpiece of modern architecture it is today had the competition opted for the conductor of the Orchestra's entry over that of the Danish architect Jørn Utzon.

Beyond the Arc De Triomphe and Sydney Opera House, many of the world's most famous landmarks could have looked radically different had things gone another way. Here to show what could've been, GoCompare has illustrated the rejected designs of some of these iconic structures. 

Arc De Triomphe

45 years before the Arc De Triomphe was built, 18th century architect Charles Ribart proposed to construct a three-story elephant on the very same site. The design was turned down by the French government, but it's hard not to wish it had been built; the elephant boasted a spiral staircase in its underbelly and a trunk which served as a fountain to irrigate the surrounding gardens. Click here to see the rejected design.

Tribune Tower

In 1922, the Chicago Tribune ran a competition to design a new headquarters with a brief to create "the most beautiful office building in the world". 260 architects from 23 countries entered and changed high-rises forever. The submissions were a striking cross-section of the architectural preoccupations of the day. New York architects John Howells and Raymond Hood won with a Gothic tower drawing on French traditions that we see today. But we could now be looking at something like this expressionist pyramid by German architect Bruno Taut. Click here to see the rejected design.

Tower Bridge

As the East End of London became more commercially important in the 1800s, it became clear that a new bridge across the Thames was needed near the Tower of London. The challenge was to design one that did not close off the river to the tall-masted ships while maintaining the flow of road traffic. While we're grateful Sir Horace Jones's design was chosen, this idea by F.J. Palmer was one of the more creative runners-up: the bridge has movable platforms at either end so that traffic can pass by unhindered, even when boats are crossing. Click here to see the rejected design.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world and considered a masterpiece of modern architecture. The conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Eugene Goossens, was partly responsible for its creation, helping organise an international design competition in 1955. The winning design was chosen from 220 entries and by a relatively unknown Danish architect, Jørn Utzon. This alternate version is a sketch by Goossens himself. Click here to see the rejected design.

Lincoln Memorial

Henry Bacon's Lincoln Memorial is a national symbol, but it could have looked very different. The other favourite to design the monument was John Russell Pope who went on to design iconic DC buildings like the National Archives and the Jefferson Memorial. Pope's graphite sketches borrowed from the grand pasts of other cultures and offered jarringly different alternatives, including a Mayan temple, an Egyptian pyramid and the ziggurat pictured. Click here to see the rejected design.