Unusual buildings of the world. The most unusual buildings. Shopping Center - Las Vegas, USA
Modern architecture amazes our imagination. Looking at some buildings and structures that can hardly be called buildings, you just wonder how people can live and work in them? But most of them are precisely residential buildings or shopping and office centers, and some are exhibition complexes and concert halls. They were designed by designers and architects with truly wild imagination, and then it’s worth looking at them and learning more about them. We offer you the ten most unusual architectural structures on our planet.
1. Ark Nova, Japan
The name of this building translates as “New Ark”; it is nothing more than a concert hall. However, this is not just a hall, but the world's first inflatable and mobile performance hall. It was designed in the form of a huge purple-pink drop, which in its design resembles an air cushion. The authors of the project are British sculptor Anish Kapoor and Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The first performance at Ark Nova took place in October last year, and it was built on the east coast of Japan - specifically to support the spirit of people affected by the tsunami. Even the seats and benches here are made from pieces of trees damaged during the disaster. This should become a symbol of the fact that after any trouble you need to be reborn and move on with your life. According to the architects, the Ark Nova hall will become the largest inflatable concert hall in the world. The height of Ark Nova is 18 meters, width is 35 meters, it can accommodate about 500 spectators. The main advantage of the unusual hall is its ease of transportation - just deflate the air and transport the hall to another place.
2. Sundome, Michigan, USA
An unusual structure resembling a honeycomb at a Michigan exhibition pavilion consists of many circles. They, in turn, are made of a special material - archila - very light and bendable, which contains fiberglass and carbon. The so-called “Sun Dome” illuminates the entire pavilion with its ghostly multi-colored light, which comes from elements at the base of the structure. These elements store solar energy throughout the day and then project light onto the dome. The installation was created by the art studio “Loop.pH” and, according to the creative director of the studio, it represents a fundamentally new method of construction based on the technique of textile weaving. The size of the “Solar Dome” is 8 by 4 meters and its weight is about 40 kilograms. This portable structure looks surprisingly harmonious in any environment.
3. House of Mirrors, Flint, USA
Would you like to live in a house of mirrors, and one that floats above the ground? Hardly. That is why no one lives here, and the house of mirrors in the city of Flint is a kind of monument home comfort. It was built by London architects from the Two Islands firm, who dedicated their creation to the thousands of demolished houses in the city of Flint, residents who were forced to leave this city. It was in Flint that the once legendary automobile company General Motors was born; later it began to move production to other regions and countries, and the city began to slowly fade without it. The English name of the structure “Mark's House” (“Mark’s House”) arose from the story of an imaginary resident of Flint, Mark Hamilton, whose family lost their home during the aforementioned economic crisis. The brilliant house, rising on a pedestal, weighs almost two tons. its half - 882 lightboxes, which present hundreds of photographs of faces, in particular, portraits of those who supported the initiative to create the “House of Mirrors” financially - and, unfortunately, no more than 90 of these people gathered around the world.
4. Lotus Dome, Jerusalem, Israel
There are many in Jerusalem mysterious places. One of them is Zedekiah's Cave - the largest and most mysterious cave in the northern part of the Old City wall. It is named after the last king of Judah, Zedekiah, and during the time of King Solomon, limestone was mined here. In the very center of the cave there is a very unusual dome lamp “Lotus Dome”, made of several hundred aluminum flowers that open their petals, turning towards people. The huge flower remains motionless until the first visitors appear in the hall. As soon as people enter the room, the petals begin to bloom one after another, illuminating the entire surrounding space with light streaming from the center of the dome. The closer visitors get to the installation, the more noticeable the movements of the metal petals become - and now the entire “organism” of this huge silver ball becomes mobile. The author of the project is Dutch designer Dan Rosegaarde, his installation attracts tourists to the cave.
5. Smart eco-house, Sweden
But you definitely wouldn’t refuse to live in such a house, although the area it occupies is only 10 square meters! The author of this project was the Swedish architectural company Tengboom Architects. According to the developers, this house will be an excellent alternative to student dormitories, and also very environmentally friendly. The house is designed for one person; the developers managed to place in it a kitchen, a bathroom, a place to study and sleep, i.e., everything necessary for a student’s full-fledged life. A light color scheme with bright spots of color helps create a comfortable living atmosphere. A successful layout, the presence of two levels, and the use of natural laminated wood made it possible to reduce not only rent, but also a harmful effect on the environment.
6. Bamboo House, Vietnam
Vietnam has very treacherous natural conditions. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that it was here that the creation of the world’s strongest bamboo house, which can withstand a flood with a water level of 1.5 meters, was conceived and brought to life. The authors of the project, the Vietnamese architectural studio H&P Architects, do not intend to stop there and are checking whether the house can withstand a water height of three meters. The building is multifunctional and can be not only a residential building, but also a public one - a school, a hospital, etc. The building materials used for the house are bamboo, fiberboard, and coconut leaves. The roof can be opened and closed, depending on weather conditions. Downstairs there is a bedroom and living room, and upstairs you can arrange an office. The building is modular, costs about $2,500, and the buyer can assemble it themselves in just 25 days.
7. House with a Slipping Facade, Margate, UK
Walking through the British city of Margate, you may be incredibly surprised to come across a three-story house with... a facade that has slid down. The first floor with the front door seems to lie directly on the ground, and the upper floor is open. Don’t be surprised, the reason for this façade “slipping” out of its place is not a natural disaster or construction flaws, but just the wild imagination of designer Alex Chinnack. By the way, it took him almost a year to create the installation. The house had been abandoned for a long time. The building was once purchased by the municipality and was intended to be converted into social housing. But time passed, and the building became more and more unusable and collapsed. The designer removed the facade from the old three-story building and replaced it with a new wall. The new facade reveals the crumbling upper floor of the house, wraps around the ground and sits comfortably on the ground in front of the building.
8. House-banknote, Kaunas, Lithuania
A very unusual and very realistic structure in the form of a folded banknote issued by Lithuania during the years of independence, in fact it is a large business center called “Office Center 1000”. It is quite natural that it housed the two largest Lithuanian banks. The project was completely developed and implemented by RA Studija and the young Lithuanian architect Rimas Adomaitis. One day, a famous specialist says that this building should never symbolize the power of money over people and universal admiration for it, which is why not a modern, but a historical banknote was taken. The facade is decorated with glass tiles of various shapes and sizes, made in Holland. The house has no windows in the usual sense of the word, because the entire facade of the building is glass. On the outside, the glass has a special coating that protects the design from adverse weather conditions. It was assembled by hand by a large number of builders; it was a large and painstaking job.
9. Atomium, Brussels, Belgium
Not only the most modern sculptures, buildings and structures can capture our imagination. What can you say about the sculpture, built back in 1958? This is one of the main attractions of Brussels and a real symbol of the city called Atomium. It was designed for the opening of the 1958 World's Fair by architect André Waterkein as a symbol of the atomic age and the peaceful use of atomic energy, and was built under the direction of architects André and Michel Polack. The majestic sculpture is a huge model of an iron crystal. Initially, the structure was covered with aluminum, and after a major renovation in 2006, it was covered with a strong and durable steel shell that sparkles in the sun. The Atomium is 102 meters high, weighs about 2,400 tons, and the diameter of each of the nine spheres is 18 meters. The spheres are connected by 23 m long pipes containing escalators and corridors. There are a total of 20 connecting pipes between the balls. In the middle of them there is an elevator capable of lifting visitors to the restaurant and observation platform, located in the highest ball of the Atomium, in 25 seconds.
10. Art Museum building, Graz, Austria
At first glance at this unusual building, it is difficult to believe that it houses an art museum. However, this is so, and local residents affectionately and humorously call the Kunsthaus “the pregnant cow.” The gallery of contemporary art was opened as part of the “ Capital of Culture Europe" in 2003, the title of which was awarded to Graz. The building concept was developed by London architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. Architectural style The building defies any classification and contrasts sharply with the surrounding buildings. But what is unique about the building is that it can “communicate” with the outside world. The façade of the museum is designed as a media installation with an area of 900 square meters, consisting of luminous elements that can be programmed using a computer. Despite its relatively short existence, the museum building has won a lot of sympathy from local residents and tourists and is recognized as a symbol of the city and its modern life.
The world is filled with strange buildings, the result of unconventional architects trying to express themselves with brick and mortar. Skyscrapers reaching for the clouds and giant metal structures are common sights in almost every corner of the world. We offer an overview of the most amazing and strange buildings in the world.
The National Center for the Performing Arts (National Opera House) is located in Beijing. Constructed of glass and titanium, the building is surrounded by an artificial lake. It was created by the French architect Paul Andreu. Construction began in 2001 and lasted six years. The first production was the Russian historical opera “Prince Igor” by A.P. Borodin, performed by the orchestra, choir and soloists of the Mariinsky Theater under the direction of Valery Gergiev. The architectural complex includes a building, underground and underwater corridors, an underground parking lot, artificial lake and green spaces. The construction of the main dome required 18,000 titanium plates and over 1,200 sheets of glass; its length is 212 meters, its width is 144 meters, and its height is 46 meters. The underground part of the building goes to a depth of approximately 32.5 meters. The area of the entire complex is 118,900 square meters. Three halls of the theater with an area of 12,000 square meters are designed for 5,452 spectators.
In Rotterdam and Helmond Cube Houses you can find unusual, not to say strange, cube houses. They were created by Piet Blom, based on the desire to create a forest in the middle of the city, houses would grow as trees. In 1984, a complex of 38 buildings appeared on Overblaak Street, striking in their appearance.
Each house consists of four floors. On the first floors of the houses there are mainly offices, hairdressers, shops, etc. The area of the three-story apartments is approximately 100 square meters, but the living space is much smaller, because the walls and floor are inclined at an angle of 54.7 degrees. The layout of the apartment is as follows: the first floor - kitchen and living room, the second floor - two bedrooms and a bathroom, on the third floor there are guest rooms, offices, and winter gardens.
The Biosphere is a museum dedicated to environmental protection issues. It is located in Jean-Drapeau Park on St. Helena Island right in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. It was once the US exhibition pavilion at Expo 67. The design, reminiscent of a huge soap bubble, was so striking and original that they decided to keep it. The outer “shell” of the Biosphere is a dome 62 meters high and 76 meters in diameter. The author of the project, which brought its creator worldwide fame, is Richard Buckminster Fuller.
Forest Spiral is a twelve-story residential complex built in the 1990s. The author of the idea was the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and the architect Heinz M. Springmann brought it to life together with the Bauverein Darmstadt company. Construction of the building lasted from 1998 to 2000. The "Forest Spiral" complex with multi-colored frames and a curved facade resembles a huge snail. 1048 windows of unique sizes and shapes help create the image of a fairytale house. Trees grow from some of the windows, and tenants are required by the lease to care for them. The building has 105 apartments and a cozy courtyard with playgrounds, artificial lakes, shaped paths and bridges, shops, parking and a pharmacy.
Habitat 67 is a residential complex created by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. This was his graduation project. It is located near the St. Lawrence River on Avenue Pierre-Dupuy. The house is recognized as a landmark of the city, and the country as a whole.
The building resembles a structure made from children's blocks, however, it is absolutely reliable and comfortable for living. For a house of 146 apartments, 354 cubes were needed, built on top of each other. Each apartment has several such cubes, up to five pieces. The windows of all apartments offer views of three cardinal directions and you can admire the Montreal harbour. Moreover, the house has many open terraces and glazed passages.
Also known as Casa Mila, the building is located in the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona. It was built by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi in 1906–1912 for a married couple. The house is amazing and notable for the fact that there is not a single straight line in it. It was a controversial design for the time, with bold forms of undulating stone façade and wrought iron decorations on the balconies and windows, created mainly by José Maria Jujol, who also designed some of the plaster ceilings. The house is listed World Heritage UNESCO. Visitors can climb to the top floor, attic and roof and take a close look at this masterpiece.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is located in the Brazilian city of Niteroi and is one of the main local attractions. The building looks like an unidentified space object arriving from unknown worlds. It was built in 1996 according to the design of Oscar Nimeiro and Bruno Contarini. The height of the building is 16 meters, the diameter of the dome is 50 meters, and the supports are 9 meters. Area 817 square meters.
Stone house, Fafi (Portugal)
A stone house in the north of Portugal in the Fafi Mountains resembles the home of the Flintstones from the American cartoon. The basis of the house was taken from two huge boulders, which were connected to each other using concrete mortar. As a result, in 1974, a two-story house in a prehistoric style with a fireplace and a swimming pool appeared, attracting thousands of tourists.
The shopping center in Sopot attracts not only shoppers, but also thousands of tourists. And all thanks to the unusual appearance- no straight lines or angles. The crooked house was built in 2004 by architects from the firm Szotyńscy & Zaleski, inspired by the fabulous drawings and illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. Area approximately 4000 square meters. There are small shops, cafes and restaurants here. The shopping center occupies the first floor, and the offices of two radio companies are located on the second.
Modern architects are building original houses not only on land, they have begun to conquer reservoirs of all sizes, offering projects
What does the house look like? Several floors, a roof, windows, a standard rectangular silhouette... Not everyone thinks the same way, and houses of the most unusual shapes are springing up all over the world.
Shell House, Mexico City
The Nautilus house was built in 2006 and has become a family nest. It is completely earthquake resistant and environmentally friendly. True, you can never understand whether you are still inside or have already come out.
Dancing House, Prague
The building, symbolizing a dancing couple, is an office building and one of the landmarks of the Czech capital. It is often called "Ginger and Fred" after the most famous choreographic duo.
Dancing House, photo Pedro Szekely
Hang Nga Hotel, Da Lat
The hotel, which does not have a single straight wall or a single window of the correct shape, is often called a “madhouse”, and it looks like a set for a movie. Despite this, there are always people who want to stay here and are willing to pay a lot for strange looking building.
Hang Nga Hotel
The architect who erected this 12-story residential building in Germany considered straight lines to be a tool of the devil. Perhaps that is why his creation is twisted in a spiral around the courtyard, and a real forest grows on its roof.
Forest spiral, photo by Scott Maurer
The residential building, built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries by one man who was a postman and had no idea about architecture, is the pride of the French town. There are Hindu deities, biblical characters, towers, and fountains on the building, so you can look at it for hours.
It is no coincidence that the Dali Museum is considered one of the strangest buildings in the world, because it was designed by the great artist himself. Bright walls, eggs on the roof, a glass dome and incredible interiors distinguish the building from all museums in the world.
Dali Museum, photo Shezre
In Kansas City, the number of people wanting to go to the library is much greater than in all other cities. This is no coincidence, because it looks like a collection of giant books stretched along the street.
Basket House, Newark
The office of the construction company Longaberger is located in a very unusual building that looks like a seven-story basket. The construction took thirty million dollars and a huge amount of nerves, since almost the entire city tried to dissuade the company owner from this project.
The world's largest building-sculpture, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, is located in China and depicts three star elders. They symbolize the basics of Feng Shui: happiness, longevity and prosperity.
Hotel Tianzi, photo moco-choco
Cube houses, Rotterdam
A whole complex of cubic houses in Rotterdam invariably attracts tourists. Each building consists of three levels and although it looks strange from the outside, inside people live comfortably.
Cube houses, photo Luc B
Of course, people’s imagination is not limited to this, and in the world there are tree houses, snail houses, houses built underground and even under water according to unique designs. So, when going to an unfamiliar city, look around carefully, maybe you will come across an equally unique building.
Some of the most beautiful buildings the world fascinate and fascinate with their intricate shapes and configurations. Undoubtedly, these architectural structures deserve the highest praise and special attention. Let's look at the 25 most outstanding ones, built in different parts of the world.
Burj Al Arab Hotel - Dubai
Burj Al Arab is considered the tallest hotel in the world. This 7-star, 60-storey building is built on a private artificial island on Jumeirah Beach. The hotel is built in the shape of a sailboat and is located at an altitude of 321 m above sea level.
The design inside the building is stunning: many dancing fountains, huge aquariums, luxurious apartments with gilded decoration.
Catherine Palace - St. Petersburg
In the city of Pushkin, near St. Petersburg, there is another beautiful building with a bright blue facade: the Baroque Palace of Catherine the Great. Crowds of tourists visit this magnificent structure to admire it, as well as the famous Amber Room, one of the wonders of the world. Particularly impressive is the elegant wing of the palace in the classical style, which was designed by Catherine II’s architect, Charles Cameron.
Guggenheim Museum - Bilbao, Spain
American architect Frank Gehry designed the Guggenheim Museum, which is located in Spain. The most innovative ideas of 20th century architecture are intertwined in the bold contours of the building. The building, with an area of 24 thousand m2, is a landmark with an innovative design. The museum has radically changed the way we look at modern architecture. During the construction of the building, titanium was used with lines that change color in the sun.
Great Mosque - Djenné, Mali
In the south of the Sahara there is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world - a mosque, which was built by African tribes from clay bricks. The architectural complex was built in 1906 and is the largest structure in the world built entirely of mud. In 1988, the mosque was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Sagrada Familia - Barcelona, Spain
One of the main attractions of Spain, the symbol of Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia or the Church of the Holy Family, which was built according to the design of Antoni Gaudi. The architect spent 40 years building this Gothic cathedral. After Gaudi's death, his associates continued to build the temple; it is worth noting that work continues to this day. According to the project, completion of the church is expected in 2026.
Taj Mahal, India
This majestic building is located in India, on the southern bank of the Yamuna River. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex that took 20 years to build. White marble was used in its construction, which changes color depending on sunlight or moonlight. The building was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The Taj Mahal is rightfully considered one of the majestic buildings in the world.
Wat Rong Khun - Thailand
Wat Rong Khun or " White Temple" - one of the most famous temples in Thailand. The uniqueness of the structure is that it stands out for its crystal whiteness and sparkles in the sun. The temple was designed by a famous Thai artist. There are still plans to improve the building. It is expected that there will be nine structures with halls for relics, meditation and living quarters for monks.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - UAE
One of the largest mosques in the world, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, is built of marble and seats 40 thousand people. The building was built in 2007. White marble brought from 28 countries of the world was used in its construction. In the main hall there is a huge lamp weighing 9 tons, decorated with Swarovski crystals.
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - Russia
The Church of the Savior on Blood is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and it is located in St. Petersburg. The impressive size of the church began to be built in 1883. The majestic building is decorated with colorful towers, mosaic interiors and unique exterior decoration.
Golden Temple - Amritsar, India
The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is a stunning building of India, erected in the center of a lake. The structure was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The style of the temple features Hindu and Muslim architecture, which is enhanced when reflected in the water. It is believed that the building is Holy place and, while here, we must pray.
Shanghai Tower - China
Shanghai Tower is one of the tallest and most beautiful buildings in the country. It is taller than even such buildings as the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. The height of the building is about 650 meters, and the total area is 380 thousand m.
1 World Trade Center or Freedom Tower - New York, USA
The Freedom Tower in New York is central to the World Trade Center in Manhattan. It was built on the site of the twin towers destroyed in the terrorist attack. The tower is the most tall building in USA.
Lotus Temple - Delhi, India
The Lotus Temple in New Delhi is one of the most beautiful temples in India. Built according to the design of the Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba. Previously, on the site of the building there was a mystical settlement of Baha Pur - “Bach’s Dwelling”. The second name of the Bahai Lotus Temple is the Mother of all temples on the Hindustan Peninsula. Its magnificence has earned it many architectural awards.
Grand Lisboa Casino Hotel - China
The Grand Lisboa was designed by renowned Hong Kong architects Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Meng. This impressive skyscraper is 260 meters high and has 58 floors! Gaming establishments in the building began operating in February 2007. The entire surface of the casino hotel is a screen of complex configuration. This solution is considered innovative.
Mosque of Cordoba - Spain
The Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba in Spain is decorated with intricate patterns, mosaic patterns and openwork columns. Several centuries ago, an ancient Roman temple stood on this site, then a Visigothic church, and in 785 the Mezquita appeared. The pilgrimage to Cordoba was even equated to the obligatory hajj to Mecca for every Muslim.
St. Peter's Basilica - Vatican City, Italy
St. Peter's Basilica - one of the main attractions of the Vatican - is rightfully considered the heart of the Vatican and the entire Catholic world. From a bird's eye view there are stunning views of the Ancient Rome, and from the top of the dome you can admire the interior of the cathedral.
Bayon Temple Complex - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Bayon is one of the most amazing temples located on the territory of Angkor Thom and was its religious center. The “highlight” of Bayon are the towers with many faces carved from stone, silently looking from above over the vast territory of Angkor Thom, and during the heyday of the state, over the entire Khmer Empire. Initially, there were 54 towers, which symbolized the 54 provinces under the rule of the king. Today, only about 37 towers remain.
Shwedagon Pagoda - Yangon, Myanmar
One of the most majestic and spiritual buildings in Myanmar is the Shwedagon Pagoda. The entire complex is located on an area of more than five hectares. In addition to the main building, there are many sculptures of mythical and real animals around it: golden griffins, elephants, dragons and lions.
Australian War Memorial - Canberra
The Australian War Memorial is the main memorial dedicated to the memory of soldiers killed during the First and Second World Wars. Today it is considered one of the most significant monuments of its kind in the world. The memorial is located near the Parliament building, from the balcony of which a 360-degree panorama of the monument opens.
Shopping Center - Las Vegas, USA
Fashion Show Mall is the only large shopping center of its kind in Las Vegas. On the territory of the building there are 250 boutiques, shops and six department stores of famous brands. The center opened in 1981, and over the years it has grown to 175 thousand square meters. There is also a huge hall for fashion shows.
Music Building - China
This creative building, called Piano House, was built in China and designed by architecture students. The building consists of two parts depicting two instruments - a transparent violin resting on a translucent piano.
The original building was built for music lovers, but has nothing to do with music. The violin contains an escalator, and the piano contains an exhibition complex.
Siena Cathedral - Italy
According to chroniclers, at the beginning of the 13th century, residents of the city-state of Siena, which acted as the main competitor and adversary of Florence, “called on their leaders to build a temple more magnificent than their neighbors.” Thus, in the period from 1215 to 1263, the Duomo of Siena was founded on the site of the old temple according to the plan of the Gothic master Niccolò Pisano. Today this majestic temple is the main attraction of the city.
Milan Cathedral (Duomo) - Milan, Italy
One of the significant places in Milan is the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente (Duomo), which was built from 1386 to the beginning of the 19th century. The attraction is the third largest Catholic church, which is even considered one of the wonders of the world. Its hundred-meter spiers tower over the center of Milan, and the golden statue of the Madonna on the longest spire (four meters high) is visible from many parts of the city.
Sydney Opera House - Australia
Sydney Opera theatre– one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Its architect was the Dane Jorn Utzon. Having designed the original roofs, somewhat reminiscent of shells, he gave Sydney a magnificent gift - a symbol of the city. Today, every tourist planning to visit Australia definitely includes an excursion to the majestic opera house in his travel itinerary.
Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple is one of the largest ever built places of worship. It was built almost 9 centuries ago. It is located on an area of 200 hectares and is surrounded by a moat 190 meters wide. A temple was built in honor of the god Vishnu, who is revered in this area.
World architecture is not only about majestic temples, museums and palaces built in the traditions of a certain style. Let's take a look at the other side of the art of architecture: this rating contains buildings from all over the world, when you look at them you can't help but be amazed and amazed at the imagination of the authors. The most unusual, creative and out-of-the-ordinary architectural ideas are for your attention!
1. National Library of Belarus
Located in the capital of the republic, it is one of the main local attractions. It is made in the form of a huge glass diamond, looking fantastic both at night and in daylight. The gorgeous project was nurtured in the minds of the authors since the distant 1989, but was brought into reality only in 2006. Now “Shurik’s Ball,” as the library is lovingly called by the people, is one of the unspoken symbols of Minsk.
2. Upside down house in Poland
In fact, such an idea is not new for world architecture, and there are many such “changers” that can be counted. We chose the attraction of the small Polish village of Szymbark for several reasons. Firstly, this design even has a foundation. Secondly, this house is a changeover not only on the outside, but also on the inside. Thirdly, the Upside Down House in this case is not just an attraction, it was conceived as a symbol of the era of communism, which turned upside down the lives and consciousness of many compatriots of Daniel Czapiewski, the author of this masterpiece.
3. Teapot building in Jiangsu Province, China
This is actually a luxury exhibition center. This shape was chosen in honor of the traditional products produced in this place since the 15th century - clay teapots. It is noteworthy that the building had not yet opened before it entered the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest teapot on the planet. The center has only three floors, but each of them can rotate around its own axis - also a rather unusual solution.
4. Solar oven in France
This original building is located in the southwestern part of the country, near the town of Odelio. Moreover, its main purpose is exactly what is reflected in the name: the mirrored concave side of the structure, facing the sun, reflects its rays, focusing them and converting them into powerful solar energy. The industrial building is also an interesting attraction for tourists in these places.
5. Kunsthaus Gallery of Contemporary Art
Residents of Graz, Austria, refer to the building as a “friendly alien.” Indeed, the design of this architectural structure is somewhat unearthly, biomorphic, which especially clearly characterizes the direction of the building. The computerized lighting system, which makes the museum glow brightly at night, adds life and “alien” to the building.
6. Wat Rong Khun
Another architectural landmark that captivates at first sight is located in Thailand. The White Temple is not a temple in the traditional sense, but rather an art object that provides an understanding of the Buddhist religion for an outsider. All installations here are symbolic. Particular emotions are evoked by the “Hell Pit”, from which hundreds of human hands reach out - these are our vices and passions, having defeated which, a person will gain enlightenment and happiness. After passing through objects depicting worldly vices, the visitor finds himself at the “temple” itself - snow-white, shining with a mirror shine, it symbolizes the purity of the spiritual world and a reflection of the kindness of the one who follows religion. It is interesting that the luxurious cultural monument was erected with the efforts and resources of one Thai rich man, without any help from the state.
7. Giant basket
IN American state Ohio also has interesting things architectural structure— a local factory for the production of wicker baskets and an office erected a corresponding one in the form of its own products. The giant basket is made on a scale of 1:160, it has a characteristic shape that expands upward and even handles - just like a real basket. Largely thanks to this creative solution, today Longaberger is a leader in its field of production.
8. Piano House
One of the most famous buildings in the world. Exhibition complex in Huainan (China) is named after the “Music House”, but has nothing to do with this area of art. The building's unusual design draws attention to a new, developing area of the city, where the structure quickly became a striking landmark. It consists of two parts: a white violin and a black piano. The facade consists entirely of transparent and frosted glass panels, arranged in such a way that in the darkness the building itself is not visible - only the outlines of giant musical instruments glow with blue neon.
9. Stone house
In Portugal, near the town of Fafe, there is also an interesting structure - a stone house. It is built between two giant boulders. The roof is covered with old tiles, moss on the stones - it seems as if the house has literally “grown” into the stones. It was built almost 35 years ago, but today it is empty, only attracting the attention of tourists, because of which the owners of the unusual house were forced to leave it.
10. Cube houses
Our next stop is Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Here the architect Piet Blom became famous thanks to his famous design of cubic houses. This residential complex consists of 38 houses - cubes standing at an angle of 45 degrees on hexagonal “legs”. The interior of such houses is also very unusual and creative. The complex also has a hostel for those who want to spend the night in a “cube” house.
11. Crooked House
The next representative of creative architecture, “Crooked House,” is also very famous worldwide. It is located in Polish city Sopot is the center of the prestigious music festival among socialist countries. The Crooked House is a striking example of surrealism; it seems to have stepped out of the pages of a fairy tale book. By the way, it was the artist Szantzer’s illustrations for children’s fairy tales that inspired the authors of this masterpiece to create it. The building, as if reflected in a distorting mirror, includes shops, gaming rooms, restaurants, cafes and office space.
12. Robert Ripley House Museum
And our list ends with the most unusual building located in Canada. This Robert Ripley House Museum is located in Orlando. Its unusual design, associated with a science fiction film, actually has a very deep connotation: it is dedicated to a strong earthquake that once destroyed the homes of Canadians and took the lives of some. The building is literally falling apart before our eyes, its façade is riddled with giant cracks (imitations). Dedicated to the famous traveler and cartoonist a large number of museums that are distinguished, to put it mildly, by an unusual design, but the Canadian House-Museum Believe it or not is the most striking, memorable and famous precisely for its reference to a natural disaster with a tragic ending. The exhibits of this museum are also quite unusual and may frighten many visitors, but this is precisely the mysterious charm of the Ripley Museum.