Check out these unique and marvellous architectural wonders
From whimsical designs that seem to have sprung from fairytales to innovative structures that challenge conventional architecture, the world is full of buildings that stand out not just for their function but for their form. These buildings become landmarks, capturing the imagination and often becoming symbols of the cities they inhabit. This journey takes you through nine of the most unusually shaped iconic buildings around the globe, each with its own story and unique architectural style.
What makes an architect or developer want to build an unusual building? Sometimes it’s to achieve a new level of beauty, to try out a new sustainability concept. Sometimes it’s to make a sale or to increase tourist visits to a destination, and some people just want notoriety.
Named after the famous dance duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the Dancing House in Prague looks like a pair of dancers swaying gracefully. Designed by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić and completed in 1996, the building features a dynamic, undulating shape with a glass tower that twists and curves. The two parts of the building symbolize a man and a woman in a dance, with the glass tower representing Ginger and the concrete tower symbolizing Fred.
Imagine a cartoon house come to life. The Crooked House looks like it’s been pulled from a whimsical fairytale, with walls and roofs that curve and bend in the most unusual ways. Built in 2004, this 4,000 square meter building houses shops, restaurants, and offices. Its surreal design, inspired by the fairytale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and the artwork of Per Dahlberg, makes it a must-see for anyone visiting Sopot.
This unique building, which has been lighting up the South Korean capital Seoul since 2014, looks like a giant neon sponge. Designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, the structure has become a popular photo motif for visitors from all over the world thanks to its flowing forms and greenish lighting. The amorphous Dongdaemun Design Plaza not only offers exceptional architecture thanks to its aluminum outer skin but also houses a museum, art halls, shopping facilities, and parks.
Resembling a futuristic ship docked along the Nervion River, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is a masterpiece of contemporary architecture. Designed by Frank Gehry and completed in 1997, the building features a series of interconnected, curvaceous volumes covered in titanium. The shimmering surface and organic forms make it look almost alive, reflecting light and weather in ever-changing ways.
A giant picnic basket in the middle of Ohio? Yes, please! The Basket Building is the former headquarters of the Longaberger Company, famous for making handcrafted baskets. Completed in 1997, this seven-story building is an exact replica of the company’s medium market basket, only 160 times larger. The handles even heat up to prevent ice from forming in winter, showing that practicality and whimsy can indeed go hand in hand.
Ever thought of living in a tilted cube? The Cubic Houses, designed by architect Piet Blom and completed in 1977, are a series of innovative homes tilted at a 45-degree angle. Each house is designed to represent a tree, and together they form a forest. The design aims to optimize space in the densely populated city while offering a unique urban living experience.
