Across the globe, architects are pushing the boundaries of design and engineering to create buildings that defy convention. These structures are truly sites to behold and worth a visit. Here are 15 buildings with gravity-defying unusual architecture that you should definitely see.
1. Dancing House, Prague, Czech Republic
Nicknamed “Fred and Ginger,” this building was created by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić. The unusual architecture is defined by non-traditional, curvy outlines that suggest a couple swaying in motion. Check out this building, which seemingly dances in the Prague skyline.
2. Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India
The lotus flower is a symbol of purity, strength, resilience, and rebirth. The Bahá’í House of Worship in India represents this flower in full bloom. The unusual architecture consists of 27 free-standing marble “petals,” which are arranged in clusters to form a nine-sided circular shape. The shape of the building evokes a sense of serenity open to all religions.
3. The Crooked House, Sopot, Poland
The Crooked House in Poland is inspired by the fairytale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. This whimsically warped building was designed to look like it came from the pages of a storybook.
4. Habitat 67, Montreal, Canada
Unique architecture is found all over the world. Travel to Montreal to check out Habitat 67, which was designed by Moshe Safdie for the 1967 World Expo. This residential complex stacks 354 identical concrete forms into a unique ziggurat pattern. It’s a popular tourist attraction in the area.
5. Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a unique building, but the Capital Gate gives its trademark lean a run for its money! This building in Abu Dhabi leans four times more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, holding the Guinness World Record for the world’s farthest-leaning man-made tower. It was specially designed to absorb and channel the forces created by wind and seismic pressure.
6. The Basket Building, Ohio
You’ll be in the mood for a picnic after visiting the Basket Building in Ohio. This building is the former headquarters of The Longaberger Basket Company. It also feels like you can grab the handles on top and enjoy sandwiches and fruit salad in the park.
7. Cubic Houses, Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Cubic Houses in the Netherlands were designed by Piet Blom. Each cube sits at 45 degrees and rests on a hexagon-shaped pylon. The end result is an abstract forest of tree-like structures, which bring a sense of nature to the urban setting of Rotterdam.
8. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
Art lovers should definitely visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. The building, designed by Frank Gehry, features flowing, undulating forms that resemble a ship’s sails, constructed using cutting-edge materials like titanium. Once you’re inside the museum, you’ll see even more fantastic hand-crafted industrial structures.
9. The Piano House, Anhui, China
Piano bars are fun to visit, but you’ll really feel the music if you visit The Piano House in China. The building is basically a full orchestra with a grand piano on the outside and a violin-shaped entrance. This architectural marvel functions as both a performance space and a showroom.
10. Kansas City Public Library, Missouri
Readers will love visiting the Kansas City Public Library in Missouri. The exterior is designed like a bookshelf with 22 giant book spines, highlighting a variety of literary works. Unique architecture like this showcases the integration of functionality and imaginative design.
11. Stone House, Guimarães, Portugal
Also known as the “Casa do Penedo” (‘House of the Rock’), this unique building is constructed between four large boulders that naturally form the foundation, walls, and ceiling. The house, which was built in 1972, was originally created to be a rural getaway for a local family.
12. The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Don’t worry. Aliens aren’t invading the planet quite yet. This unique building, which is perched on a cliffside, resembles a UFO and offers panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro from its wide, circular windows. It was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, and the structure was complete in 1996.
13. Waldspirale, Darmstadt, Germany
Friedensreich Hundertwasser designed this residential building complex in Germany. It has a spiraling roof that is adorned with trees growing from within the building. Hundertwasser was committed to natural forms and environmental friendliness, all of which come through in this building’s design.
14. Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo, Japan
After World War II, there was a popular architectural style known as Metabolism in Japan. The buildings were megastructures that could also experience organic biological growth. The Nakagin Capsule Tower is part of that movement. The building, created by Kisho Kurokawa, consists of two interconnected concrete towers with removable modular capsules.
15. Mind House (Casa Batlló), Barcelona, Spain
An architect named Antoni Gaudí is the mastermind behind this building, which has a flowing sculptural façade, colorful tiles, and whimsical forms. The Mind House was inspired by the shapes of the sea, representing waves on a calm day.
Built to Last
This unusual architecture is proof that there is a ton of creativity and innovation in the field of building design. Good architects are willing to push the boundaries of what is possible, and each of these structures challenges the laws of physics and traditional design. Visit any of these buildings on your next vacation!
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Alyssa Serio has been a writer and editor since graduating from Aurora University in 2014. In her free time, she loves reading, playing volleyball, and watching any horror movie (even the bad ones) with her husband.