Most buildings in urban areas look so similar that if they aren’t identical twins, they certainly share the same parentage. Why does a building’s corner always have to be a right angle? Why do office buildings have to appear “serious” like matchboxes? Architecture is an art form, not a simple mechanical task. A romantic and creative design can lead to unique buildings.
Below are some of the most unique houses in the world.
1. The Basket Building (Newark, USA)
The idea to construct an office building that looks like a giant shopping basket belongs to Lavy Longaberger, the founder of a company specializing in basket manufacturing and household items. The building was completed in 1997 and became the headquarters of the Longaberger Company.
The building stands at about 24 meters tall. The “basket handle” weighs 75 tons and is equipped with heating elements to prevent ice and snow from accumulating, thus avoiding any falling onto the glass floor, which spans 418 square meters. The architect aimed to create the largest possible windows: the width of the windows is 4.87 meters, and their height is 1.83 meters. Inside, the building is adorned with blue and green glass, and natural light is utilized to highlight the artistic ceramics produced by the Longaberger Company.
2. The Dancing House (Prague, Czech Republic)
This office building is located in the center of Prague, near the InterContinental Hotel. The architects behind this design are Czech Vlado Milunić and Canadian Frank Gehry. Construction began in 1992 and was completed in 1996.
It stands out from the neighboring buildings and represents Prague, not adhering to the styles of Neobaroque, Neogothic, or Art Nouveau in general. Former President Václav Havel strongly supported these unique ideas. Initially, the building was to be named “Fred and Ginger” in honor of the American dance duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
The Piano House (Huaian, China)
In recent years, China has seen an increase in unusual architectural projects, including a house shaped like a piano, leaning against a violin, built in 2007. It has since become a symbol of Huaian (淮安). Each stairway within the building is decorated with crystal violins, leading visitors to an art exhibition space located within the “body” of the giant piano.
4. Kansas State Library (United States)
Not only can a family library be beautiful and unique, but a public library can be as well. The Kansas State Library in the USA resembles a giant bookshelf. The project designers conducted extensive surveys among residents to gather opinions on which books were considered the best to include in the design. These books, or rather enlarged versions of them, decorate the library’s facade.
5. The Robot House (Bangkok, Thailand)
The building shaped like a robot is located in Bangkok, in the Satorn administrative area. Inside the “robot” is the headquarters of the Bank of Asia – one of the branches of United Overseas Bank. According to the management’s concept, the building’s design should symbolize the digitization of the banking system. Based on this idea, the bank hired chief project architect Sumet Djumsai, who chose a robot to represent this concept.
But why did Djumsai think of a robot? While brainstorming for an image for the design, he happened to see his son playing with a robot toy.
6. The Green House (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
This old house had long been an abandoned structure, with no known owner, located in the historic Delfshaven area in a state of disrepair. The local government wanted to clear the unsightly ruin. To separate the buildings that needed to be demolished, someone suggested painting it a sky blue. It turned out that the house’s uniqueness attracted tourists, and soon it became one of the most photographed sites in Rotterdam. Consequently, it was not demolished but proudly remained in its original location.
7. The Crooked House (Sopot, Poland)
To build a “twisted” house, architect Dahlberg drew inspiration from illustrations of fairy tales by artist Jan Martin Szanser. However, the house’s function is very practical, with no hint of legend. It is part of the Rezydent shopping center. The usable area of this unique shopping venue in Poland reaches up to 4,000 m2.
8. The Upside Down House (Szymbark, Poland)
The upside-down house was built according to a design by Daniel Shapeski. The architect’s intention was to reflect a time in Poland when everything was done contrary to social norms, as if heads were at the feet. Initially, it was planned to complete the house in just three weeks, but it ended up taking 114 days. Visitors to this wonder often experience headaches and nausea. Many feel that not only is the house upside down, but their entire perspective is flipped as well. While it is impossible to live in such a house, every curious traveler wants to stop by.
