The history of architecture is enriched with extraordinary designs from its commencement. Many everlasting records have been set by the architectures. These masterpieces of construction are still a reason of astound for the world. These imaginative structures have always enthralled people by their uniqueness and uncommon design. I have extracted some astonishing and spectacular building from all over the world and accumulate them into a list. These ranking are based on the building’s unusual and extraordinary design.
10. Cubic Houses
Architect: Piet Blom
Location: Rotterdam and Helmond, Netherland
Year of Development: 1974
Distinct Feature: Cubic shape
Cubic houses are built in Rotterdam and Helmond in Netherland. They were designed with a concept of “living as an urban roof”. The design of the houses are very unique in which each house is representing a tree and houses all together make a forest. Houses are tilted to 45 degrees and are built on a hexagon shaped pylon. Piet Blom is the architect of this unique structure. The houses were initially constructed in Helmond later on the natives of Rotterdam were also blessed with this exceptional forest of cubic houses.
9. Dancing Building
Architect: Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Year of Development: 1996
Distinct Feature: Curvy outlines
This stunning building which is built at the bank of Vltava River in Prague is also known as Fred and Ginger. Its intriguing design was created by Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry. It was designed in 1992 and completed in 1996. The initial name of the building was inspired by the legendary dance duo. The dancing building is its nick name given because of its dancing outlines and curves. Several multinational firms have their offices in it including a French restaurant which occupies its top floor. Beside all the controversies that it faced due to its nontraditional design, it is a worth seeing monument of Prague.
8. Sanzhi UFO House
Owned by: Hung Kuo Group
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Year of Development: 1978
Distinct Feature: Pod Shap
The UFO houses which are also known as Sanzhi UFO houses are built in Sanzhi district of new Taipei city, Taiwan. These are pod shaped houses and have resemblance with Futuro houses. The construction of UFO houses was started in 1978. There development was intended to provide vacation resort U.S military officers but later on it converted to commercial seaside resort for tourists. The major reason for the change in plan was because of some unfortunate events that took place during its construction. However it is now the hottest spot for tourists because of its weird architecture.
7. Ferdinand Cheval Palace a.k.a Ideal Palace
Architect: Ferdinand cheval
Location: Hauterives, France
Year of Development: 1879
Distinct Feature: Different Architecture Culture Molded into a Palace
The extraordinary naive art monument Ferdinand cheval palace is located in Hauterives, France. It was a creation of a French postman Ferdinand cheval. This postman began its construction in 1879 and spent 30 years of his life in the development of this ideal palace. The amazing thing about this palace is that Ferdinand cheval extracted its idea from a stone. This masterpiece is a mixture of inspirations from Christianity to Hinduism styles of building. The ideal palace was built with stones, lime, cement and mortar. Cheval is also buried in the palace.
6. Forest Spiral Hundertwasser Building
Architect: Heinz M. Springmann
Location: Darmstadt, Germany
Year of Development: 2000
Distinct Feature: Forest spiral like a climbing meadow and has over 1000 windows each of which has a different style.
This building is the center of attention for the people from all over the world because of its unusual architecture. It is a lodging complex and contains 105 housing units. It is situated in Burgerpark area in Darmstadt, Germany. The building has an afforested spiral structure. It is built in such a way that it looks like a constantly climbing meadow. It is a twelve story building. Its brilliant design was shaped by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, a well known painter of Australia. The picturesque courtyard of the building has a running stream which adds exquisiteness in this spectacular building.
5. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
Architect: Frank Gehry
Location: Abando, Bilbao, Spain
Year of Development: 1997
Distinct Feature: Ship like Structure
This building is a masterpiece of contemporary art located in Bilbao, Spain. The Guggenheim museum is designed by a Canadian American architect Frank Gehry. It was established in the mid of October 1997. The silhouette of the building has a similitude with a ship. This ship like museum is built alongside of Nervion River. The edifice is also in the list of most important art work accomplished in the three decade from 1980 to 2010 in the “World Architecture Survey”. The inside design of the testimonial is random which according to architect was intended to catch the light.
4. Bahá’í House of Worship a.k.a Lotus Temple
Architect: Fariborz sahba
Location: Delhi, India
Year of Development: 1986
Distinct Feature: Lotus like structure
This is a mother temple of Indian subcontinent which was completed in 1986. The facade of the holy place is look like a flower due to which it is called a lotus temple. All people regardless of their religion can visit this place. It is one of the popular places of Delhi, India. The building is popular among architecture experts for its exceptional design and has won many awards. The basic architecture of the building was developed on the basis of Baha’i scripture specified by Abdul Baha’i, the son of fonder of the Baha’i religion.
3. Ripley’s Building
Founder: Robert leRoy Ripley
Location: Ontario Canada
Year of Development: 2003
Distinct Feature: Cracks on the building
This is an unusual building which is a head office of a famous television program “Ripley’s believe it or not”. It is full of all odd and mind-boggling artifacts from all over the world. The uniqueness of the building is that it looks like a building which is cracked by a hurricane. It is located in Ontario, Canada. The building design was actually created to reflect the odd earthquake of 1812 that measured 8.0 on Richter scale. It is one of the most photographed buildings and hence it is on the third position of the list for its matchlessness.
2. The Crooked House
Architect: Szotynscy Zalesk
Location: Sopot, Poland
Year of Development: 2004
Distinct Feature: Looks like a fairy tale picture
It is an inspirational building from children’s illustration in fairy tales. Szotynscy Zalesk was the designer of this awesomely unusual structure. It was built in 2004. There are a number of pubs and restaurants inside the building. It is a three story building with a magical look. It has green shades on its curved roof. This building which is an inspiration of Swedish painter’s paintings and pictures has some outstanding features that grab the attention of passers.
1. Device to Root out Evil
Architect: Dennis Oppenheim
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Year of Development: 1997
Distinct Feature: Upside down church
The device to root out evil is located in Vancouver, Canada. Dennis Oppenheim who is a renowned international artist shaped the exclusive structure of the building. It gives an image of an upside down church and seems as a terrific force is lifting it up. The architect faced many controversies as it was first exhibited in Venice biennale and later on installed in Vancouver. Nevertheless it is a piece of astonishing design and captures attention of everyone from all over the world. Without any doubt it is exclusive in its design and a great example of modern and contemporary art of architecture.
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