50 Strange Buildings of the World (Part III)

By Village Mayor • Jan 14th, 2009 • Category: Architecture, Latest Post, The Best of Village of Joy

Hey folks! Firstly, I would like to say a big thanks for all of you who sent us strange, odd and unusual buildings. We couldn’t do this without your help. Your contribution is very much appreciated.

Having said that, let remind you of other two lists. You can find them here: Part I and Part II.

And yes, we do have RSS feed. Yep, it does show pictures. Link can be found here or on the top right corner (little box with the number of readers). :)

If you know an unusual building that is not on these lists, let us know by writing a quick comment.

Ok, enjoy strange buildings of our world!

1. Conch Shell House (Isla Mujeres, Mexico)

(Image credits: Mark Stadnik)

This unusual building was designed by architect named Octavio Ocampo and built in a lovely island of Mujeres in Mexico. The house is said to be the most outstanding and original house on the island. Surrounded by Caribbean Ocean it gives you an unique opportunity to experience what it’s like living in a Sea Shell.

2. Device to Root Out Evil (Vancouver, Canada)

(Image credits: papalars)

Yea yea, I know… It’s not a house, it’s a statue. However it’s unusual, unique and still a peace of architecture.

Rod Mickleburgh in his article (May ‘08) wrote: “It was too hot for New York City; too hot for Stanford University. But a controversial, imposing sculpture by renowned international artist Dennis Oppenheim finally found a public home in laid-back Vancouver.”

It was too hot for Vancouver as well…:) The project has been removed from the city, and is now in Calgary, Alberta.

3. Experience Music Project, Seattle, WA, USA

(Image credits: EMP)

Experience Music Project (EMP) was founded by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft. It is a museum of music history sited near the Space Needle and is by one of the two stops on the Seattle Center Monorail, which runs through the building. The structure is also home to the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame.

Designed by Frank Gehry, the building resembles many of his firm’s sheet-metal construction works, such as Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Gehry Tower.

4. Upside Down House (Szymbark, Poland)

(Image credits: Radziooz)

Daniel Czapiewski, Polish businessman and philanthropist, built this house as an artistic statement about the Communist era and current state of the world. Many tourists who visit complain of mild seasickness and dizziness after just a few minutes of being in the structure.

5. Puzzling World Lake Wanaka (Otago, New Zealand)

(Image credits: Somerslea)

Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World is a tourist attraction near Wanaka, New Zealand. It started out as just a maze in 1973, but over the years expanded to accommodate a “puzzling café” where guests could try out several puzzles, rooms with optical illusions, the and other things.

One of the biggest attractions is the leaning tower. The Leaning Tower of Wanaka is, as the name implies, a tower that is seemingly impossibly balanced on one corner, making the whole structure lean at an angle of 53 degrees to the ground. Exactly how this is achieved is yet to be unveiled, but it can be assumed that some kind of counterbalance or anchoring device has been used.

If you feel like visiting this place check out the website.

(Image credits: Broken Piggy Bank)

6. Low impact woodland house (Wales, UK)

Once in a while you find something really amazing on the web. And I’m really happy that someone sent us a link of this truly astonishing house.

One guy with the help of his father in law and friends built this house for his family. “The house was built with maximum regard for the environment and by reciprocation gives us a unique opportunity to live close to nature.” he says.

This building is one part of a low-impact or permaculture approach to life. This sort of life is about living in harmony with both the natural world and ourselves, doing things simply and using appropriate levels of technology.

When asked why he is doing this, he gave this answer: “ It’s fun. Living your own life, in your own way is rewarding. Following our dreams keeps our souls alive.”

You can learn more about this project on this website.

7. BWM Welt, Munich, Germany

(Image credits: meironke)

The open style of architecture and the glass facade allow a lot of light into the rooms and open up the building towards its surroundings. Simultaneously, the BMW Welt harmonically blends into the context of the architecture of the Olympiapark and the existing BMW buildings.

8. Cowboy Boots Bathroom (Seattle, WA, USA)

(Image credits: kuow949)

These boots used to be the restrooms for a kitschy gas station. Now they adorn a park in Seattle. You can see the door on the side of the boots.

9. The Big Duck (Flanders, NY, USA)

(Image credits: the real janelle)

The Duck was built in 1930-1931 and was originally used as a retail outlet selling Long Island Duckling on West Main St. in Riverhead.

10. Lucy the Margate Elephant (Margate, NJ, USA)

(Image credits: amy_kearns)

Over the years, Lucy has served as a real estate office, a tourist attraction, a rental “cottage”, a bar, boarding house, hotel, restaurant and refreshment stand.

11. House Boat (California, USA)

(Image credits: TailspinT)

These are house boats, built in 1925 from the remains of a hotel and a bathhouse, now moored on Third St. between F and G in Encinitas, CA.

12. Giant Muskie (Hayward, WI, USA)

(Image credits: Staciaann Photography)

Giant Muskie at the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame

13. The Big Chicken (Marietta, GA, USA)

(Image credits: The Rocketeer)

The Big Chicken was built in 1963 by S.R. “Tubby” Davis as a method of advertising a restaurant on U.S. 41, a main thoroughfare through Marietta, Georga.

14. Guitar Museum (TN, USA)

(Image credits: jakekrohn)

The sign advertises the “world’s only guitar shaped music museum.”

15. Weird House Boat (Croatia)

(Image credits: lo_sgabuzzino (del guercio) )

Just another strange building sent by our commentators.

15. Doll’s Theatre (Torun, Poland)

(Image credits: _waj)

Building that looks like an old cupboard.

16.  The sheep building  (Tirau, Waikato, New Zealand)

(Image credits: PhillipC)

It’s a wool shop

17. Sheepdog building (Tirau, Waikato, New Zealand)

(Image credits: Susan Renee)

18. House Between The Rocks (France)

(Image credits: Blog-trotter)

19. Royal Ontario Museum  (Toronto, Canada)

(Image credits: wvs)

20. UFO house (Chattanooga, Tennessee)

(Image credits: josephleenovak)

This house, on Signal Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee is shaped like a UFO. If you look closely you can see the staircase descending from the underbelly that leads up to the living quarters.

21. Wonder egg (Ishigakijima Island, Okinawa, Japan )

(Image credits:Ken@Okinawa)

This big wonder egg is built for a lookout of migratory birds point.

22. Bart Prince house (Albuquerque, USA)

(Image credits: Diluted)

23. The Amazing Flying House (Sarzana, Italy)

(Image credits: Babele Dunnit)

This is a real house. It goes up and down, can rotate 360°, runs on rails… the man built that all by himself alone and lived in it for seven years with his wife.

24. Teakettle Building (Rockbridge County, VA, USA )

(Image credits: taberandrew)

25. Cinema (Kongsberg, Norway)

(Image credits: Damiel)

It is the cinema in the town of Kongsberg, Norway.

26. Universum Science Center (Bremen, Germany)

(Image credits: Bogdan Morar)

27. SunTrust Bank (Annapolis, MD, USA )

(Image credits: Radio Rover)

28. Steam World Museum (Gramado, Brazil)

(Image credits: Mauro Mello)

As the name says, it is dedicated to showcase the many applications of the steam engine — in manufacturing, transportation, arts & crafts etc. The “disaster” reproduced in the front is a reference to a real accident, that occured at Gare Montparnasse, Paris, on 22 October 1895 (a picture of the real accident is also attached).

29. Seattle Public Library (Seattle, WA, USA)

(Image credits: mastermaq)

30. Peter B Lewis building at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH, USA)

(Image credits: bryan.norwood)

31. Oscar Niemeyer Museum. (Curitiba, Brazil)

(Image credits: Gestalteando)

Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filhois a Brazilian architect who is considered one of the most important names in international modern architecture. He was a pioneer in the exploration of the constructive possibilities of reinforced concrete. His buildings have forms so dynamic and curves so sensual that many admirers say that, more than an architect, he is a sculptor of monuments, a trait some critics consider to be a defect.

32. The Sage Gateshead (Gateshead, England)

(Image credits: wikipedia)

33. Turtle building (Niagra Falls, USA)

34. Ysios wine cellar in Laguardia, Álava, Spain

35. Oakley headquarters, Foothill Ranch, California, USA

(Image credits: MentallyRetired.com)

36. Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

(Image credits: `◄ccdoh1►)

The largest religious building in the world, Angkor Wat, was built by Suryavarman II (r 1112 – 52) to honour Vishnu, his patron deity. The central tower is 55m above the ground, which is surrounded by 800m worth of carved galleries or bas-relief friezes which depict religious scenes. The most celebrated of these scenes is the ‘Churning of the Sea of Milk’ in which asuras and devas are shown using the serpent, Vasuki, to churn the sea under Vishnu to extract the elixir of immortality.

37. Little Man Ice Cream Shop (Denver, CO, USA)

38. Church with an A (Madrid, Spain)

(Image credits: R.Duran)

A Parish Church at the beginning of Alcalde Sainz de Baranda St. (Madrid, Spain).

39. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, (Milwaukee, WI, USA)

(image credits: Ricky Irvine)

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956, and completed in 1961. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is one of Wright’s last works. Its shallow scalloped dome echoes his Marin County Civic Center.

40. Sport’s Mansion (Vilnius, Lithuania)

41. The Big Pineapple (Nambour, Queensland)

(Image credits: reuvenim)

42. Piano shaped building (Huainan, China)

(Image credits: Dyl86)

43. Elephant building

(Image credits: Film Colourist)

44. House on the Rock (Wisconsin, USA)

Image sent by email

45. La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain)

(Image credits: cuellar)

46. Theater in Ibirapuera Park (São Paulo, Brazil)

(Image credits: Elder Tanaka)

47. Reversible Destiny Lofts (Mitaka, Japan)

(Image credits: ssp4eva)

48. Bunker (Chicago, IL, USA)

(Image credits: paul goyette)

49. Office Building (St. Petersburg, Russia)

(Image credits: | unton |)

50. Shark Bar (Perm, Russia)

Check out our other galleries:

50 Strange Buildings of the World (Part II)

50 Strange Buildings of the World (Part I)

Village of Joy

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Possibly related posts:
  • 50 Strange Buildings of the World
  • 50 Strange Buildings of the World (Part II)
  • Top 10 Strangest Buildings in the World
  • 15 Strange Meals of the World (Part I)
  • 20 Strange Sculptures (Part I)

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    47 Responses to “50 Strange Buildings of the World (Part III)”

    1. 47
      Jeremy Says:

      For Part IV you can add the “Yale Whale” (David S Ingalls Rink) in New Haven, CT, USA
      Here’s one pic:
      http://www.yaledailynews.com/media/2007/02/14/ingalls-rink-known-to-students-as-the-whale-snagge/

    2. 46
      Acitta Says:

      The Sharp Centre for Design, an extension to the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto would be a good addition to your next installment.
      http://www.arcspace.com/architects/alsop/sharp_center/sharp_center.html

    3. 45
      Gerasimov Says:

      You can add The Snail House from Sofia, Bulgaria :

      http://www.panoramio.com/photo/20839221

      http://wikimapia.org/14600432/bg/%D0%9A%D1%8A%D1%89%D0%B0-%D0%9E%D1%85%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B2

    4. 44
      Jigo Lee Says:

      http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=103&oid=028&aid=0000215434

      This supposed to be thing in your bathroom!

    5. 43
      Jigo Lee Says:

      This building looks like a thing in the bathroom.

      Hope this helps you!

    6. 42
      Luuk Says:

      Aan de Stegge gebouw in Goor In Holland is also an amazing building for these pictures

    7. 41
      Claire Says:

      You should check out the Weisman Art Museum and the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis MN. I think they would make the cut for this list.

    8. 40
      Carlos Lorenzo Says:

      Correction to the previous comment. La Pedrera was listed before in the other lists. So Casa Batlló would be my only suggestion. Sorry I had not checked the first two lists before I wrote the comment.

    9. 39
      Carlos Lorenzo Says:

      Incredible selection. A wonderful post. Being from Barcelona I tried to find some of Gaudi’s famous buildings. I see Sagrada Familia and Park Güell are included. Perhaps Casa Batlló also deserves a spot or Casa Milá aka La Pedrera. But the post is perfect. Thanks for sharing.

    10. 38
      Billy Bob Says:

      the u.s.a has the worst

    11. 37
      Munden Says:

      I really enjoy all of these collections. :) Thanks for posting them.

      I’ve enjoyed looking at collections like this, and have put in the effort to locate as many of the builidings as I can in Google Earth. If you’d like to see them, you can visit:

      http://www.gearthhacks.com/dlfile32730/50-Most-Unusual-Buildings-of-the-World,-Part-3.htm

      I gave credit for creating the list to Village of Joy (duh) and also gave photograph credits matching the VoJ credits.

    12. 36
      Nasir Says:

      truly amazing stuff :)

    13. 35
      Connie Says:

      Temppeliaukio in Helsinki Finland should be on this list!
      http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2555952-Temppeliaukio_Rock_Church-Helsinki.jpg

    14. 34
      Village Mayor Says:

      @Diana Sheaffer great info, thanx! I’ve already sent you an email.

      P.S. it’s actually Zirmunai not Zirminai :)

    15. 33
      Diana Sheaffer Says:

      # 40 is:
      PALACE OF CONCERTS AND SPORTS (Vilnius, Lithuania)

      The Palace of Concerts and Sports, built in 1971 in the southernmost part of Zirminai, in the middle of the former cemetery, is an example of Soviet Constructivism and Brutalist architecture, remarkable for its vessel-like exterior. The Palace, once one of the architectural icons of Soviet Vilnius, was, until the 1990s, a major venue for sporting events, especially local and international basketball matches, as well as concerts and shows. Its seating capacity is about 4400. On October 22/23 in 1988, the building hosted the statutory meeting of the Lithuanian political organization that led the struggle for Lithuanian independence. On January 14/15 in 1991, a public funeral for the victims of the January Events took place at the Palace. Later in the 1990s, the building was used as a shopping mall where space was leased to small entrepreneurs for business exhibitions and fairs. The projects have been stalled due to the inclusion of the Palace into the 2006 ‘Registry of Cultura’ list.

      I have looked up info on every one of your posted buildings (I, II, and III) and have that in record if you want to post with your pics. Took LOTs of work, but was enjoyable to learn and research of all those. Thank you for sharing.

    16. 32
      scigirl Says:

      #49 is actually the “Bar Code” shopping center, it says so on the ad banner on top of the building, also stating it’s opening date of March 2nd, but doesn’t state the year.

    17. 31
      Kristi T. Says:

      I love this list, though I think the Corn Palace of Mitchell, South Dakota should be added. http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/pix/cornpalace2000.jpg

    18. 30
      Jessica Bell Says:

      You should put Meteora up. Greek orthodox monasteries built on top of huge rocks. Absolutely breathtaking.

    19. 29
      tooslim Says:

      Check out the documentaries done by Rick Sebak…. he did one about odd buildings and roadside attractions. He’s out on Wikipedia, and his shows often run on PBS stations.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Program_About_Unusual_Buildings_%26_Other_Roadside_Stuff

    20. 28
      Andreas Says:

      Ever heard of the Evoluon in Eindhoven, Netherlands? Very strange building too.

    21. 27
      t. Says:

      may I suggest the Ontario College of Art and Design’s “Sharp Centre for Design” by Alsop Architects.

    22. 26
      Zhnigo Says:

      #49 is not an office building. It’s a mall.

    23. 25
      Anupaama Says:

      really awesome

    24. 24
      Neztra Says:

      When I use to live in Atlanta, if anyone was looking for directions in Marietta, they would be given those directions from the Big Chicken:

      My house is two miles down on the left from the Big Chicken.

      Turn left 1/2 mile from the Big Chicken, etc.

      I always thought it was funny…

    25. 23
      Pam Says:

      Totally awesome! I enjoyed looking at them. Thanks for sharing!

    26. 22
      Lindsey Says:

      The Liverpool (UK) Catholic Cathedral is pretty cool. Its also affectionately known locally as ‘Paddys Wigwam’ because of the local links with Ireland.

      The altar is in the center of the structure, and the lighting inside is beautiful on a sunny day, because the upright part of the tower is all stained glass, so the coloured light effect moves around during the day.

      See http://www.freefoto.com/browse/1023-05-0?ffid=1023-05-0

    27. 21
      jim Says:

      wow great job of collecting all these truly amazing structures.. you rock…

    28. 20
      Jordan Says:

      wow those architects are really amazing im so showing my gf, Not ever civil engineer could have made those either.

    29. 19
      50 Strange Buildings of the World | Village Of Joy Says:

      [...] After reading it don’t forget to check Part II and Part III. [...]

    30. 18
      50 Strange Buildings of the World (Part II) | Village Of Joy Says:

      [...] looking at this magical collection of buildings, don’t forget to check Part III (and if you haven’t seen Part I) of this very popular architecture post [...]

    31. 17
      Top 10 Strangest Buildings in the World | Village Of Joy Says:

      [...] By the way, the III part of the weirdest buildings is also out, and you can read it here. [...]

    32. 16
      Hellcat Says:

      http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8wscVwnYKppl6kLjN7JPqQ?select=jFkvxSqbHIT6NZS29IOFYg
      http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8wscVwnYKppl6kLjN7JPqQ?select=9hr7u9XaXP7Gn3GVRY2lpg

      They missed the Fry’s electronics building in Burbank Ca

    33. 15
      RAFTAKIS Says:

      I think the impact house is great

    34. 14
      Natalie Ford Says:

      When I was at York University (UK), we used to call Central Hall the spaceship or flying saucer:
      http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&ct=6&w=all&q=central+hall+york+university&m=text

    35. 13
      jojo Says:

      wow soo cool i love number 42 i love it !!

    36. 12
      Diane Says:

      I find these lists a bit biased… around 30-40% on average of each of the 3 lists are North American buildings… the rest of the world has so much better to offer… I’m guessing a North American person made these lists then? Most likely someone from the US.

    37. 11
      Russell Says:

      LOLOL
      #4 is AWESOME.. :D

      I want one..

    38. 10
      Hannah Says:

      This stuff is awesome I love it

    39. 9
      sarawut Says:

      Elephant Building is from Bangkok, Thailand

    40. 8
      Alexander Says:

      Kate,

      There are several Torontos in USA :)
      But ROM is in Toronto, Ontario, you are right.

    41. 7
      Kate Says:

      Don Woodruff:

      Your comment was made a full day after mine. When I posted, it read Toronto, USA.

    42. 6
      Alexander Ivanov Says:

      Number 49 is shopping center, not office building.

      Interesting thing about ROM (number 19) is connection between old and new parts of building. You could see it there:
      http://pics.livejournal.com/a_garvey/pic/002rzdxk/g148
      http://pics.livejournal.com/a_garvey/pic/002s0fwa/g148
      http://pics.livejournal.com/a_garvey/pic/002s6skb/g148

    43. 5
      sepate Says:

      #43 Elephant building in Bangkok, Thailand

    44. 4
      Po Says:

      43.Elephant Building is from Bangkok, Thailand.

    45. 3
      Don Woodruff Says:

      #19 DOES SAY “CANADA”!!

    46. 2
      Kate Says:

      #19. Toronto is in Canada, not the US.

    47. 1
      hydro mechanical metal forming Says:

      Amazing works.I forgot to close my eyes while seeing all those photos.Wonderful.
      Thanks for sharing the great photos with us!

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