As far as jobs go being an architecture carries some pretty hefty weight. Not only do you get to make a ton of money as an architect but you also get to help erect buildings that get logged almost as artwork, lasting for who knows how many years in the public eye. With that being said, not all buildings come out the way we might imagine them. We decided to pull together a list of the 15 most bizarre buildings in the world.
Stone House of Portugal
This gorgeous building is called the ‘House of Stone’ and for good reason. Located near the Fafe Mountains in Northern Portugal, this stone house is disarming and almost eerie to look at. The home is made completely out of rock with a slate roof and a few odd windows set into the stone. It looks like something pulled out of a fairy tale. If you want to forego the traditional Maine rafting trip this summer for something entirely different, head on to Portugal and scope this place out.
Stone House of Portugal
Le Futuroscope
Located in France this building is definitely an eye catcher for anyone that passes by it. Called Le Futuroscope this building is all odd ends and angles while being built of completely reflective material. This building is located in the Parc du Futuroscope which is a multimedia theme park for people who want to take in all manner of artistic endeavors in the media world.
Le Futuroscope
Museum of Contemporary Art of Rio
This building is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and it instantly gives visitors an old school vibe. At first glance you will see what looks like a Star Trek spaceship pressed against a rocky cliff, near the bay where people take time for their fishing trip. Then you see the long red boardwalk up into the building and before you know it you are in a gorgeous museum. Definitely a must see for visitors in the area. Brazil is affordable right now and getting rental cars or even just a single car rental cheap, is an easy task.
Museum of Contemporary Art of Rio
The Eden Project of England
A group of scientists wanted to do some environmentally good things while attracting the attention of the public and that was how The Eden Project was born. The Eden Project brings loads of tourists to Cornwall, England in order to see the several massive biomes that are on display. There is an ampitheater as well and even a school on the grounds for registered students. If you have a passing environmental interest, go check this place out.
The Eden Project of England
Device to Root Out Evil
We are kicking off our list with a piece of architecture that is pretty darn trippy to look at. Located in Calgary, Canada this building was built by artist Dennis Oppenheim. Oppenheim calls the piece, ‘Device to Root Out Evil’. What is great about this piece of art is that it sends out multiple messages depending on who is looking at it. Some call it an attack on religion while others call it a provocative piece.
The Device to Root out Evil
The UFO House
Back in the ’50s and ’60s the modular design was super popular. Single colors, rounded edges, and a modern look were all of the rage. A group of developers in Sanjhih, Taiwan decided to build a neighborhood full of their own take on the ’50s dream home and that’s how we got the UFO Houses. The homes never sold and they’ve become an eerie and abandoned fixture on the hills of Sanjhih. Now they are regaining popularity as a tourist destination.
The UFO House
Kansas City Library
Located in Missouri, the Kansas City Library will give any fan of books a swelling in their chest. The entire exterior of the building is modeled after a bookshelf with a variety of classic books on display such as Lord of the Rings, A Tale of Two Cities, and even Charlotte’s Web. The giant books on the outside only hint at all of the books that are waiting for students and city residents alike. Read more books, kids. Instead of spending time out on your motorcycle go to the local library. You’ll learn more and probably never need a motorcycle injury lawyer.
Kansas City Library
Guggenheim Museum
Located in Bilbao, Spain the Guggenheim Museum is one of the most striking buildings on our list. The building was established back in 1997 and since then it has become a stalwart part of the Bilbao experience. The building is considered one of the best contemporary pieces of architecture in the world and it is considered one of the most important pieces of art of the 20th century. Inside you will find a constantly rotating series of artwork and exhibits that capture you just as much as the exterior.
Guggenheim Museum
Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea
While we don’t advise ever taking a trip to North Korea, we can’t help but admire one of their buildings from afar. Knowing the history of the country and their current rulers it is easy to look at the Ryugyong Hotel as an almost Sauron like blemish on the otherwise minimal skyline of Pyongyang. Instead we see it as a monolith of industry in a country that desperately needs an overhaul.
Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea
The National Library of Belarus
Wow, that’s all we can see. Driving by the National Library of Belarus, located in Minsk, is just a complete wonder in creative engineering. The building looks like a giant cube, something again out of Star Trek, and it is lit with thousands upon thousands of dark purple lights. You can’t help but feel like it is something alien when looking at it.
The National Library of Belarus
Solar Furnace at Odeillo Font-Romeu in France.
This weird looking building is located in Odeillo Font-Romeu in France and it was first opened up in 1970. The mirrored panels pull in sunlight, reflecting it to make it the largest solar furnace on the planet. The building is used as a scientific research site in order to study the effect of exceedingly high temperatures on different materials.
Solar Furnace at Odeillo Font-Romeu in France
Blur Building
This bizarre looking creation appears to be something caught inside of a cloud, but it isn’t. The Blur Building was constructed on Lake Neuchatel and it features its own atmosphere. The structure is 200 feet in depth, 75 feet high, and 300 feet wide. Water is pumped into the building from the lake where it is filtered and shot out as a fine mist. Going inside of the building will leave you with a surreal visual experience as you get lost in the fog and the experience of it all.
Blur Building
The Church of Hallgrimur in Iceland
This building looks like it was pulled straight out of a Disney film. The Church of Hallgrimur is located in the capital city of Reykjavik in Iceland. Don’t ask us to spell that again without having a reference, please. The Church is a soaring building that looks almost like the back of an organ. The color is delightfully subdued and the building seems worn, but in a noble way. We dig the appearance.
The Church of Hallgrimur in Iceland
Atlantis of Dubai
Don’t get too excited, we’re only talking about the gorgeous resort located in Dubai, UAE. The Atlantis Building is a soaring structure that looks like it is made out of sandstone. Located on the peninsula and featuring more pools than you have time in the day to swim in, this makes for a must visit if you ever find yourself in Dubai. While it isn’t nearly as ‘weird’ in a traditional sense as our other buildings, it is still pretty startling to see in person.
Atlantis of Dubai
Ferdinand Cheval Palace of France
The Cheval Palace was built by Ferdinand Cheval who was a postman in France who died in 1924. In 1879 he decided that he wanted to build a palace that he had dreamt about as a small child. One day he tripped over a rock while taking a walk. It was a beautiful piece of sandstone that so matched his dream he was overcome with delight. Over the next thirty years Cheval would building a palace out of sandstone, often working by lantern at night, until it was completed. The palace is a mix of different styles. He also would end up building his own mausoleum so that he could be buried under his own artwork.
Ferdinand Cheval Palace of France
