Weird Architecture: World's Most Unique Buildings

When you hear about "modern architecture," you probably imagine sleek lines and mind-blowing structures. But whoever said that architecture has to be serious all the time? That is not the case for some crazy, weird buildings found around the world.

Best Access Doors proudly presents an incredible list of some of the world's most distinctive buildings in the weird architecture category. Let's take a look at these structures!

Nativity of the Giraffe in Paris, France

Hondelatte Laporte Architectes designed this architectural structure. This French building, completed in 2012, serves as a childcare center. It features several animal sculptures. One of them is a massive giraffe that appears to walk right through the building. The architect built the statue to inspire imagination and creativity in the children attending the center.

Low-impact woodland house in Wales, UK

This unique house in Wales is a private home. The house was designed with the utmost regard for the environment while allowing its residents to live close to nature. This place, built on the hillside, is for low visual impact and shelter. It also includes stone and mud taken from excavations used to retain foundations, walls, and other structures. There are straw bales on the floor, walls, and roof to provide super-insulation, plastic sheets, and a mud/turf roof for ease and low impact.

Moreover, there's even a skylight in the roof to let in natural light. Solar panels are installed for lighting, music, and computing. This place is entirely environmentally-friendly-- they even have a compost toilet!

WonderWorks Museum in Orlando, Florida

The Wonderworks Museum appears to be a disaster site at first glance because of its upside-down structure. However, it is in a healthy state. It is a fun-loving museum on International Drive in Orlando. Just picture Classical architecture —upside down! This building has three stories and is 82 feet tall, flipped over with its triangular pediment squashed into the pavement. Its one corner is flipped over, with a triangular pediment crushed into the pavement, while another corner of the building appears to flatten a 20th-century brick warehouse. Even the palm trees and lamp posts hang suspended. Its wacky design expresses the activities inside, such as the hurricane ride with 65mph winds, a Titanic exhibit, and a 5.2 magnitude earthquake ride.

Mind House in Barcelona, Spain

The Mind House in Barcelona has frames of two gingerbread houses —one with a cross-shaped window and a toadstool on the front wall, and the other with a mushroom on top. This building is among the top 10 most creative buildings in the world. It features three floors and an attic, with a studded roof and painted in a checked white-and-gray pattern. If you venture outside the gates, you can find a Catalonian coat of arms, a wide staircase with fountains, and a giant mosaic lizard that became Barcelona's symbol. The stairs lead to the top of the hill, where the huge terrace is found, surrounded by the long, winding bench. While the Mind House looks like a fairy tale dwelling, it has a primary purpose: to host a gallery.

The Dubai Frame, United Arab Emirates

If you want to find the world's most significant picture frame, then it is time for you to go check out the Dubai Frame. This structure is 150m tall by 105m wide and is an architectural landmark conceived by Fernando Donis. He felt that instead of just having another monument in Dubai, it would be ideal to frame the existing statues and emphasize the city's past, present, and future. Some controversy surrounds this landmark —although the Government of Dubai selected Donis as the winner of a design competition, he claimed that the build went ahead even though he didn't receive a contract or any compensation.

Stone House in Guimaraes, Portugal

Built between four large boulders, the "House of Stone" is located in the Fafe mountains of northern Portugal. This house may seem rustic, but it does not lack amenities-- in fact, it has a fireplace and a swimming pool carved out of one of the large rocks. Hikers can see this unique stone house in Portugal because it's different from other homes: it is built "in" the stone, not "out" of it. This large stone house was built in 1974, and resourceful construction workers decided to save money for the building materials by chiseling out the rooms in the stone. That's why the realization of the original project took so much time and energy. Although this unique two-story house is uninhabited now, it is still well-equipped for a comfortable stay and can be used for no other purpose. The dwelling has a spacious living room with a fireplace on the first floor, a tiled roof, and a manually carved asymmetrical window. The residents can comfortably enjoy the surrounding landscapes. This unusual house's features make it one of the Guimaraes region's main attractions, drawing many curious tourists every day.

Atomium in Brussels, Belgium

This atom-inspired building, designed by engineer Andre Waterkeyn and architects Andre and Jean Polak, was originally for the 1958 Brussels World Fair and was even chosen to depict the Atomic Age's enthusiasm. This engineering feat featured nine connected stainless steel-clad spheres, six of which were accessible to the public, and the fastest elevator of all time (5 m/s). It was originally designed to last only six months.

Ilinden in Kruševo, Republic of Macedonia

The Ilinden is a monument that was designed by artists Jordan Grabuloski and Iskra Grabuloska. It served as a dedication to fighters and revolutionaries who participated in the Ilinden uprising of 1902, including the soldiers-partisans of the Macedonia National Liberation Struggle 1941-1943.

The Crooked House in Sopot, Poland

Built by Polish architects Szotyńscy Zaleski, the Crooked House is an award-winning, exceedingly higgledy-piggledy structure based on the fairytale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer (1902-1973) and the drawings of the Swedish artist and Sopot resident Per Dahlberg, which opened in 2004. This most photographed building in Sopot is topped with a roof of blue-green enameled shingles designed to give a dragon impression. It also has remarkably curved walls and windows, making it one of the most striking buildings you're ever likely to see. During the day, shoppers fill the shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes, and offices, while it comes to life at night thanks to the mass of bars and clubs inside. Watch for the wall of fame on the ground floor, where Polish celebrities have left their signatures!

Lotus Temple in Delhi, India

This temple, located east of Nehru, is shaped like a lotus flower. It is one of the last of the seven major Baha'i temples built worldwide. Set amid the lush, landscaped gardens and completed in 1986, this structure is a matchless architectural marvel and one of the National Capital's prime tourist attractions. When you plan a trip and book hotels in Delhi, this glorious symbol of oneness should be a part of your itinerary.

Habitat 67 in Montreal, Canada

Designed by the Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie as the Canadian Pavilion for the World Exposition of 1967, Habitat 67 is initially intended as an innovative solution for high-quality housing located in dense urban environments. The designer Safdie explored prefabricated modular units to reduce housing costs and allow for new housing types that integrate suburban home qualities into urban high-rise construction.

Final Thoughts

While these unique buildings look extraordinary on the outside, they won't be complete without adequate facilities and equipment. As part of a complete and functional architectural structure, access doors are essential and should not be overlooked.

For your access door needs or any other construction project needs, you can explore all of our products at www.bestaccessdoors.com today!