Most buildings are rectangular or square in shape. Is it because of this that people often find charm in unique and unconventional architecture? Here are some extraordinary and eye-catching buildings that stand out from the typical structures. From enchanting buildings reminiscent of a winter wonderland to precarious structures rising from the middle of a lake, explore the fascinating and unusual architecture from around the world.
Xinxiang Cultural Tourism Center
This building, which seems like it could be home to Elsa from Frozen, was designed by Chinese architect Chiang Zhou and French architect Matthieu Forest. The Xinxiang Cultural Tourism Center is a cuboid structure that appears to be made up of nine ice pieces, maximizing its mystique. Depending on the light entering the building, the structure looks different. When it gets dark, it captivates everyone with its sparkling beauty.
Zipper Building
Open and close a building? The Zipper Building, which garnered attention with its outrageous idea, was designed by British sculptor Alex Chinneck. He added details to create a dramatic effect as if the building was opened through a zipper. Chinneck described the space opened by the zipper as a world of infinite imagination, saying he wanted to evoke interesting imaginations in people.
Urban Forest
A 30-story residential tower, Urban Forest, has been unveiled in South Brisbane, Australia. Urban Forest, designed by architect Koichi Takada, is a vertical garden where trees and plants blend together. The building, which features a sculptural staircase and extended balconies, allows for ample healing time outdoors. The vertical garden serves as a living greenery, housing 1,000 trees from 259 native species and more than 20,000 plants.
Shenzhen Marine Museum
In Shenzhen, often referred to as the second Hong Kong and China’s Silicon Valley, a remarkable architectural creation has emerged—the Shenzhen Maritime Museum. Designed by the renowned Japanese architectural studio SANAA, the building features a unique design reminiscent of sculpted clouds. SANAA, known for prioritizing continuity with the natural environment, opted for a curved structure inspired by the surroundings rather than a tall and elongated one.
The Wave
In the small coastal town of Vejle on the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark, one can encounter a unique Danish landmark known as “The Wave.” This architectural marvel is a residential apartment complex that combines the beauty of Denmark’s nature with an international sensibility. Featuring five distinctive wave designs that are easily recognizable, The Wave stands out as a sophisticated and unique building..
Turning Torso
This building twisted 90 degrees from the base to the top, is the Turning Torso in Malmo, a southern resort city in Sweden. With a height of 623 feet, it is said to be the tallest in Northern Europe where high-rise buildings are rare. Architect Santiago Calatrava explained that the spiral exterior allows wind currents to naturally flow to the side or top, thus there’s no shaking of the building even in strong winds.
Habitat 67
Habitat 67, located in Quebec, Canada, is a cubic rectangular building. It is the work of Moshe Safdie, an architect from Haifa, Israel. He predicted that in the future, many people would live in narrow cities and created Habitat 67, where each house is independent of others while ensuring privacy.
Blur Building
The architect group ‘Diller and Scofidio’ unveiled the Blur Building at the Swiss Expo in 2002. The Blur Building has 31,500 high-pressure nozzles installed on the exterior of the building. The nozzles create artificial fog by spraying tiny water droplets. This gave the public a fresh shock at the time, as it looked like it was floating on a lake.
U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel
This building, which has the same shape as stacking 17 fighter jets, is the chapel building of the U.S. Air Force Academy located in Colorado, U.S. It is known that the building was built with superalloy panels, the material used to make aircraft. The U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel, which attracts visitors’ certification shots, can hold various religious services including Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, and Islam.
Luma Arles
In June, the Luma Arles, a multifaceted cultural space in Arles, France, was unveiled. Resembling a colossal work of art, Luma Arles is covered in over 11,000 aluminum panels, creating a striking exterior. The cylindrical structure is reminiscent of the ancient theater of Arles, while its shimmering facade imitates Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” adapting to various atmospheres under sunlight.
By. Hye In Oh
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