10 weird architectural feasts in the world

7/28/2019 10 Weird Architectural Feasts in the World

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Since mankind began, weve sought shelter as a place to conduct domestic and later, work life. As innovations developed, many

different materials and building methods came into play, and architects got increasingly ambitious. Heres a list of interesting

architectural creations throughout the world the good, the bad and the ugly.

10. Dar Al Hajar, Yemen

This palace, which protrudes from a rock formation above a valley in Wadi Dhahr, was constructed in the 1930s by the ruler

Imam Yahya. Originally built as a summer residence, this remarkable building and its grand interior is now open to tourists.

Photo byAi@ce

9. Manchester Civil Justice Centre, England
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Australian architects Denton Corker Marshall designed this multi-court building, which boasts the largest suspended glass wall

in Europe, at 11,000m2. The same design team is currently in talks to create a sister court building in nearby Birmingham.

Photo byIain Peacock

8. The Stone House, Portugal
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This domestic home was meticulously carved out of a large piece of stone. Although its privately owned, many trek to the top of

this hill in Guimaraes to take photos and marvel at the unique residence. Photo byJsome1

7. Beijing National Stadium, China

This stadium used in the 2008 Summer Olympics was the brainchild of architects Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Stefan

Marbach, Li Xinggang, and artist Ai Wei Wei. They came up with the design after studying Chinese ceramics and deciding on a

Birds Nest theme. Photo uploaded byfgcp035

6. Kansas City Public Library
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Established in 1873, Kansas Citys library was adapted to include this incredible wall of books, which run down 10th Street

between Wyandotte Street and Baltimore Avenue. There are twenty-two 25 x 9 feet book spines featuring titles suggested by

Kansas City readers, such as Catch 22, Huckleberry Finn, The Lord of the Rings and Charlottes Web. Photo

byjonathan_moreauand Gwens River City Images

5. The Crooked House, Himley, England

This pub in the English West Midlands fell foul to too much coal removal beneath its footings during the mining period. The

result was that it sunk to one side, causing drinks to roll off the table and punters feeling incredibly drunk after just a couple of

beers. Buttressing has secured the building so it wont slip any more, even though its still 15 degrees off angle. Photo by Gary

S. Crutchley

4. Upside-Down House in Szymbark, Poland
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Philanthropist and businessman Daniel Czapiewski created this house in 114 days, as a statement about Communism. It

attracts thousands of tourists a year, who often complain of sea-sickness and dizziness after walking around the structure.

Photo byDirk Wegman

3. Habitat 67, Canada
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Moshe Safdie was the designer behind this multi-cubed residential area in Montreal. Ironically, although they were designed

with the intention of creating affordable but stylish accommodation, the domiciles rose in price as they rose in architectural

infamy. Photo by P M M andhubertk

2. The Winchester Mystery House, California
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This ex-personal residence of Sarah Winchester is now a popular tourist attraction due to its sheer oddness. Winchester

demanded daily from-the-ground-up construction around-the-clock, without interruption, from 1884 until her death in 1922.

This resulted in a huge mansion with seven stories (now four), 160 rooms, two ballrooms, spider motifs hidden in the designs

and staircases and doors leading to nowhere. Photo by dalvenjahandSlightlynorth

1. Atomium, Brussels

The Atomium is a monument built for Expo 58, the 1958 Brussels Worlds Fair.

Designed by Andr Waterkeyn, it is 102-metre (335-feet) tall, with nine steel spheres connected so that the whole forms the

shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Tubes which connect the spheres along the 12 edges of the

cube and all eight vertices to the center enclose escalators connecting the spheres which contain exhibit halls and other public

spaces. Photo byfatboyke

Honorary Mention The Ice Hotel, Sweden
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This seasonal ice hotel was built in Jukkasjrvi after a French artist held an exhibition in an igloo and visitors asked to stay the

night. The hotel is rebuilt each year, between December and April, using over 5,000 tones of ice for the church, Absolut Icebar,

reception, main hall and suites.

Photo by Weerf

See more Weird Houses atYouLiveWhere.com
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10 weird architectural feasts in the world

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