Architects are proud of them, tourists admire them, and the locals are used to them, but still sometimes freeze, enjoying the bizarre view of 5 of the strangest buildings on the planet. These buildings include residential buildings, museums, temples, hotels. The purpose of the houses can be different, but they are united by their unusual design and bold architectural solutions.
Upside Down House, Szymbark, Poland
The photographs of this house, standing upside down, have probably been seen by everyone. The house is turned upside down with all its contents: that is, the chandeliers are now located on the floor, and the sofas are nailed to the ceiling.
The house was created by engineer Daniel Chapevsky, who with such an installation illustrated the years of the communist regime, which became the reason for the departure from the traditions of their ancestors.
Tourists are allowed into the house. The entrance is through a window. The inverted space has too much effect on the vestibular apparatus, so some people in the house may feel bad.
Hostel "Gallery Spirit", Bratislava, Slovakia
The house, which seems to be built by an absolutely crazy architect from the wreckage of various buildings and metal parts, is loved in Bratislava and is considered one of the most bizarre local attractions. It is located away from the tourist routes - not far from the railway station, but the more interesting it is to look for it.
The building, painted in bright acid colors, is figuratively called by the locals - "Butterfly House". This is not just a hotel, but also an art gallery and a space for creativity.
In the Spirit Gallery you can find:
- 47 rooms, which can accommodate from 1 to 4 people;
- room for 12 people;
- a kiosk selling nutritional supplements created with the help of renowned nutritionists;
- an art cafe decorated as if a paint truck exploded in the room;
- bike rental and much more.
The hostel looks no less shocking inside than outside. But each room is perfectly adapted for life - it has amenities and a TV. Some rooms have open terraces where it is so pleasant to drink coffee with a view of Bratislava.
Watts Towers, USA
The story of 17 towers, resembling steel Christmas trees from afar, surrounded by layers of barbed wire, began in 1921, when the Italian Simon Rodia, an unfortunate builder who loved to kiss a bottle, arrived in Los Angeles. He bought a piece of land in the Los Angeles suburb of Watts and began his great construction, which lasted 33 years.
Rhodia independently erected the frames of the towers from steel rods, and then decorated them with everything that came to hand - fragments of ceramic dishes, broken glass, etc. He collected the material for the decor himself, sometimes involving neighbors' children for this.
As a result, we got an original, unlike anything else structure, which is now being taken to tourists.
There was a time when, after the departure of the master who could not withstand criticism and ridicule, they wanted to demolish the towers, but the very people who laughed at Rodia suddenly came out to protests and defended the towers, which later became the symbol of their town.
Lotus Temple, Delhi, India
A whimsical temple, from afar resembling a lotus flower with closed petals and partly like an opera building in Sydney, is located in the village of Bahapur, in New Delhi. It was built in 8 years by the Canadian architect Fariborz Sabha.
The Lotus Temple belongs to the Bahá'í community. According to their traditions, any sacred building of this religion should have 9 rounded corners and a dome. Inside, you will not find icons, statues and altars. Believers can sit on benches during prayer.
The Bahai Temple building in Delhi consists of 27 marble petals. The middle can be reached through 9 doors. In the center of this building there is a prayer hall, which can simultaneously accommodate 2,500 believers.
The marble for the construction of the temple was delivered from Greece. This building material is highly revered by adherents of the Bahá'í teachings. They venerate their sacred buildings only with them.
Tourists are allowed into the Lotus Temple.
Bubble Palace, Cannes, France
The former estate of Pierre Cardin in the town of Tuelle-sur-Mer near Cannes is not compared to anything. The unusual building resembles a bubbling mass, an alien landscape, holes of octopuses, a village of hobbits. Pierre Cardin compared his architecture to female forms.
The official name of this architectural wonder is the Bubble Palace. It was built on an area of 1200 sq. m in 1989 for the artist Pierre Bernard. This unique house was designed by the architect Anti Lovag.
3 years after the construction, Bernard sold the estate to fashion designer Pierre Cardin, who turned it into one of the zones where celebrities walked in style during the Cannes Film Festival.
The palace was built of reinforced concrete and decorated with expensive woods. All the walls are rounded, and the furniture is made in the same style.
The house has 10 rooms, a living room and a lobby. Next to the palace there are 2 swimming pools, a garden, an amphitheater and a luxurious observation deck.
At the beginning of 2021, Pierre Cardin's estate found a new owner. The Bubble Palace was worth £ 280 million, automatically making it one of the most expensive residences owned by an individual.
