Have you ever seen a skyscraper designed to change its shape? The F&F Tower in Panama City features a rotating design where the upper 39 floors can rotate up to 9 degrees around a central axis. This ambitious project was completed within budget and on schedule, showcasing a sophisticated engineering achievement.
In Dubai, the upcoming Rotating Tower will take this concept even further. Each of its 80 floors will rotate independently, allowing residents to enjoy customizable views from their windows. The rotation of each floor will complete a full turn in approximately 90 minutes. To address energy needs, the tower will incorporate wind turbines positioned between floors to help generate power, making the building more energy-efficient.
If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a building that looks like it’s straight out of a video game, consider the King Power Mahanakhon in Bangkok. This striking skyscraper, which is Thailand’s tallest building, stands at a height comparable to the Eiffel Tower. Its distinctive pixelated appearance is achieved through a unique design of horizontally and vertically divided glass windows. Completed in five years, the building houses over 200 apartments, a hotel, luxury shops, restaurants, and features one of the most impressive observation decks in the world.
The Liebian International Building in Guiyang, China, is known for its impressive artificial waterfall cascading down its side. The waterfall, which is turned on only for special occasions, uses a combination of recycled tap water and rainwater. When it was first activated, some locals mistook the waterfall for a major water leak.
In Mumbai, the Cybertecture Egg is a distinctive office building designed to resemble an egg-shaped structure made of glass and steel. Inspired by ecosystems, the building’s design includes optimal orientation, sun shading, and an underground cooling system to manage internal temperatures.
Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands may resemble a modern take on Stonehenge, but its architect was inspired by a house of cards. The structure features three 55-story towers topped by a horizontal SkyPark, which includes an infinity pool. The SkyPark offers panoramic views of the city and is situated at the height of the 57th floor, providing the sensation of floating high above the ground.
The Dancing House definitely stands out among more traditional architecture in Prague. The nickname for the house is Fred and Ginger. The stone tower symbolizes famous dancer Fred Astaire, and the glass tower — his partner Ginger Rogers. There’s even imaginary hair on top of Fred’s tower. 99 concrete panels support the dancing shape, all of them of different dimensions.
Umeda Sky Building, twice the height of Big Ben, consists of 2 towers of glass and steel to the north of Osaka Station. The Floating Garden Observatory connects the towers on top. Although the building is in a huge city, the skywalk is so high in the clouds that the only thing you’ll hear up there is the wind. If you’re scared of heights, you can visit an urban garden, a theater, an art museum, or one of the many offices closer to the ground inside the building.
Architect Octavio Mendoza owns probably the largest piece of pottery in the world. If you’re ever in Colombia, ask the locals for directions to the Flinstone House — yes, they call it that for a reason. The official name is Casa Terracota, and the architect only used clay to build it. He let it bake and harden in the sun, which transformed the pliable material into solid ceramic. Every curve of the building is designed after the surrounding hills. All the furniture inside is also made of clay.
Mendoza is determined to work on the Casa for the rest of his life. Artists Dennis Sullivan & Frances Conklin have been saving money for 15 years carving smaller wooden dogs to create their dream project. The Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood is a 12-foot beagle that stands proud in the Idaho prairie. There is a bedroom and a living area in its body and an extra bedroom in the head.
Ever wondered what it might be like to be inside a giant carpet? While it might not be a common thought, visiting the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum is a unique experience worth having. Designed by Austrian architect Franz Janz, the museum showcases the rich history of carpet weaving in Azerbaijan and took six years to complete.
In Ohio, the Basket Building stands out for its resemblance to a giant shopping basket, scaled up 160 times the size of a typical basket. The building originally served as the headquarters for the Longaberger Basket Company but was later sold and repurposed into a luxury hotel.
In Graz, Austria, the Kunsthaus Graz, also known as the “Friendly Alien,” resembles a futuristic, biomorphic structure. Designed by British architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, the building features around 1,000 acrylic glass panels on its surface. At night, the museum can illuminate and display light signals visible across the river. The structure also includes a viewing platform, offering panoramic views of the city.
The Half House in Toronto, Canada, was built in the late 19th century as part of a row of six identical homes. When redevelopment came to the area, the owners of the neighboring houses agreed to move, but the owner of the Half House refused to sell. Remarkably, the demolition crew managed to take down the adjacent houses without causing any damage to the Half House. The white exterior wall of the Half House, which was once a load-bearing wall separating the interiors of the neighboring homes, was at risk during the demolition, and any mishap could have led to its collapse.
The Shell House on Isla Mujeres, Mexico, is designed to resemble a giant seashell and is adorned with shells collected from local beaches. Architect Eduardo Ocampo created this unique home for his brother, aiming to provide a distinctive retreat. Today, the Shell House is available for vacation rentals.
The Bubble Palace, located near Cannes, France, was designed by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag and later purchased by fashion designer Pierre Cardin. This distinctive property includes 10 artist-designed bedroom suites, lush gardens, water ponds, a swimming pool, and a 500-seat outdoor amphitheater with stunning views of the Bay of Cannes. The design’s unconventional shape and layout make it a striking feature in the landscape.
In Rotterdam, the Cube Houses are a striking architectural experiment designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom in the late 1970s. Each house is tilted 45 degrees, creating a distinctive, abstract appearance meant to evoke a forest of trees. This innovative design maximizes space and provides a unique living experience.
The Cube Houses in Rotterdam are designed to resemble a forest of trees, with each house’s triangular roof symbolizing a treetop. Each house is three stories tall, with the ground floor serving as the entrance, the first floor featuring an open kitchen and living room, and the top floor containing a bathroom and two bedrooms.
The Boot in Tasman, New Zealand, is a unique hotel shaped like a giant boot, complete with functional shoelaces. Inside, it features a spiral staircase, a cozy fireplace, a kitchenette, and a bedroom with a balcony.
If you visit Mitchell, South Dakota, don’t miss the Corn Palace, a key local attraction. Originally built in 1892 to showcase the area’s agricultural success, the palace was constructed using corn to demonstrate the fertility of the land. The current building is a reconstructed version, and every year, new corn in various shades is used to create elaborate murals on the palace’s exterior.