Photo Courtesy of Top Design Mag
Art is in the eye of the beholder and many eccentric architects are finding new ways to create buildings while also making something…”pleasing” to the eye. Some see these designs as work of art. Others see them as…well, weird. Either way, a lot of preparations went into these unconventional plans and many continue to be drawn to them.
Today, the web staff here from Toolbarn looks at 10 “Strange” Designs from all over the world. Here’s what we came up with.
1.) 727 Boeing Plane House
Photos Courtesy of Awesome Inventions
Many homeowners are always looking for that next deal and one person decided to take an aging jetliner and turn it into his house. Bruce Campbell from Oregon decided to take a 727 Jet and convert it into his new home. He paid $100,000 for the old jet and then spent another $120,000 to make it his home. Campbell spends 6 months out of the year living in his airplane. If you’re interested in tracking his progress, you log onto www.airplanehome.com.
2.) The Flintstones’ House
Photos Courtesy of Coldwell Banker and the Daily Mail
It’s a house that would make Fred Flintstone proud. This two bathroom, one bedroom home is built on top of a mountain in Malibu that has 360 degree windows facing the Pacific Ocean and other nearby scenery. It’s built right next door to Santa Monica National Recreational Area and resides on 22 acres of land. TV Legend Dick Clark first built the property in 1988 as a getaway for both he and his wife. After Clark’s death in 2012, the property finally sold for $1.7 million…a pretty good deal in Malibu, California.
3.) Transparent House
Photos Courtesy of Iwan Baan
If you’re looking for a house with a lot of windows and are not worried about having any privacy, then the Transparent House in Tokyo, Japan may be for you. House NA as it is known is a 914 square foot structure that was built by Sou Fujimoto Architects and was based on the concept of living in a tree. It is quite scenic…but would also probably make a lot of people uncomfortable without an occasional curtain.
4.) The Cubed Houses of Rotterdam
Photos Courtesy of kubuswoning
These are pretty well known around the world, but still inspire awe when you see them in person. The Cubed Houses in Rotterdam, Netherlands were the brain child of Architect Piet Blom. His design was intended to show a village within a city as an abstract forest. The cubes are all joined together and tilted at 54 degrees. 55 were planned, but only 39 were completed due to financial problems. Today, the houses are a big tourist attraction. Piet Blom died in 1999 at the age of 65.
5.) The Bubble House
Photos Courtesy of Twisted Sifter
The iconic Bubble House outside Cannes, France continues to inspire architects and attract tourists from all over the world. Anitti Lovag helped design the Bubble House for advent garde fashion designer Pierre Cardin. The house was built in 1989 and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. The house is also 12,916 square feet and the spheres were constructed with mesh and rods. Afterwards, concrete was poured in top. The house is still active and many Europeans rent out the Bubble House for parties and other events.
6.) The Nautilus Giant Sea Shell House
Photos Courtesy of Hi Consumption
Some may have wondered what it’s like to live inside a sea shell and that’s why at least one architect helped create the Nautilus Sea Shell House. The house was built in Mexico City in 2006 and the design was crafted by architect Javier Senosiain. The giant wall is made up of colored mosaics which light up the living room to give it a bright, rainbow effect. Senosiain says he was inspired by the works of Gaudi and Frank Lloyd Wright. He also dubbed his work as “Bio-Architecture.” Today, a young family lives there.
7.) The Slide House
Photos Courtesy of Dezeen
Ever wish you had a playground with a slide inside your house when you were a kid? Well, it may be possible after all thanks to Japanese studio Level Architects. They created a three story house that is connected with a slide. The slide and staircases wraps around the house in one big circle. The 1762 square foot home is located in a Tokyo suburb. Sure to be a hit with the kids and maybe the adults will join in too!
8.) Fallingwater
Photos Courtesy of Fallingwater
This next house is considered one of America’s greatest designs and continues to draw tourists every year to Mill Run, Pennsylvania. Fallingwater is a house that was built over a waterfall in 1936 by the legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The house was first commissioned by the Kaufmann family, a wealthy family of storeowners from Pittsburg. Wright drew up the plans in two hours after speaking with the family and designed the house to be built over the waterfall. While some renovations were needed, Fallingwater continues to be the crown jewel in American architecture.
9.) The Crooked House
Photo Courtesy of Krzywydomek
No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. That is a real building that was inspired by old children’s books. Architect Szotynscy Zaleski created the plans and the three story house was built in 2004 in Sopat, Poland. Despite its unusual design, tourists come from all over the globe to snap a picture. Also, shops and pubs are inside too.
10.) House Attack
Photo Courtesy of Color Coat Online
Finally in Vienna, Austria, a renowned artist decided to make an emotional statement by inserting a full house into the Muesum Moderner Kurst. Erwin Wurm created the House Attack in 2008 as a symbol of families all over the world being plunged into everyday worries and problems. He also wanted to inspire architects to think outside the box. Either way, his house on top of the museum is sure to attract a lot of eyeballs.
