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If you ever feel like some architects live in their own fantasy land, you’re not the only one. The buildings that they create can range from majestic all the way to magical, and they’re sure to catch your eye with their flying buttresses, stoic columns, angelic balconies, and fearsome facades. However, you can sometimes get the idea that some of these artistic innovators haven’t fully thought some things through—like the fact that people actually have to live and work in the buildings they design.

We’ve got some dreamy and confusing buildings to show you today, dear Pandas, so take out your opera glasses, grab yourself some popcorn, and let’s go take a tour through the crème de la crème of the ‘Bizarre Buildings’ subreddit. Check out some of the coolest-looking buildings that people might have a hard time living in, upvote the ones that you enjoyed the most, and let us know which one you’d pick as your home in the comment section.

I had a lovely chat about architecture with Dr. June Komisar from Ryerson University. Dr. Komisar, who is a specialist in architectural design, the history and theory of architecture, and designing for urban agriculture, told Bored Panda that professionals should look to the "wise" ancient Roman writer Vitruvius for inspiration. "What he said about balancing commodity (the suitability of the building to needs), firmness (structural integrity), and delight (the aesthetics of the building and its relationship to site and context) still holds."

#1

Cat Shaped Kindergarten, Germany

Cat Shaped Kindergarten, Germany

lisino Report

#2

600 Year Old Clock Located In Prague Is The World's Oldest Astrological Clock Still In Operation!

600 Year Old Clock Located In Prague Is The World's Oldest Astrological Clock Still In Operation!

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#3

The Evolution Of This Building Can Be Seen In It's Masonry

The Evolution Of This Building Can Be Seen In It's Masonry

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Dr. Komisar pointed out to Bored Panda that no matter how good an architect is, they won't be able to be prepared for all potential problems and eventualities. "But understanding the site conditions and evaluating other buildings using the same construction techniques and materials can help avoid problems," she said.

I was also interested to learn about how architects can innovate and create originality when it sometimes seems like every single idea has already be done. According to Dr. Komisar, the changes don't have to be something profound. Start small.

#4

Unique Housing In Netherlands

Unique Housing In Netherlands

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#5

Pavilion Of The Enlightened, Thailand

Pavilion Of The Enlightened, Thailand

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#6

The National Carpet Museum In Baku, Azerbaijan

The National Carpet Museum In Baku, Azerbaijan

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"Innovation does not have to be radical, but can be an incremental change that will benefit the users and society at large. At the moment we have a huge opportunity to build sustainable buildings that approach or attain a 'net zero' energy cost. By using local and/or sustainable materials, designing for passive and/or active solar and wind power, designing for very low energy usage, and renovating and adapting existing buildings we can help to mitigate climate change."

Dr. Komisar continued: "Addressing this environmental crisis is not only an issue that we must address but also is a tremendous opportunity for design innovation. Addressing these concerns will most definitely introduce a variety of creative solutions."

#7

Giant 16th-Century ‘Colossus’ Sculpture In Florence, Italy Has Entire Rooms Hidden Inside

Giant 16th-Century ‘Colossus’ Sculpture In Florence, Italy Has Entire Rooms Hidden Inside

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#8

Living Like A Caveman With Modern Amenities

Living Like A Caveman With Modern Amenities

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#9

This Building In Guizhou, China

This Building In Guizhou, China

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Architecture is a tough nut to crack. On the one hand, it’s a very functional and rational sphere of activity that literally designs the spaces in which we live, work, and sleep. On the other hand, it’s an artistic expression that puts form on the same level of importance as function. After all, if you’re going to build something (anything!) at all, why not make it stunning?

So of course, it’s up to the architect to solve an engineer’s ever-lasting riddle: how do you innovate and create something iconic while also making sure that your building doesn’t cause people to riot and denounce it in the news?

#10

The Department Of Fisheries In Hyderabad, India

The Department Of Fisheries In Hyderabad, India

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#11

The Interlace - Singapore

The Interlace - Singapore

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#12

When Your Growing Family Needs An Upgrade But You Love That Cozy Cottage

When Your Growing Family Needs An Upgrade But You Love That Cozy Cottage

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Well, 99 Designs points out that buildings should be innovative, eye-catching, and ought to pop out of their surroundings. And that means bending the rules and bucking (at least some) conventions.

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However, paradoxically, the architect should also be very aware of the building’s surroundings, using them as a complementary backdrop. You can still have your modern masterpiece as long as you pay tribute to the building’s more traditional surroundings with the details, colors, etc.

And it’s with regards to the surroundings that your choice of materials and the way that you shape your project come in—they’re deeply expressive decisions that you should be thinking about as soon as you start sketching out your ideas for your project.

And always, always keep in mind that even though you’re creating a work of art, it’s got to be practical. Otherwise, what’s the point of architecture when sculpture-making would give you the full freedom to express yourself.

#13

Turtle Building

Turtle Building

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#14

The Sheep Building (Tirau, Waikato, New Zealand)

The Sheep Building (Tirau, Waikato, New Zealand)

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#15

Japanese Moka Train Station In A Shape Of A Locomotive

Japanese Moka Train Station In A Shape Of A Locomotive

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The r/bizarrebuildings community celebrated its 5th birthday just a few short months ago, in March, and it’s going strong. Currently, the subreddit has over 131k members and we can see that number rising in the future.

Be sure to give the community a visit if you enjoyed the photos in this list. Pop in for a quick ‘hello, how are you?’ or consider posting a weird-looking yet totally awesome building, too.

“If it's a bizarre building, it belongs here. No, not pictures of buildings having a Christmas bizarre [look]. We want unique, one-of-a-kind buildings!” the ‘Bizarre Buildings’ moderators shared what their online group is all about.

You heard it here, folks—your regular holiday-decoration-bizarre just won’t cut it. You’ve got to go for bizarre bizarre. Crank the weirdness all the way up to eleven so even Alice thinks she’s still in Wonderland. Just remember that when you innovate, you also have the ability to do the climate some good, too!

#16

An Original 1930’s Shell Gas Station

An Original 1930’s Shell Gas Station

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#17

This Is The Proposed Crescent Moon Tower For Dubai

This Is The Proposed Crescent Moon Tower For Dubai

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#18

This Is What Happens When The Owner Of One Half Of A Townhouse Refuses To Sell

This Is What Happens When The Owner Of One Half Of A Townhouse Refuses To Sell

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#19

Container House In The Desert

Container House In The Desert

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#20

This One-Of-A-Kind Pixelated Facade On The Mahanakhon Tower In Bangkok, Thailand

This One-Of-A-Kind Pixelated Facade On The Mahanakhon Tower In Bangkok, Thailand

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#21

Kazakhstan's Tower Of The Sun By Fundamental Architects

Kazakhstan's Tower Of The Sun By Fundamental Architects

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#22

Abandoned Potato Sorting Station In Ukraine

Abandoned Potato Sorting Station In Ukraine

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#23

Treehouse Restaurant (Demolished), Okinawa

Treehouse Restaurant (Demolished), Okinawa

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#24

Inverted Pyramid House In Spain

Inverted Pyramid House In Spain

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#25

Tianzi Hotel, China

Tianzi Hotel, China

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#26

When You're An Architect Whose Brother-In-Law Owns A Struggling Window Store

When You're An Architect Whose Brother-In-Law Owns A Struggling Window Store

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#27

The Stockholm Telephone Tower With Approximately 5,500 Telephone Lines, 1890

The Stockholm Telephone Tower With Approximately 5,500 Telephone Lines, 1890

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#28

Walden 7 In Barcelona, Spain

Walden 7 In Barcelona, Spain

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#29

There's A Huge Open Market In The Netherlands With Apartments Inside

There's A Huge Open Market In The Netherlands With Apartments Inside

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#30

An Awesome Building In Chile

An Awesome Building In Chile

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#31

This Tiny House

This Tiny House

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#32

Saemoonan Church In Seoul, Korea

Saemoonan Church In Seoul, Korea

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#33

When You Have The Money But Not The Land (Batié, Cameroon)

When You Have The Money But Not The Land (Batié, Cameroon)

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#34

“Local Man In Altus, Ok Arrested After Firing A Trebuchet At A Group Of Girl Scouts. His Wife Was Quoted As Saying ‘I Wish I Hadn’t Given In To Him Begging For That Damn Castle Turret When We Had The House Built, He’s Been Mentally Stuck In The Middle Ages Since 1981’”

“Local Man In Altus, Ok Arrested After Firing A Trebuchet At A Group Of Girl Scouts. His Wife Was Quoted As Saying ‘I Wish I Hadn’t Given In To Him Begging For That Damn Castle Turret When We Had The House Built, He’s Been Mentally Stuck In The Middle Ages Since 1981’”

AsymptoticAbyss Report

#35

A Rare Sighting Of Two Buildings In The Wild Having Intercourse

A Rare Sighting Of Two Buildings In The Wild Having Intercourse

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#36

Bizarre Chicken

Bizarre Chicken

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#37

Shenzhen International Airport Looks Like A Giant Airplane

Shenzhen International Airport Looks Like A Giant Airplane

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#38

Sou Fujimoto's "Arbre Blanc" Tower In Montpellier, France

Sou Fujimoto's "Arbre Blanc" Tower In Montpellier, France

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#39

Apartment In Katayama, Japan

Apartment In Katayama, Japan

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#40

Seafood Restaurant? An Institute For Marine Biology? Or A Headquarters For Crab People Hiding In Plain Sight?!

Seafood Restaurant? An Institute For Marine Biology? Or A Headquarters For Crab People Hiding In Plain Sight?!

FoxFoxington Report

#41

University Of Technology Sydney (Uts)'s Business School Building

University Of Technology Sydney (Uts)'s Business School Building

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#42

Store Front In Kyoto

Store Front In Kyoto

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#43

Austria

Austria

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#44

Spiral House, Ramat Gan

Spiral House, Ramat Gan

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#45

"My Apartment Is Right Off The Highway"

"My Apartment Is Right Off The Highway"

savvyf*** Report

#46

The Largest Hotel In The World, With A Staggering 10,000 Rooms Is Currently Under Construction In Saudi Arabia

The Largest Hotel In The World, With A Staggering 10,000 Rooms Is Currently Under Construction In Saudi Arabia

malgoya Report

#47

The Peachoid, A 135 Feet (41 M) Tall Water Tower In Gaffney, South Carolina

The Peachoid, A 135 Feet (41 M) Tall Water Tower In Gaffney, South Carolina

Teillu Report

#48

The Frame In Dubai- Elevator Up, Walk Across A Glass Floor, Elevator Down

The Frame In Dubai- Elevator Up, Walk Across A Glass Floor, Elevator Down

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#49

The New Louis Vuitton Store In Tokyo

The New Louis Vuitton Store In Tokyo

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#50

Plot #1282, A Residential Building In Beirut Designed By Bernard Khoury

Plot #1282, A Residential Building In Beirut Designed By Bernard Khoury

sacrecoeur1206 Report

Note: this post originally had 71 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.