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“Bread-Shaped Bread Factory”: 35 Structures So Odd They Could Be AI-Generated
Let your weird light shine bright so that the other weirdos know where to find you... That's what comes to mind when we think of some of the buildings people have dared to design and erect. Often, it's not even a case of thinking outside the box. But rather, destroying the box completely and creating a whole, new, never-seen-before, architectural shape.
Think India's National Board of Fisheries headquarter building, which is shaped like... a fish. Or the St. James Quarter in Edinburgh, Scotland, nicknamed the Golden Turd... we'll leave you to figure out why. These are just a few of the unique structures around the world that have people stopping in their tracks and doing double or triple-takes, just to make sure their eyes aren't deceiving them.
Someone recently asked, "What's a weird or funny building in your country?" and the replies came rolling in faster than tractors on a construction site. Some structures are mind-blowingly creative, others are plain bizarre. All are proof that the planet we live on is anything but vanilla.
Bored Panda has put together a list of our favorites for you to scroll through while you plan your next sight-seeing adventure. Let us know which ones you find the most interesting by hitting the upvote button.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This Is The Headquarters Of The National Fisheries Development Board (Nfdb) In Hyderabad, India. This Building Is Just So Weird And Funny
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 17 hours ago (edited)
Nice plaice you have here. You can feel the sole of the building. Must have been a haddock to design.
Lotekguy 15 hours ago
I'm glad this is all in print since I'm hard of herring.
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Phantom Phoenix 14 hours ago
This building needs a balcony with an awning on its right side so the poor fishy can gain its missing fin...
rustyscate 15 hours ago
I love it! It reminds me, vaguely, of the MEPS building in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, shaped like a boat. (Military recruiting office where you take your placement test and swear in) I was an 89 bravo ammo tech
The world would be so boring if everything and everyone was exactly alike. Thankfully, when it comes to building design, the sky is the limit... At least, in many places around the world.
China made headlines in 2016, after announcing that the government planned to ban "bizarre" and "odd-shaped" buildings. Ironically, the country was at the forefront of unique architecture, and was home to some of the wildest buildings in the world.
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#2
This Is The Last Remaining Example Of The Original Shell Gas Stations. It's Located In Winston Salem, NC
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 17 hours ago
If you hold your ear to it you can hear the sound of ecological catastrophe.
Phantom Phoenix 13 hours ago (edited)
Once upon a time, service stations provided, oh what did they call it? Oh yeah, *service*! People would pull up and an attendant would, um, *attend* to them; putting in the amount of fuel requested by the customer, checking their oil and radiator levels, and, if needed, clean their windscreen. The customer had no need to exit their vehicle and enter the building. That was simply a place for the till & where the attendant could hang out when there was no customers. Imagine that! Sounds like a fairy tale...
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Remi (He/Him) 8 hours ago
the entries switch places according to the up and down votes, so what was #47 at the time you made the comment is probably something completely different from what it is now
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#3
France, The "Palais IDéal", Built By A Single Mail Carrier On His Spare Time, With Odd Rocks That He Found In The Paths
Bi.Felicia 1 hour ago (edited)
A bit more info- It was built by Ferdinand Cheval, a French postman, who spent 33 years (1879-1912) collecting stones and constructing the palace entirely by himself. The palace is a unique example of naive architecture and art environment, blending influences from various cultures and styles, including Hindu temples, Egyptian tombs, and Swiss chalets. Cheval was inspired to build it after stumbling upon an unusually shaped stone during his mail route. The structure is 12 meters high and 26 meters long(approx 40ftX85ft)and includes various sculptures of animals and figures, as well as inscriptions and poems. It has been recognized as a major work of art and classified as a French Historical Monument.
Phantom Phoenix 13 hours ago
I'll bet that from when he started, it took at least a week before there was anything worth going to look at
Ellinor she/they/elle 2 hours ago
You mean create amazing and impressive art ?
Load More Replies... #4
At No Surprise To Anyone, New Zealand Has Sheep Lmao
Nikki Sevven 17 hours ago
The way they're looking at each other, there will be a bunch of lamb buildings in the morning.
#5
The Kindergarten "Katze" (Cat) In Karlsruhe-Wolfartsweier, Germany. Right Over The Left Paw Two Small Windows At A Yellow House Can Be Seen. That Once Was My Bedroom
#6
USA. It's The Headquarters Of A Company That Makes These Types Of Baskets
Tango Wox 15 hours ago
Well it was until the company went under. iirc its been for sale for a while now.
rustyscate 15 hours ago
The USA has big weird people and big weird buildings at least we are good in that way! 🤷♀️
GrowingThruConcrete 7 hours ago
no one wants it, if I had the $ I'd turn it into a 90s pop culture museum
#7
United Kingdom. This Is A Private House That Has A Shark In The Roof
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 17 hours ago
See guys! I told you Sharknado was based on real events!
Roxy222uk 15 hours ago
As far as I know this is in Oxford, there’ve been complaints, but the council can’t legally get them to remove it.
UKDeek 14 hours ago
It is in Oxford, (Headington to be exact) and was sculpted by artist John Buckley and installed in the house, without permission, by journalist Bill Heine on the 41st anniversay of the dropping of the atomic b**b on Nagasaki. Many attempts were made to have it removed as it broke planning laws, but was saved by Michael Heseltine after an appeal in 1992. I won't add a link, but just search Headington Shark and you will find plenty of information.
Load More Replies... Phantom Phoenix 13 hours ago
That would be an ingenious way around council planning permission. "That's my TV antenna. Where's the law that says TV antennas have to be a certain shape?"
Load More Replies... Ghostchaplain16 17 hours ago
Is anyone else hearing the theme from the movie "Jaws" as they look at this?
Norfolk and good 6 hours ago (edited)
We don't have HOA's in the UK because we generally believe that people can do what they like to their own house, and if the neighbours don't like it that's their problem.
Load More Replies... #8
France
In the 1970s and 80s, the French government wanted to strengthen swimming instruction. This required building many swimming pools. A model was developed and almost 200 were replicated throughout France.
These pools look like flying saucers (and they can partially open). Weird but a bit cool, I think.
April Pickett 17 hours ago
The mechanics still work? They haven't been abandoned like so many other structures from the 70s and 80s?
#9
Canada. The Gooderham Building In Toronto Is Fun!
Phantom Phoenix 13 hours ago
In my reply to myself is a link to the google maps entry for the Geelong Arts Centre. Coolest looking façade I've ever seen!
#10
Taiwan Has A Bread Shaped Bread Factory
#11
Appartment Building In Amsterdam
#12
Australia. He Is Beloved Tho!!
Vivian McBride 1 hour ago
There used to be some animal-shaped buildings in southern California. I remember a couple of dogs.
#13
The Warped House, Poland
Ghostchaplain16 11 hours ago
Imagine popping out of the local watering hole late at night and looking at this. "Here, Tom, better take my keys."
#14
Czech Republic. The Dancing House, Prague
It resembles a dancing pair (the man on the right, the woman on the left)
Photo By Danny Alexander Lettkemann, Architekt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Spidercat 12 hours ago
The architect who designed this recently dïed. He also designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Frank Gehry.
Cee Cee 11 hours ago
And at the request of Marge the Springfield community centre in The Simpsons!
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#15
Hotel In Zaanstad (Nethwrlands) Lots Of Traditional Shapes Of Dutch Houses Together
#16
Italy. The Church Tower Of A Flooded Village
Jeroen Maes 6 hours ago (edited)
There are no houses left, the tower is the only remaining structure. I've seen the lakebed when the lake was dry due to maintenance to the dam (late 1970's)
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Raymond Core 6 hours ago
It's not a flood. This is a lake created by a dam. There is a whole village that goes with that church.
Pedantic Panda 5 hours ago
Yes, the village and valley were flooded to make the lake/reservoir.
Load More Replies... angelmomoffour62 17 hours ago
That just seems wrong. I can see something in the window on this side.
#17
This Is A Museum In The City Of Niterói, State Of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
#18
Scotland. The St James Quarter In Edinburgh, Affectionately Nicknamed 'The Golden Turd' For Obvious Reasons
angelmomoffour62 17 hours ago
It is lopsided. The one from the top looks like it's going to fall.....
Phantom Phoenix 13 hours ago (edited)
If you go through life always expecting symmetrical tụṛd piles, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. They're typically shıt!
Load More Replies... #19
The Atomium, An Iron Atom 165 Billion Times The Size Of A Real Iron Atom. Belgium
WindySwede 9 hours ago
Wiki "in the shape of a unit cell that could represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times."
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Stardust she/her 5 hours ago
Atoms do NOT look like this because they instead have funky shaped orbitals. Well I guess the S orbitals are the most normal looking (they’re spherical) but the P, d and f orbitals have completely different shapes. This is most likely a lattice of iron atoms
WindySwede 5 hours ago
See my comment under 'Ryan's comment, more info on Wikipedia about it. (Its an iron crystal)
Load More Replies... Lotekguy 15 hours ago
This looks so much better in person with all those curving reflective surfaces.
#20
South Korea. The Cafe’s Name Is Literally ‘Grasshopper Cafe’, Located In Jeongseon, Gangwon Province
Phantom Phoenix 13 hours ago
I'd be tempted to always use a certain descriptive F word before saying that name...
#21
Australia. I Would Say It’s This Hotel Shaped Like A Crocodile In Kakadu, Nt
#22
There Are A Few, But The One That's Truly Whimsical And Witty In My Opinion Is Casa Orgánica, In Naucalpan. (State Of Mexico, Not Mexico City)
#23
There’s A Guy In Colorado Who Spent Some 40 Odd Years Building A Castle
Melody 14 hours ago
Sooo my comment where I provided a link to an article was automatically hidden. (Are links not allowed anymore? I haven't been on here much recently because the content has gone downhill so much.) But it's called Bishop Castle.
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Taiwan
Temple of the 18 Lords which boasts the “worlds biggest dog statue”, you walk in through its butt and go up stairs until you can look out of it from a platform inside sorta like the Statue of Liberty. But the door was sealed shut a few years back
Val 12 hours ago
Feet were barking that day. I don't know, guys, I tried.
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#25
USA. This Dinosaur Is A Gift Shop, In California
#26
Church In The Shape Of Chicken, Indonesia
More Information 14 hours ago (edited)
"[Censored]! Wait, that's not a woodpecker, it looks like someone's-.."
Load More Replies... #27
Crocodile Stadium, Bursa, Turkiye
Val 12 hours ago
I believe that's the correct spelling in Turkish? Maybe?
Load More Replies... #28
Us. Saw This One In New York
Bob Brooce 8 hours ago
I'm glad this one is here (well, it's actually a bit SE of Riverhead, NY at the very beginning of Long Island's south fork) because if it wasn't I'd have mentioned it in the comments at the bottom of the page. There used to be a lot of duck farms on eastern Long Island.
Andy Frobig 2 hours ago
I figured it must be on the Island, but I've lived in a lot of parts of the state, so when I read something's "in New York" I automatically think "that doesn't narrow it down much"
Load More Replies... PenguinEmp 16 hours ago
No it's now a historic building with a gift shop. It was built in 1931 by a man who wanted to sell ducks.
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Adorable Davelands 31 minutes ago
That's actually a photo from the old location. It was saved and moved to its current location around 1990. It is a tourist shop now. I was there a couple of months ago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Duck
#29
The Shoe House In Lancaster, PA USA!
SheamusFanFrom1987 14 hours ago
There was an old woman who lived... Oh, someone else lives there now? Hopefully she doesn't have too many children, gives her kids more than broth with at least some bread, and tucks them in rather than whipping them soundly to bed... XP
Bewitched One 8 hours ago
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.
#30
Vegas, USA
KazzaHazza 10 hours ago
I don’t want to go to Vegas, not my vibe, but when the F1 is on and it follows the cars that race in front of it, I think that’s cool!
#31
Toad Museum, Thailand
SheamusFanFrom1987 14 hours ago
Gamabunta from Naruto really fell on some hard times to have to make money housing antiques in himself...
#32
Elephant Building Bangkok
#33
Los Angeles, It Has To Be The Walt Disney Concert Hall
Designed by Frank Gehry. Personally not a fan of his architectural works, and I don’t personally like it but it makes for a good statement piece. Close seconds are The Broad Museum and Petersen Automotive Museum.
Paulsible deniability 5 minutes ago
Right after he read the description above.
Load More Replies... Nikki Sevven 17 hours ago
Also not a Gehry fan, but he did do a magnificent job here of making something incredibly heavy appear to be about to take flight.
WindySwede 9 hours ago
To me it looks like an solar powered nuclear plant. The nuclear building, see stripy building left, at almost the top.
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Scarlett O'Hara's Ghost 10 hours ago
For a second after I saw it was a Disney building, I thought for sure it came from the imagination of Dali!
WindySwede 9 hours ago
To me it looks like an nuclear power plant, the stripy reactor building on the left side..
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#34
Indonesia. It Became Viral Few Months Ago, It's A Mosque Built By A Military General, Located In His Hometown LOL
Phantom Phoenix 13 hours ago
Has anyone seen the design plans for the ballroom?
Load More Replies... #35
This Is East Beach Café In Littlehampton, UK. People Call It 'The Turd'
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