Have you ever wondered what life is like for those who call a truly unusual place home? Across the globe, some houses are shaped like mushrooms or igloos, while others are built into cliffsides or hang precariously in trees. Prepare to have your mind expanded as you explore 10 of the strangest homes from around the world.
Top 10 strangest houses
1. The Transparent House, Japan
Built in 2014, the Transparent House was designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. The minimalist two-story structure features glass walls, allowing natural light to illuminate the interior and a panoramic view of the surrounding neighborhood.
From the outside, it seems almost empty. However, the interior holds a staircase, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and sleeping area — all plainly visible thanks to the home’s transparent nature.
Staying in the Transparent House is not for those desiring privacy. For the open-minded, though, living in this innovative home could be an exciting artistic experience.
2. Keret House, Poland
Sandwiched between two buildings, the Keret House was designed by architect Jakub Szczesny to utilize the unused space. The three-story structure is a fully functional living space despite its diminutive size. The ground floor contains a kitchenette and bathroom. A ladder leads up to the second-floor bedroom, while the top floor is a small storage area.
While it appears whimsical, its design serves a purpose: to address housing shortages in dense, historic neighborhoods with little space for new construction.
3. The Flintstones House, California
Locally known as the “Flintstone House” due to its iconic stone-age style, the home was constructed using steel, wire mesh, and spray-on concrete. Its irregular rooms, slanted walls, and floors give the impression of being inside a cave.
This has become a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors stopping by to snap photos of its bizarre yet whimsical design. The current owner charges admission for tours and has added additional quirky touches like a dinosaur sculpture garden.
4. The Upside-Down House, Germany
This bizarre abode was built completely upside down as an exhibition and opened in 2008. Everything in the house is inverted, from the furniture on the ceiling to the light fixtures hanging from the floor.
The structure was designed by Polish architects Marek Rozhanski and Sylwia Rozhanska. They wanted to create an optical illusion and disorienting space. Kids and adults alike enjoy the strange experience of walking on ceilings and seeing rooms flipped.
5. The Toilet House, South Korea
Built by Sim Jae-duck and nicknamed “Mr. Toilet,” this giant potty-shaped building is the world’s largest toilet-themed structure. Mr. Toilet was obsessed with sanitation and spent over US$1.6 million constructing this monument for toilets. The three-story house opened in 2007 and featured interactive exhibitions on the history of toilets, including many artifacts collected by Mr. Toilet himself.
Though an unusual tribute, the Toilet House highlights the importance of hygienic facilities for public health. The first floor is modeled after ancient Roman latrines. Its second floor depicts how toilets evolved in Korea. Meanwhile, the third floor is designed like a throne room to represent the future of toilets.
6. Mushroom House, New York
Architect James Johnson created this contemporary residence in the early 1970s using five concrete pods clustered on a hillside. The house was built to resemble a group of mushrooms popping up from the forest floor. Each pod has a domed roof and a round shape. Plus, short tunnels and walkways connect them.
In addition, the interior of the Mushroom House features curved walls, rounded doors, and porthole-style windows in keeping with the overall round theme. A narrow corridor even runs through the center, connecting the pods.
7. The Bubble House, France
Designed by architect Antti Lovag between 1975 and 1989, this whimsical abode consists of interconnected, spherical rooms. Lovag’s ambitious design includes 28 domes of varying sizes, all steel and polyurethane.
The spheres are linked together by short tunnels and spiral staircases, giving the impression of a giant habitable sculpture. Each pod has a specific purpose, like the dining room sphere, bedroom sphere, or lounge sphere.
The construction of the Bubble Palace took over a decade due to its challenging design and shortage of funds. However, it has become an iconic example of organic architecture.
8. Cube Houses, Netherlands
Architect Piet Blom designed these unusual houses in the 1970s. Blom wanted them to represent an abstract forest, with each cube symbolizing an individual tree.
Each cube house is tilted at a 45-degree angle and rests upon a hexagonal pole. The cubes are three stories high, with the top floor containing the living room and a terrace. The second floor contains the bedrooms, and the ground floor contains the entrance and bathroom. Its houses are arranged in a honeycomb structure, with each cube attached to its neighbor.
9. Krzywy Domek, Poland
Designed by Polish architect Szotyńscy Zaleski, the Krzywy Domek’s strange shape resembles something out of a fairy tale. The structure leans in all directions and gives the appearance of melting. Despite its whimsical design, the building is completely safe. The unusual shape comes from using special architectural techniques with wood and steel.
The Crooked House is a popular tourist attraction and commercial space in Sopot. Inside, you’ll find stores, restaurants, and a radio station office. Climbing the narrow stairs and walking the slanted floors creates an amusing experience for visitors.
10. The Leaf House, Brazil
Completed in 2008, the 40,000 square-meter home was inspired by traditional Indian architecture in Brazil. Architect Marcio Kogan designed the Leaf House to be an escape from the bustle of city life.
The secluded property in Angra dos Reis, a coastal region two hours west of Rio, is only accessible by boat and surrounded by the lush Atlantic Forest. The interior focuses on bringing the outside in.
Verandas and terraces on each level open to the surrounding greenery. Walls of windows flood rooms with natural light and frame peaceful vistas of treetops and sky. Local wood and stone are used throughout, creating a rustic yet refined esthetic.
Wrapping it up
As you’ve seen, there are some truly peculiar places that people call home. While most live in standard houses, apartments, or condos, some prefer pushing the envelope and living in unconventional spaces.
Whether it’s a tower in the forest or even a giant shoe, the options for unique abodes are endless if you have an open and adventurous mind.
