18 of the World's Most Unusual Houses
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While it's still in its planning stages, we've designed what could be the world's coolest house. Now, I'd like to share with you some of the world's most unusual houses. Because, when it comes to having fun in life, it pays to be a little bit wacky. These proud homeowners are certainly having some fun with their spaces...
1. Narrowest House
The Keret House is in fact a very narrow space in between two buildings. It connects the buildings but, at the same time, it’s also independent from them. Since the size of the space represents a problem and an obstacle, making it feel airy and spacious is nearly impossible. Still, several solutions were found. For example, the transparent roof lets in lots of natural light and prevents the space from feeling cluttered and claustrophobic.
Moreover, the house also has an open stairway and an entire wall of windows. In order to not interfere with the structure of the neighborhood, the house was built about ten feet above the ground. It’s 30 feet tall and it’s unofficially known as the world’s slimmest house.
2. Smallest House
Designed by an architecture student as a way of cheaply living in Beijing while he finished his studies, this sprouting bamboo house has just enough room for one. It was home to the student for several months, until he was moved along by the authorities. Bummer!
3. Hobbit House
You may remember these homes from such movies as Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit… These Hobbit Houses are now a major tourist attraction thanks to the LOTR franchise. Set in beautiful green rolling hill on New Zealand's South Island, they make for a pretty picturesque image.
4. Airship House
When it comes to unusual homes, they don’t come much more unusual than Cocoon – a zeppelin-shaped home which lofts above its steep site, nestled in the canopy of Australian native treetops.
On this steep site, they created a sculptural home which uses the structural principles of an airship to balance among the treetops, stealing a stunning glimpse of the azure coast below.
5. Pole House
Located at the top of an enormous concrete pole, the famous Pole House is an unexpected landmark for people traveling along Australia's Great Ocean Road. From the top of the pole, beautiful views of the ocean surround. The original home shown here has recently been torn down and a new structure will be built on the famous pole.
6. Largest (Unplanned) House
After her husband's death, Sarah Winchester, widow to the famous gun manufacturer went a little cray-cray. Reports say she was told by a psychic to move west and build a home for herself and the people killed by Winchester Rifles to appease their spirits. And build she did. Non-stop until her death 38 years later!
The Queen Anne Style Victorian mansion in San Jose is renowned for its size, its architectural curiosities (including spider web motifs and the number 13), and its utter lack of any master building plan.
The property and mansion have been claimed to be haunted by various ghosts, now including Winchester herself, ever since construction commenced in 1884. Under Winchester's day-to-day guidance, its "from-the-ground-up" construction proceeded around the clock, without interruption, until her death on September 5, 1922, at which time work immediately ceased. The cost for such constant building has been estimated at about US $5.5 million (equivalent to over $75 million in 2012).
7. Most Secluded House (Bjork's House)
Also known as Bjork’s house or the most secluded house in the world, the house in Elliðaey Island has puzzled the web with its absurd setup. Who on earth would want to live in a windswept, treeless rock without anyone else in sight?
Well, evidently not Bjork! The internet has long confused this secluded island with a home apparently gifted to Bjork by the Icelandic government as a thank you for putting the tiny island nation on the cultural map. Yes, Bjork lives on a tiny island. No, it wasn't a gift from the government. And no, it's not this island, which is actually a lodge for Puffin hunting. Weird.
8. Rotating House
Imagine you find a house for sale with a master-bedroom view of the surrounding garden. But what you really wanted was a view of the pond on the other side of the property where the birds and other wildlife flock. If you own the Rotating House in the US, that can be changed in about 50 minutes.
This entire house, a mid-century-modern classic designed by noted architect Richard T. Foster and built in 1968, sits like a flying saucer on a small pedestal, from which it rotates 360 degrees.
The Rotating House was recently on the market for $1,750,000.
9. Curved House
This curved house is officially called 'Shoffice' (shed + office). It's a garden pavilion containing a small office alongside garden storage space. Located to the rear of a 1950's terraced house in St John’s Wood, the brief required the shoffice to be conceived of as a sculptural organically object that flowed into the garden space. They sure got that right!
10. Truffle House
This house was partly constructed by a cow. It doesn't get much more unique than that! The architects at Ensamble Studio are the bright minds behind this unique vacation home in Spain. But not the only minds. They created this tiny home to be rustic, but modern, from the ground up. It was important to choose the right location, building materials and hay for this project.
That’s right. Hay. The hay was for Paulina the cow, an incredibly important collaborator for this architectural achievement. The house was constructed from hay and then covered in concrete. Over the next 18 months, Paulina ate the internal space to reveal the new home.
11. Stone House
A home that is both unique and unusual can be found in the middle of the Fafe Mountains. Oblivious to winds, rain or anything else Mother Nature may throw its way, this sturdy two-story home was built in 1973 and features a working fireplace and a swimming pool. With its furnishings made of stone and wood, it has been affectionately known as “The Flintstone House” after the famous 1960′s cartoon.
Along with all the tourist and media attention, it is unfortunate that the home has also been the object of robbery and vandalism; so many times that it is now sporting bulletproof glass in the windows and a steel door. With the constant stream of visitors and lack of privacy, the current owners have since moved and the home sits empty.
12. Half Pipe House
Perfect for skate boarding fans, this half pipe house is literally designed as a skate park.
13. Shell House
Like something found 20,000 leagues under the sea or set in the center of the planet, this dazzling house design by Senosiain Arquitectos was patterned after a shell – as if you could not tell. Imagine for a moment being one of the two children being raised in this structure, a fairy tale wonderland of architectural and interior design delights.
14. Island House
For the water lover, a home would not be complete without the sounds of softly splashing waves or jumping fish; and who wants to live near the water when you can live on the water! Built by a group of friends, this little home was seen as an ideal get-away for when it was time for fishing. Extremely private, it is completely livable and is currently inhabited by one of the original builders.
The little home has suffered repeated damage when the river floods and has been renovated and even completely re-built.
15. Underground House
Situated inside a hill, this home offers unique views and privacy to it’s owners that cannot be captured by traditional housing. It is constructed of concrete, oak doors and features an outdoor terrace complete with a spa, barbecue, dining area and a stunning view of the Alps. The front entrance is used when receiving company, while an underground tunnel provides family members access to the barn from the rear.
Efficient and environmentally friendly, the home holds a moderate temperature year round, minimizing the need for additional heating or cooling no matter the season. Large windows allow for natural lighting and energy needs are met through hydropower, supplied by a nearby lake.
16. Treehouse
Who doesn't want to live in a treehouse?
Pete Nelson, the world’s best-known treehouse designer and builder, wants to put readers in trees — his motto is, “get ’er done, so you can BE in a TREE.” You can find out how to build your own treehouse here: Be in a Treehouse: Design / Construction / Inspiration
17. Houseboat
Imagine waking up by the river every morning? In a houseboat, you can. Once you have your sea legs, living on a houseboat can provide all the comforts of a traditional home -- albeit slightly smaller. This modern houseboat even has a green roof!
18. Earthship House
This unusual looking home is an Earthship - completely sustainable home that's completely self-sufficient. Earthships can be built in any part of the world and still provide electricity, potable water, contained sewage treatment and sustainable food production. The Most Versatile and Economical sustainable green building design in the world.
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Brodie Norris runs Lunchbox Architect, which features unusual and interesting home designs every weekday, including that airship beach house and many more.
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