14 Fantastic Buildings That Take You to a Parallel Universe

• 2018-11-22
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Architecture has the power to transport us to different worlds with its unique designs and creative concepts. Some buildings around the globe are so extraordinary that they make us feel like we’ve stepped into a parallel universe. Whether through surreal shapes, futuristic designs, or mind-bending structures, these 14 fantastic buildings are architectural wonders that defy convention and take us to another realm of imagination.

1. The Lotus Temple – New Delhi, India

Inspired by the lotus flower, this Bahá’í House of Worship looks like it’s floating on water with its petal-shaped design. Its ethereal, symmetrical structure and white marble exterior create a sense of peace and serenity, as if you’ve entered a tranquil, otherworldly space.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

The organic, flower-like design combined with the peaceful atmosphere makes visitors feel as if they’ve stepped into a spiritual oasis in the middle of the bustling city.

2. The Cube Houses – Rotterdam, Netherlands

Designed by architect Piet Blom, these tilted, cube-shaped houses in Rotterdam challenge our perception of space and gravity. Each house is tilted at a 45-degree angle, giving the impression that the buildings are floating in mid-air.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

The unusual orientation of these homes forces you to rethink traditional architecture, making you feel as if you’re walking through a world where the laws of physics don’t apply.

3. The Guggenheim Museum – Bilbao, Spain

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry, is a masterpiece of modern architecture. Its flowing, curved titanium facade seems to morph and change shape depending on the angle, giving it a futuristic, almost alien-like appearance.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

The building’s abstract, fluid form feels like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, transporting visitors into a world where art and technology merge seamlessly.

4. The Crooked House – Sopot, Poland

This quirky building looks like something from a surreal dream. The Crooked House, designed by Szotyńscy & Zaleski, features undulating walls, warped windows, and a roof that seems to melt. It’s a striking example of how architecture can play with perception.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

Its fairy-tale-like distortion of reality makes it feel as though you’ve entered a world where nothing is quite as it seems, reminiscent of a Salvador Dalí painting.

5. Marina Bay Sands – Singapore

The Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore is known for its futuristic design and the spectacular SkyPark that spans across its three towering structures. The SkyPark gives the illusion of a floating platform suspended in the air.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

The sleek, futuristic architecture combined with the infinity pool that seems to stretch into the sky creates a feeling of luxury in a high-tech future.

6. The Dancing House – Prague, Czech Republic

Designed by architects Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić, the Dancing House is a unique structure that appears to sway like two dancers in motion. The building’s dynamic, twisting curves make it one of the most iconic pieces of modern architecture in Prague.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

The movement in the structure gives it a dreamlike quality, as if the building is alive and ready to break into a waltz at any moment.

7. The Longaberger Basket Building – Newark, Ohio, USA

This seven-story building, designed to look like a giant picnic basket, was originally the headquarters of the Longaberger Basket Company. The attention to detail, including the oversized handles, makes this an unforgettable architectural landmark.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

Its whimsical design blurs the line between reality and fantasy, making you feel as though you’ve been shrunk down to the size of a doll in a fantastical world.

8. The Ryugyong Hotel – Pyongyang, North Korea

This massive, pyramid-shaped hotel towers over Pyongyang with its futuristic design and imposing presence. The Ryugyong Hotel, which has yet to fully open, remains an iconic yet mysterious symbol of North Korea’s architectural ambitions.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

Its sharp, geometric design and eerie atmosphere give the impression that you’ve stepped into a dystopian or futuristic world.

9. The Atomium – Brussels, Belgium

The Atomium, built for the 1958 World’s Fair, is a giant steel structure shaped like an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Its interconnected spheres are both visually striking and scientifically significant.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

This massive molecular model looks like it belongs in a science fiction universe, with its reflective surfaces and futuristic design making you feel like you’re traveling through space.

10. Casa Batlló – Barcelona, Spain

One of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous works, Casa Batlló features organic shapes, vivid colors, and a skeletal appearance. Its flowing design, inspired by nature, makes it one of the most unique buildings in the world.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

The fantastical, otherworldly design makes visitors feel like they’ve stepped into a magical, underwater kingdom where architecture follows the fluidity of nature.

11. The Kansas City Library – Missouri, USA

The Kansas City Public Library’s parking garage is designed to look like a row of giant books lined up on a shelf. Each “book” represents a classic title, creating an extraordinary visual experience for visitors.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

This building plays with scale, making you feel like you’ve entered a world where literature literally surrounds you in towering proportions.

12. The Floating Seahorse Villas – Dubai, UAE

These luxurious floating villas offer underwater bedrooms with views of marine life. Located off the coast of Dubai, the Floating Seahorse Villas are a true blend of futuristic architecture and marine wonder.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

The underwater living experience creates the sensation of being in a world where humans and marine life coexist in harmony, offering a glimpse into what ocean living might look like in the future.

13. The Museum of Pop Culture – Seattle, USA

Designed by Frank Gehry, the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) features undulating metallic forms that appear to be in constant motion. The building’s abstract design reflects the dynamic nature of pop culture itself.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

Its deconstructed, fluid shape gives the impression that you’ve entered a world where art, music, and architecture are constantly evolving and breaking boundaries.

14. The Eden Project – Cornwall, England

The Eden Project consists of two massive biomes made of hexagonal and pentagonal transparent panels, housing a variety of plant species from different climates. These domes look like futuristic greenhouses set in a sci-fi film.

Why It Feels Like Another Universe:

The interconnected domes, combined with the lush, tropical environment inside, make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a distant, alien world where nature and technology seamlessly coexist.

Final Thoughts

These 14 fantastic buildings showcase the boundless creativity of architects who push the limits of design and imagination. Whether through surreal forms, futuristic structures, or whimsical concepts, these architectural wonders transport us to places that feel like they exist in a parallel universe. Exploring these buildings is a reminder that the world of architecture holds endless possibilities for creating environments that are both awe-inspiring and otherworldly.