This Week’s Crazy Building: Norddeutsche Landesbank

“Norddeutsche Landesbank Hannover” by Martina Nolte is licensed under CC SA 3.0
Resembling a work of art by M.C. Escher, the Norddeutsche Landesbank in Hannover, Germany seems to bend the laws of physics! The entire complex occupies one city block and contains shops, cafes, public art and reflecting pools. Designed by Behnisch and Partners in 2002, the main building’s unique expression was made in response to the
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Broadway Tower

“Broadway Tower” by Robyn Cox is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
The Broadway Tower in Worcestershire, England stands at 55 feet high. This “folly” or building made for purely decorative or conversational purposes was built in 1798. The location affords a view of a pre-medieval trading route and beacon hill. The Tower includes turrets, battlements, gargoyles, and balconies. Visitors can climb three floors to the top
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This Week’s Crazy Building: El Cosmico

“1956 IMPERIAL MANSION and Tee Pees” by PunkToad is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Would you pay to stay the night in a vintage trailer? How about a tepee? If those aren’t your style, El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas has other options too. Attesting to a “manana” way of life, this laid-back place believes that more attention should be on enjoying the present moment while also keeping your dreams
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Hearst Tower

“Hearst Tower” by John Wisniewski is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
The unique Hearst Tower in Manhattan was several firsts for New York City. The first green highrise, first LEED Gold-certified skyscraper, and it also took first place with the Emporis Skyscraper Award winning best in the world. The diamond grid on the facade not only gives it an uncommon look but also used 21% less
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Quinta Real Zacatecas

“Quinta Real Zacatecas” by Luis Fregoso is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel to the 19th century at the Quinta Real Zacatecas Hotel in Mexico. Nearly demolished in the 1970s this former bullfighting ring dates back to 1866. It was renovated and reopened as a luxury hotel in 1989. Not long after that, it received an international architectural award for the restoration work. The original ring is
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Encinitas Boat Houses

“The Encinitas, CA Boat Houses” by Joe Wolf is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
If you have ever driven down Third Street in Encinitas you may have seen a strange site amidst the homes. Named the S.S. Encinitas and the S.S. Moonlight these 59 foot long, 21 foot tall “Boat Houses” have been part of the community landscape since 1926. Built from upcycled wood by architect Miles Kellogg they
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Marqués de Riscal Hotel

“Hotel Marques De Riscal, Elciego, Álava, Spain” by CO-120812 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
The Marqués de Riscal Hotel in Elciego, Spain is a redesign of a 150-year-old winery. This highly unusual work by architect Frank Gehry seeks to embody the vineyard in an abstract way. The colors used are symbolic. Pink represents the wine itself, silver is found on the bottle’s neck, and gold is for the signature
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Capsule Hotels

“Capsule Hotel” by Kojach is licensed under CC BY 2.0
At first glance, this may look like a row of washing machines but they are actually rooms at a Capsule Hotel. Room sizes vary but the average is about 4 feet wide, 6.5 feet long, and 3 feet high. Composed of a narrow space with a bed and some other amenities such as an alarm
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Saint Basil’s Cathedral

“Saint Basil’s Cathedral” by Julius Silver is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
With its bright colors and fairytale design, Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow seems like something straight from a storybook. Completed in 1561 it was built in just 6 years and commissioned by Ivan IV or Ivan the Terrible. It’s next to the Kremlin in the Red square. In Russian, red used to mean beautiful. During
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Citigroup Center

“Citigroup Center” by Andrew Moore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
The Citigroup Center harbors a striking secret: it was a near disaster! The full story was revealed almost twenty years after construction completed. Realized by architect Hugh Stubbins and structural engineer William Le Messurier several interesting factors informed their decisions. The site originally belonged to St. Peter’s Evangelical Church who stipulated that the new building
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