There is a very simple tree house in Cornwall, England, its base is several triangular brackets, and the upper cabin is divided into two floors, of which the bedroom is small enough to accommodate only one bed. Although the tree house is small, it can bring people a feeling of infinite closeness to nature. So many times, our residences also carry other meanings than the foothold, and their shapes are also strange: some resemble nautilus, some are reminiscent of Star Wars, and some are as colorful as described in fairy tales... There are many such peculiar houses in the world, which put aside the same appearance and make people's daily lives full of fun.
Slovenia Invisible Home
Source: dmaa.at
There are many animals in the world that are good at camouflage, so have you ever seen a house that can be hidden? The Austrian firm of Drughen Messer has designed a "invisible house". Its appearance seems to be made of a collage of mirrors. The smooth mirror clearly reflects the surrounding scenery, making it difficult to distinguish between true and false. As a result, it is also extremely adaptable, making it easy to blend in no matter where it is placed. Thanks to the use of prefabricated timber structures, the house is not only easy to load and unload, but also recycled, which is very environmentally friendly. The architect said that the "invisible" in the name of the house has a double meaning: on the one hand, the mirror-like façade allows the house to merge with the environment; on the other hand, the house is removed without leaving any traces, as if it disappeared from the same place.
Mexican Nautilus Home
Image source: ins@javiersenosiaina
Nautilus House is located in Naucalpan. Not only does it look like a nautilus, but its internal structure is also in line with people's imagination of mollusks. The doors of the residences are hidden in huge stained glass. Inside the house, the walls, floor and ceiling are not parallel, and the moving light spots formed by the sunlight shining into the room make the whole space full of movement. After entering the door, the first thing that catches people's eyes is an orange-yellow sofa, which is shaped like a blooming flower, surrounded by a lush meadow. Following the spiral staircase, one can enter the home theater on the belly of the Nautilus, or continue upwards to explore spaces such as the study. Bedrooms, closets, bathrooms, kitchens etc are all located at the rear of the residence, guaranteeing privacy very well.
Norway House of the Dead
Image source: snohetta.com
This peculiarly shaped building is the private residence and studio of Norwegian artist Biyan Melgard. Today, the House of the Dead project has not yet been completed, but the location is near Edward Munch's former home, so it has been controversial. The biggest feature of the building is that 6 animal sculptures of different shapes are used as pillars to support the entire house. There is a shallow pool underneath the sculpture, which makes the building feel as if it were floating in the air. Inspired by Japanese architecture, the designers also wrapped the "House of the Dead" with charred oak, so the appearance of the house was constantly changed due to external erosion. Inside the building, Melgard's art space blends perfectly with the home environment, where one of the rooms can be used as both a swimming pool and a restaurant.
Darth Vader House, USA
Image source: sothebysrealty.com
It is said that the house was originally inspired by aviation elements, but because of its very similar appearance to the Sith's helmet, it also received the nickname "Darth Vader House" when it was listed for sale in 2021, attracting Star Wars fans. Inside the house, the sunken living room, double staircases and jagged ground simulate the steepness of the canyon, and LED strip lights at the edge of the steps immerse the entire room in a dreamy blue. From the front, the house looks like a heavily fortified fortification, but in fact, the back of the house is almost made of transparent glass, allowing the house to receive plenty of sunlight. Under the glass wall, there is a manicured lawn. New guests can remodel it to their own devices, such as building a swimming pool or adding some Star Wars-themed outdoor facilities.
Netherlands Mobile Bubble House
Image source: dmva-architecten.be
DmvA's mobile bubble house has an egg-like rounded, smooth appearance. Its front end can be opened automatically, forming a porch space where fresh air and warm sunlight can pour into the house. The bubble house is small in shape, with an indoor area of less than 20 square meters, but it has a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. In order to save space, the inner wall of the bubble house is also divided into many storage compartments, compact but orderly. Thanks to the use of polyester material, the bubble house can be moved to any place where people want it. One can think of it as a separate office or guest room, or it can be placed in the garden, making the bubble house a secret space for children.
Mexican Snake House
Image source: airbnb.com
Want to try sleeping in the belly of a beast? Architect Javier Senossein built a "snake house" north of Mexico City. The terrain here is rugged, but the huge caves like snake's mouths have given the designers a lot of inspiration. He simulated the form of a snake and built a strangely shaped house. The surface of the building is covered with scaly tiles, and the "snake's tail" playfully lifts upwards and suspends itself on the surface of the water. Inside the building there is a fantastic public space. Sunlight shines through the stained glass dome into the room, forming many floating points of light that make people want to grasp them in the palm of your hand. There are 10 rooms available for living in the "Snake House". One can rent one of them and experience the fun for themselves.
Kerret House, Poland
Image source: cargocollective.com
It is one of the narrowest residences in the world and was designed by Polish architect Jakub Szczesny. The Kellett House is located in the gap between the 2 buildings, the narrowest place is only 72 cm, and the widest place is only 122 cm. The house is set on 2 levels: on the first floor there is a living room, kitchen and a small bathroom with shower, while on the second floor there is a bedroom with a desk. The house was first occupied by israeli writer Etgar Kelett, who has since served as a temporary residence for travel writers. Many people may not be able to adapt to the small size of the Kellett House, but for the writer, the house can provide an undisturbed environment. They can have breakfast downstairs and climb up the second floor with the help of a ladder to conceive their next work as the sun rises and sets.
Australia Cloud Home
Image source: mcbridecharlesryan.com
From the front, the house is unremarkable and in line with the style of the entire street, but the space added to its back has a cloud-like exaggerated shape, and this wonderful fusion idea has also won recognition at the Melbourne Design Awards. Entering from the front of the house, one first passes by the master bedroom, 2 guest bedrooms and 1 study. The redesigned floral carpet on a black background adds a touch of colour to the white room. Located in the middle of the whole house is a toy-like "red box" that is both a kitchen and a junction of the old and new parts of the house. Through the kitchen, people officially came to the "clouds". Its interior is wooden, and the side facing the pool is full of transparent glass, allowing sunlight to shine into the house unobstructed.
Japan Reversible Destiny Loft
Image source: ins@hyekeong
In 2005, architects Shusaku Arakawa and Madeleine Kings designed and completed the "Loft of Reversible Destiny". Their original purpose was to honor the American writer Helen Keller, because in their hearts, Helen Keller truly reversed her own destiny, which is admirable. This group residential project consists of 9 units, all of which are colorful inside and out, and the units are connected by external walkways and stairs. In addition to the modest cubes, the shape of the room also includes spheres and tubes. The kitchen is located in the middle of the room, radiating out an open living area to all sides. The overall interior design aims to challenge people's physical potential, stimulate people's senses, and let people have a new experience of their living space.
Russia Capital Hill Residences
Image source: zaha-hadid.com
Designed specifically for Russian businessman Vladislav Doronin, the Capital Hill Residence is futuristic in shape like a spaceship. The residence is divided into 3 floors with a total area of 2787 square meters. Doronin once told the designer that he only wanted to see the blue sky when he woke up in the morning, so the master bedroom on the top floor was 22 meters above the ground, as if it were sitting on a concrete tree trunk. The pillars supporting the master bedroom are designed as a glass elevator that allows Doronin to enjoy the view as he ascends and lowers. The ground floor of the residence features a living room, kitchen, library, indoor pool etc and is very functional.
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