The world is filled with strange buildings, the result of unconventional architects trying to express themselves through brick and mortar. Skyscrapers reaching for the clouds and giant metal structures are common sights in almost every corner of the world. We offer an overview of the most amazing and strange buildings in the world.
National Center performing arts (National Theater Opera) is located in Beijing. Constructed of glass and titanium, the building is surrounded by an artificial lake. It was created by the French architect Paul Andreu. Construction began in 2001 and lasted six years. The first production was the Russian historical opera “Prince Igor” by A.P. Borodin, performed by an orchestra, choir and soloists Mariinsky Theater under the direction of Valery Gergiev. The architectural complex includes a building, underground and underwater corridors, an underground parking lot, an artificial lake and green spaces. The construction of the main dome required 18,000 titanium plates and over 1,200 sheets of glass; its length is 212 meters, its width is 144 meters, and its height is 46 meters. The underground part of the building goes to a depth of approximately 32.5 meters. The area of the entire complex is 118,900 square meters. The three halls of the theater with an area of 12,000 square meters are designed for 5,452 spectators.
In Rotterdam and Helmond Cube Houses you can find unusual, not to say strange, cube houses. They were created by Piet Blom, based on the desire to create a forest in the middle of the city, houses would grow as trees. In 1984, a complex of 38 buildings appeared on Overblaak Street, striking in their appearance.
Each house consists of four floors. On the first floors of the houses there are mainly offices, hairdressers, shops, etc. The area of the three-story apartments is approximately 100 square meters, but the living space is much smaller, because the walls and floor are inclined at an angle of 54.7 degrees. The layout of the apartment is as follows: the first floor - kitchen and living room, the second floor - two bedrooms and a bathroom, on the third floor there are guest rooms, offices, and winter gardens.
The Biosphere is a museum dedicated to environmental protection issues. It is located in Jean-Drapeau Park on St. Helena Island right in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. This was once the US Exhibition Pavilion. International exhibition Expo 67. Construction resembling a huge bubble, was so striking and original that they decided to keep it. The outer “shell” of the Biosphere is a dome 62 meters high and 76 meters in diameter. The author of the project, which brought its creator worldwide fame, is Richard Buckminster Fuller.
Forest Spiral is a twelve-story residential complex built in the 1990s. The author of the idea was the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and the architect Heinz M. Springmann brought it to life together with the Bauverein Darmstadt company. Construction of the building lasted from 1998 to 2000. The "Forest Spiral" complex with multi-colored frames and a curved facade resembles a huge snail. 1048 windows of unique sizes and shapes help create the image of a fairytale house. Trees grow from some of the windows, and tenants are required by the lease to care for them. The building has 105 apartments and a cozy courtyard with playgrounds, artificial lakes, shaped paths and bridges, shops, parking and a pharmacy.
Habitat 67 is a residential complex created by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. This was his graduation project. It is located near the St. Lawrence River on Avenue Pierre-Dupuy. The house is recognized as a landmark of the city, and the country as a whole.
The building resembles a structure made from children's blocks, however, it is absolutely reliable and comfortable for living. For a house of 146 apartments, 354 cubes were needed, built on top of each other. Each apartment has several such cubes, up to five pieces. The windows of all apartments offer views of three cardinal directions and you can admire the Montreal harbour. Moreover, the house has many open terraces and glazed passages.
Also known as Casa Mila, the building is located in the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona. It was built by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi in 1906–1912 for a married couple. The house is amazing and notable for the fact that there is not a single straight line in it. It was a controversial design for the time, with bold forms of undulating stone façade and wrought iron decorations on the balconies and windows, created mainly by José Maria Jujol, who also designed some of the plaster ceilings. The house is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can climb top floor, attic and roof and take a close look at this masterpiece.
Museum contemporary art is located in the Brazilian city of Niteroi and is one of the main local attractions. The building looks like an unidentified space object arriving from unknown worlds. It was built in 1996 according to the design of Oscar Nimeiro and Bruno Contarini. The height of the building is 16 meters, the diameter of the dome is 50 meters, and the supports are 9 meters. Area 817 square meters.
Stone house, Fafi (Portugal)
A stone house in the north of Portugal in the Fafi Mountains resembles the home of the Flintstones from the American cartoon. The basis of the house was taken from two huge boulders, which were connected to each other using concrete mortar. As a result, in 1974, a two-story house in a prehistoric style with a fireplace and a swimming pool appeared, attracting thousands of tourists.
Shopping mall in Sopot attracts not only buyers, but also thousands of tourists. And all thanks to its unusual appearance - no straight lines or angles. The crooked house was built in 2004 by architects Szotyńscy & Zaleski, inspired by the fabulous drawings and illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. Area approximately 4000 square meters. There are small shops, cafes and restaurants here. The shopping center occupies the first floor, and on the second there are offices of two radio companies.
Modern architects are building original houses not only on land, they have begun to conquer reservoirs of all sizes, offering projects
Ferrari World- the largest closed thematic object in the world. Its length reaches 700 m, total area - 176 thousand sq.m. Located in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).
Burj Dubai- the world's tallest structure, designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Located in Dubai (UAE). At the official opening ceremony, it was renamed Burj Khalifa in honor of Sheikh and at the same time President of the UAE Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
- in all its glory! The project was presented by Kobi Karp. Construction is planned on Watson Island (USA, Miami). The announcement of the project states that this tower, which has a height of 975 meters, will be able to easily remove the crown from Dubai. According to official data, the 160-storey eco-city of Miapolis will be more than 183 meters higher than the famous Dubai giant Burj Khalifa. The building will include countless entertainment and residential spaces.
The Cleveland Clinic is the Lowe Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Original title - . The unusual building is located in Las Vegas (USA). The author of the project is Frank Gehry. The project consists of two blocks and is estimated at $100 million. The research center is located in one wing, and patient rooms are in the other.
- skyscraper-waterfall, “Sunny City” tower. It is being built for the 2016 Olympics, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The project was developed by the famous Swiss bureau RAFAA Architecture and Design. It pledges to become the "eighth wonder of the world." The tower's function is to provide clean electricity to the nearby Olympic Village along with the multimillion-dollar city. Moreover, at an altitude of 105 meters, Solar City Tower will house cafes and shops. An observation deck will be equipped on the roof where you can admire the panorama of Rio de Janeiro along with the prostrate bottomless ocean. For lovers of extreme recreation, there is a platform for bungee jumping.
- house designed by Senosiain Arquitectos bureau. Located in Mexico. Built in bio-architecture style at the request of a young couple. The house has, thanks to which young people with two children now live in a fabulous “underwater kingdom”.
- one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, which was built in Singapore ( Southeast Asia). The hotel has the most large casino world, worth about eight billion dollars. Marina Bay Sands consists of three vertical towers, which in turn are connected by an amusement park in the shape of a ship. The park ship extends 340 meters in length and can accommodate 3,900 guests. The project is being implemented by Las Vegas Sands.
- national museum, which is located in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The museum project was created by the Foster + Partners bureau and is dedicated to the President of the United Arab Emirates, as a historical monument dedicated to the socio-economic changes, the initiator of which is considered to be Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayyan himself - the sheikh and the President of the UAE rolled into one.
- the most extreme observation deck in the world, which is located on Mount Osterfelderkopf (Alpspitz, Germany). The AlpspiX site offers breathtaking views. A kilometer high, two mutually intersecting steel beams, the feeling of free flight over an abyss...
Although the observation deck was built not so long ago - in October 2010, nevertheless, over these few years tourists have fallen in love with it and even became a kind of Mecca for lovers of extreme sensations.
located in Dubai (UAE). Meydan City is a development project by Meydan Group LLC, the area of which reaches 18.6 million square meters. The project consists of a horse racing complex, a hotel and a number of premises for entertainment events.
The unusual modern architecture, designed by the SAMOO design studio, is an eco-project of the South Korean National Institute of Ecology. The territorial area is 33 thousand square meters. The architectural structure honorably bears the title of the country's nerve center.
Chicago Spire- project of the famous architect Santiago Calatrava (Chicago, USA). The height of the skyscraper reaches 609 meters (150 floors). The Chicago Spire is shaped like a drill and contains 1,193 apartments, which feature three-meter ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Eco roof project for a market located in Seoul ( South Korea). Developers: Samoo Architects & Engineers. The goal of the project is to eliminate unpleasant odors and constant noise created by cars scurrying past.
- underground station (London, UK).
- TV tower, which is located in the city of Guangzhou (PRC). The height of Canton is 610 meters. To date, this is a record height among television towers. The record-breaking tower broke the record of the tallest CN tower (Toronto, Canada).
- an energy passage made in the best traditions of modern world architecture. The project that is in Italian city Perugia, was designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au. What you see here is not just a fancy roof that shades the city's famous pedestrian street, but also an energy turbine powered by the sun and wind.
is a center of contemporary art. This gigantic building was designed by the famous architect, a woman whose work is revered in all countries of the world. Location: Cagliari, Italian region of Sardinia.
- an architectural project by the Dynamic Architecture team, presented in the form of a rotating tower (Dubai, UAE).
The central office of the famous giant automobile manufacturing company BMW, which is located in Munich (Germany). The authors of the project are the team of the Coop Himmelb(l)au bureau.
- gallery located in the administrative center of Edmonton (Canada). The project was created by Randall Stout Architects.
Bella Sky Hotel- a designer hotel that embodies original modern architecture. Located in Copenhagen (Denmark). The tilt of the towers of the largest hotel in Scandinavia is 15 degrees. Note: Just imagine, the famous leaning tower of Pisa leaned 3.97 degrees.
- Hamburg Philharmonic (Germany), project by Herzog & de Meuron. The building, built on the banks of the Elbe, includes 3 concert halls, a hotel, 45 apartments and a public area called the Plaza. The latter is located at a height of 37 meters above the water. 360° panoramic view.
From year to year, leading architectural bureaus delight us with such bright and multifaceted projects. I think it's like this modern architecture on a global scale only brings you positive emotions, but not the other way around. Of course, there is something to envy when peering at these unusual architectural masterpieces of our time and the near future. Be that as it may, the project bureau team wishes you inspired architectural and design ideas and, of course, their implementation!
Since ancient times, when people learned to build the first dwellings, they proceeded from the functional features of the building, the required strength, building materials, available to them and aesthetics. And today, by looking at the building, we can determine what era it belongs to and in what style it was made. Regarding modern architecture, then it is diverse, not homogeneous and eclectic. Among the many styles and trends, there are those that are the most independent. We will consider them below.
1. HI-TECH (from the English high technology - high technology)
How the style originated in the 60s, based on scientific achievements and the ideas of pop art: art as a product of a consumer society. Its theorists and practitioners were Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, Nicholas Grimshaw, J. Nouvel, D. Paxton, and the Pompidou Center in Paris became the landmark first building (Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano, 1977)
Early high-tech is characterized by irony and an emphasis on technical achievements. Now the decorative elements are utility lines and supporting structures, which are shown to the viewer whose gaze is drawn to the façade of the building. There is no attempt to hide them, as the style is firmly based on pragmatism and functionality. This is no longer a reverence for scientific and technical achievements, but an ironic game that the architect proposes to play. Favorite materials used in steel style: metal, plastic, glass. Preference in color scheme given to monochrome and bright pure colors.
At first I received high-tech widespread, but already in the late 80s - early 90s due to the development high technology and the rejection of irony in favor of harmonious form, it became a symbol of prestige and invariable in the creation of commercial and public buildings. This is a businesslike and strict style that does not tolerate negligence, based on a combination of space and light. 
High-tech is opposed to bio-tech. Its popularity dates back to the early 90s. The style evolved from bionics, the science that studies wildlife in order to use the acquired knowledge in practical human activities. That is, bio-tech is a “neo-organic” architecture that does not argue with nature, does not contradict it, but is its continuation.
The founder of the style was Antonio Gaudi. His Casa Batllo (1907) can change shade in different lighting and is associated with natural, biological forms: balconies like shells, columns and balusters in the form of bones, and the decoration of the house - mosaics - resembles fish scales.
The main features of bio-tech: asymmetry, forms borrowed from nature (zoomorphism, anthropomorphism, phytomorphism). Preference is given to materials similar to natural structures.
Most projects of this style are only in theory due to the recent emergence of bio-tech.
2. POSTMODERNISM
Postmodernism is a set of trends in architecture that replaced modernism. The style set itself the task of harmonizing architecture in accordance with the natural and artificial environments. The main component of postmodernism was the emphasis on the aesthetic appearance of buildings and their originality. The ban on decorative elements, as was the case in modernism, has been lifted.
The practitioners of postmodernism were: Robert Venturi, Maurice Culot, Leon Krier, Aldo Rossi, Antoine Grumbach. As such, postmodernism does not bring a new idea. Style is based on imitation historical monuments and creating architectural objects using simplification classic shapes and their chaotic use. Logic and simplicity have faded into the background. Art as a “temple of culture” is denied and a merger occurs fine arts and mass culture. As in high-tech, the approach to the implementation of a building is ironic. 
Materials used in the style: stainless steel, neon tubes, anodized aluminum, etc. Preference in choosing colors is given to bright colors.
3. DECONSTRUCTIVISM
The style is inextricably linked with postmodernism, but it is customary to separate these two directions. It is based on constant variability and the search for new forms of self-expression. The main difference from postmodernism is its distance from the mass consumer and a closer connection with the architectural theories of the early 20th century.
The development of deconstructivism was influenced by Russian constructivism of the 20s of the twentieth century. But his main differences from modernity and constructivism to a radical position towards the customer, which is expressed in the denial of the functionality of the room. In the vision of deconstructivism, architecture does not solve problems, but creates them. A striking example is the Peter Eisenman Museum, where it is impossible to hang paintings. Also, a big difference from postmodernism can be considered ideological - the old is swept away and the new is created.
The shape of the buildings is chosen to be complicated and broken, so the structures look aggressive. Deconstructivism positions itself as architecture for the elite.
4. METABOLISM
Originated in the late 50s of the twentieth century. in Japan. Kionori Kikutake became the main ideologist of the trend. The gaze of the pioneers of this style was turned, as in the case of bio-tech, to nature. The concept of metabolism is to transfer principles individual development a living organism into architecture. The world is changing quickly, and in order to keep up with the times, architects solved this issue by rebuilding the structure and replacing its components according to the given requirements. A sign of such an architecture is cellularity and modularity. And the peculiarity was incompleteness and understatement. Thus, the buildings look dynamic. And unfilled spaces force attention to be focused on themselves and the entire architectural object is in dialogue with the surrounding world. 
5. MINIMALISM
Originated in the 40s. The heyday of the movement occurred in the 60s of the twentieth century. Guided by the principle “Less is more,” Mieswan der Rohe develops the concept of the universal home and becomes the founder this direction. A feature of the style was the avoidance of decor and decorations, monochrome, the simplest straight lines with minimal bending, openness, blurring the boundaries between internal space and the environment. Preference is given to such materials as: metal, glass, concrete, wood. If a house is created in the minimalist style, then it is functional, laconic, filled with light, where all engineering and household structures are carefully hidden. Minimalism received a second wind at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. And at the moment it is extremely in demand. This applies not only to individual construction, but also to public buildings. Because of its rigor, conciseness and extreme functionality, it is similar to high-tech and is popular in the construction of office centers and skyscrapers.
"Architecture is music in space, as if frozen music."
Friedrich Schelling.
Functionalism - a direction in architecture of the 20th century, requiring strict compliance of buildings and structures with the production and domestic processes (functions) occurring in them, first arose in Germany and the Netherlands. The style philosophy is “form follows function.” The buildings were devoid of pomp and pretentiousness; cheap materials were used for their construction, the windows were made small, and the roof, unlike other areas, did not stand out or be decorated in any way.
Hi-tech - a style in architecture and design that originated in the depths of late modernism in the 1970s. Complex simplicity, sculptural form, hyperbole (exaggeration), manufacturability, structure and design as an ornament, anti-historicity, monumentality... all this is about high-tech. Most often, glass, plastic, metal, as well as straight lines and simple figures. The Pompidou Center in Paris (1977), built by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, is considered to be one of the first important high-tech buildings to be completed.
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Center Pompidou (architect: Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano)
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Postmodernism - a direction that replaced modernism, whose innovative spirit had exhausted itself. In the 70s in the USA, as a reaction to this, huge buildings appeared, surpassing even glass skyscrapers in scale. Their scale did not correspond in any way to the human body, and was more like some kind of cosmic level. The smooth glass surface of the buildings did not have a floor-by-floor horizontal division revealed from the outside, but with its entire “body” it reflected the sky and the surrounding space, entering into an irrational interaction with it. The main thing that postmodernist architects tried to return to architecture was something that had been expelled from it many decades ago imagery, making it not just a process of creating spatial structures, but a form of art.
Special attention I would like to devote, of course, constructivism , the first Soviet architectural style that emerged at the beginning of the 20th century. Constructivism– direction to Russian art 20s XX century Architects of that time sought to comprehend the formative possibilities of technology that was new for those times, its logical, expedient designs, as well as the aesthetic possibilities of materials such as metal, glass and wood. Constructivists sought to contrast ostentatious luxury with the simplicity and emphasized utilitarianism of new object forms, in which they saw the reification of democracy and new relationships between people. They say that constructivism is the first architectural style, namely style, in the USSR. As an example, I would like to cite Soviet-era buildings that every Russian recognizes.
Rationalism - another direction in Soviet architecture, but with a touch of the avant-garde. It is characterized by laconic forms, rigor and emphasized functionalism. The ideologists of rationalism, in contrast to the constructivists, paid a lot of attention to the psychological perception of architecture by man and also approached the design of structures from a psychological point of view. One of the most striking examples will be the entrance to the Moscow Metro station "Red Gate", which each of us has probably seen more than once!
Architecture is an art accessible to all people; it shapes the appearance of cities and landscapes. Therefore she has great value for society. You don’t have to listen to music or go to a museum, but you can’t help but notice the buildings, and they either delight the eye or offend the taste. Let's talk about how modern architecture in the world differs, and show the best and most famous examples of it.
Features of modern architecture
The modern period begins in the second half of the 20th century. During this time, architecture made a huge leap forward. This was facilitated by new technologies: new materials and new design methods appeared. And all this freed the imagination of architects, who are always limited by the capabilities of materials. Today, the best modern architecture in the world represents a huge variety of buildings that do not fit into a single definition of style. There are authors who have rethought traditional forms, while others, on the contrary, strive to create something completely futuristic. But besides appearance Great demands are placed on the architecture in terms of functionality. Buildings must be comfortable to live in and also fit into the landscape. Modern architecture is buildings that are as comfortable as possible for humans. Architects try to comply with environmental standards, creating projects of energy-saving houses that do not destroy the landscape, but harmonize with it.
TOP 10 modern architecture
Today, there are hundreds of outstanding architectural objects that stun the imagination with their scale and unusual design. At the same time, the buildings fit perfectly into the environment and are real attractions to which streams of tourists flock. We present the most bright samples modern architecture.
No. 1. Sagrada Familia
An incredible structure deservedly ranks first among the outstanding objects of modern architecture in the world. Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi Sagrada Familia - Sagrada Familia. This cathedral has been under construction for over 100 years and is not yet completed. Today it has become a victim of its fame, and they are trying to complete it to attract tourists, but the vitality of the architect’s plan is being lost. Since Gaudi worked without a single plan, after him only numerous sketches and sketches remained, but the overall design of the building remains unclear. And everything built after 1926 can no longer be called Gaudí’s architecture, but only its motifs.
No. 2. Skyscraper Mary-Ax
The incredible building in 2008 changed the face of London forever. The Mary-Ax skyscraper for the office of an insurance company was immediately nicknamed “Gherkin” by local residents for its unusual shape. In this building, the modern architecture of the world has found an example of how natural forms influence architecture. In addition, this building is the first example of ecological architecture.
No. 3. Petronas Towers
In 1998, the modern architecture of the world was enriched with another contender for the title of the tallest building in the world. The towers even held this title for about 5 years. The building was created in Kuala Lumpur by the architect Cesar Pelli. The building is made from newest material- elastic concrete.
No. 4. Reina Sofia Palace of Arts
In 2005, he completed the construction of a luxurious theater in Valencia. It has become a notable masterpiece of modern architecture in the world, a photo of which is posted in any source of information about Spanish Valencia. The building located on the shore fits perfectly into the landscape and looks great in the sun and in the night lighting.
No. 5. Vitra Design Museum
The outstanding architect Frank Gehry created an unusual geometric snow-white structure in the German city of Weil am Rhein. Its whimsical curves draw a person into contemplation and invite people to go inside, where bright design objects are located.
No. 6. Guggenheim Museum
Another creation in Bilbao is also a masterpiece that changed the landscape of the city. There is a huge park around the building, which houses works of modern sculptors.
No. 7 - Residential building “Dupli-Kasa”
In 2008, architect Jürgen Mayer built an unusual house in Baden-Württemberg. This masterpiece has joined the collection of the best examples of modern architecture of private houses in the world. Snow-white building unusual shape emphasizes the beauty of the adjacent natural landscape and seems to grow out of the ground, like an unusual plant.
No. 8. Dancing House
Thanks to the collaboration of Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić, such an unusual structure appeared on the Vltava embankment in Prague. It is dedicated to the outstanding dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Today the house occupies a worthy place among Prague attractions, although it once caused discontent among local residents.
No. 9. Water sports center
The famous Zaha Hadid built an outstanding swimming pool in London in 2011. As always, the architect achieved real space architecture, which was her signature style.
No. 10. "Habitat 67"
The residential complex in Montreal has become a true classic. It was built in 1967 by Moshe Safdie. The complex is distinguished by the fact that it merges the urban and natural environment. Each apartment has its own small garden, and the house looks like something grown in nature.
The best architects of our time
Today's architecture is an author's art. Behind every outstanding building is a talented, if not brilliant, architect. Although this is a team art, and several people, entire bureaus, work on each building at once, each team is still headed by a leader, whose name is remembered by all art lovers. Modern industrial architecture of the world - private buildings, public buildings, museums that have become cultural heritage are the work of several outstanding professionals. Add to list the best architects world deservedly include the already classics Antonio Gaudi, Oscar Niemeyer, Walter Gropius, Louis Sullivan, Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. These are truly masters of modern architecture. To more to the younger generation prominent architects include Zaha Hadid, Renzo Piano, Santiago Calatrava, Jorn Utzon, Jan Kaplitsky, Ben wa Berkel, Joan Gang, Ken Yeang, Norman Foster, Bjarke Ingels, Jacques Nouvel, Friedensreich Hundertwasser.