Have you ever seen a building and weren’t quite sure what the designer was thinking. Or seen an idea and wished that it could have been your own?  There are thousands of creatively designed buildings all over the world.  Some of them were built the way they are for a purpose, while others are intended to be eye catching.   These buildings add character to the world while providing venues for various events, and if you ever find yourself in the vicinity of one of these charming creations, do yourself a favor and drop by for a visit.

Here are just a few of the most unique buildings in the world and why they are the way they are.

The Crooked House (Sopot, Poland)- the Crooked House was constructed in 2004 by Szotyńscy Zaleski.  Zaleski was mostly inspired by the children’s illustrations created by Jan Marcin Szancer for a number of fairytales, and by the artwork of Per Dahlberg as well.  This house has three stories, and the way it is built within the surrounding structures makes it look as though it is skewed, warped, and somehow melted. The Crooked House in Rezydent shopping center (downtown Sopot, Poland) is now the most photographed building in that country.

Torre Galatea Figureas (Spain)- This building was build for Salvador Dali and he lived in the building until he passed away, he is buried somewhere in the main entrance of the museum. The museum’s exterior features a unique row of white eggs nestled on a red wall inlaid with gold. The Galatea tower was named after the artist’s wife, Galle. Another show-piece of the exterior’s design is a spherical dome built over a stage. The dome is now the emblem of both the city and the museum.

Pickle Barrel House (United States)- the pickle barrel house was opened on July 3, 2005. The Museum is filled with pickle merchandise and facts about pickles. There are photos inside of the Donaheys (the owners) in their unique cottage. There’s extensive material about the Teenie Weenies, cartoon characters developed by William Donahey.

Mammy’s Cupboard (United States) – Mammy’s Cupboard is an unusual restaurant built in the likeness of a 28-foot tall black woman.  The restaurant is under her huge pink skirt!  Located in Natchez, Mississippi, there is something note quite politically correct about this strange building and it’s structural implications.  Nevertheless, the food here is reputed to be very good indeed.

When you’re on a road trip, or a journey overseas, missing out on these local spots of interest would be a shame.  Before you leave, do some research ahead of time so that you’ll be ready to find the unique and interesting buildings wherever you go.

Speaking of research…I wonder how much it would cost to install an ADT home alarm system in one of these crazy buildings?