Out Of This World: 10 Times Architects Outdid Themselves With These Alien-Like Buildings

Whether you’re walking the streets of a city you know like the palm of your hand or someplace completely unfamiliar, some buildings might make you stop dead in your tracks. It’s because some architectural gems are so astonishing, they never cease to impress the passersby or catch their attention, be it for all the right or wrong reasons.

A little bit of both can be found on today’s list dedicated to unique architecture. While the majority of edifices presented here today are some of the most impressive architectural wonders there are, some might seem bizarre at best, but that just makes one appreciate the former even more. Scroll down to find the pictures of the architectural gems below and enjoy.

Below you will also find Pictolic’s interview with an Architectural Psychologist and Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Dak Kopec, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions on certain subtleties regarding architecture.

10 PHOTOS

#1 National Carpet Museum, Baku, Azerbaijan

#2 Ribbon Wedding Chapel In Hiroshima, Japan

#3 Science And Technology Museum, Wuhan

It’s not easy to determine what makes an edifice an example of great architecture, especially since whether or not an individual likes it is a highly subjective matter.

However, there seems to be some universal features that distinguish poor architecture from that of a higher level and, according to Dak Kopec, it’s features that display an evolution of design that mirrors the evolution of society. “These features should evoke intrigue and fascination,” he told Pictolic in a recent interview.

#4 Geisel Library - 1970

#5 Port Authority, Antwerp, Belgium (2016)

Expanding on the ways architecture mirrors the evolution of society, Kopec pointed out that some societies are rooted in tradition but are bringing modernization into the fold. “The Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower, for example, brings in a robust foundation or concrete pillars that are emblematic of the cultural ties to the past. The three spheres represent the Heaven, Man, and Earth mantra of the Buddhist faith, and the use of red symbolizes luck and fame, combined with the fragility of glass representing movement toward an uncertain future. When this building was finished in 1994, it told the story of its era.”

#6 Um... What Is This?

#7 I Dont Think Balcony Is The Word For These Pod Things

#8 Shoreditch Hotel In London

When it comes to the link between architecture and society, the former doesn’t seem to tend to a specific aspect or principle related to the latter. The expert pointed out that there isn’t one thing that is more important than another; however, he did suggest that nowadays, society seems to be quite invested in the history or certain locations or sites.

“In today’s world, where people seem interested in the backstory of places, I think buildings that couple [specific] design intentions with the design thoughtfully and uniquely will be more apt to be embraced by the people,” Kopec told Pictolic.

#9 No Clue What This. Wenzhou, China

#10 This Is The New Greek Orthodox Church In Lower Manhattan Designed By Santiago Calatrava