Most of the homes I see during my walks have traditional architecture, but some are modern. However, there are two that are completely out of the norm. One is a small house in Farmers Branch, a 10-minute walk from my home. It is of traditional brick construction but is painted black. That’s right, completely black — brick, trim, doors, etc. I don’t think I even noticed it the first few times I passed it. At night it would be totally invisible. This would be a perfect home for anyone who is hiding out from the police, relatives, unwanted friends or enemies, etc.
Another house — also in Farmers Branch — is not unusual for its architecture but for the landscaping surrounding it. The house has a circular driveway, but you would never know it. Giant overgrown junipers or cedars on each side of the driveway form an effective screen. And you must walk through a tunnel of evergreens to reach the front door which is barricaded with iron grillwork. There are definitely hermits living here!
According to Suzanne Day’s March 13, 2019 article “The World’s Weirdest Houses: 40 Unusual Homes From Around the Globe” in DenGarden.com, here are a few more examples:
1. Eliphante Art House, Cornville, Arizona
Artist Michael Kahn and his wife Leda Livant started building this house in 1979 and finished it 28 years later, using found materials such as driftwood, rocks and waste building materials. Described as a handmade and sculptural home, the Eliphante was named for its unusual shaped entrance.
Inside is an underground artists abode with intricate wood, tile and stone mosaics and
lots of curves and organic forms. Light comes in from light holes or beautifully made
windows. Tourists can visit the house by appointment.
2. Flintstones Inspired Home, Malibu, California
TV legend Dick Clark of “Bandstand” fame built this single-story house in Malibu while inspired by the classic 1960's Flintstones cartoon. Listed for sale at $3.5 million, the home’s carved and cavelike interior is reminiscent of Fred and Wilma’s rocky home. Situated on 23 acres, with views of the Serrano Valley, Boney Mountains, Channel Islands and Pacific Ocean, it is still seeking a buyer.
3. Keret House, Warsaw, Poland
Known as the world’s narrowest house, Keret House is only 48 inches wide and is squeezed between two buildings in the center of Warsaw, Poland. Designed by Polish architect Jakub Szczesny, the house is meant to provide a home for traveling writers, as no one can stay too long in the small space. The house is supported by stilts and at its narrowest point is 28.3 inches wide. “It has already become a Warsaw icon and is already on the tourist map,” said Szczesny of his creation.
4. The Mobile Aquatic Pod, Exbury, England
Designed as a personal experiment by Stephen Turner, the “Exbury Egg” was intended to be an art installation but turned into Stephen’s home on the water. Described as an ultra minimal living solution, the egg is towed by boat to its residence and the wooden exterior is meant to weather over time to blend in with the marshes in which it resides.
There is a one-room living space in the pod and a basic shower, hammock and cooking devices are contained within. A removable dock was built to the egg to allow entrance. The ergonomic egg shape bobs lightly on the tide and is moored by ropes, making it an ideal mobile floating home.
4. Citadel, Naaldwijk, The Netherlands
The Citadel building is the first floating apartment complex in the world and is one of six of the “New Water” developments in the polders of the Netherlands.
The Netherlands has over 3,500 polders, which are areas of land below sea level that are prone to flooding. Usually polders are protected by dykes, and the water is pumped out. But, the Citadel floats on the wetland water, requiring none or minimal land modification and maintenance.
Containing 60 luxury apartments and a parking lot, each unit has a private outdoor space and berthing for a small boat. Using water pumped through submerged pipes as a cooling technique, it is estimated that the Citadel is 25% more energy efficient than if it was built on land.
The architects of the Dutch firm Waterstudio, are to be admired for their problem-solving abilities in designing an attractive residence for traditionally problematic real estate.
6. M-Velope Transformer House, Various Locations
Designer Michael Jantzen created the M-Velope Transformer House to demonstrate how a house could rearrange itself to suit the needs of the occupant. The slated wooden panels slide on a steel frame to move the walls, doors and roof into new positions. Inside the house, benches can be folded away to allow more room when needed.
At just 230 square feet, the M-Velope fits into a small space and includes elements of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable materials in its construction. There are only 10 M-Velope Houses in existence, and they are ideal for using as holiday homes or relaxation residences.
7. Shipping Container Guest House, San Antonio, Texas
There’s many shipping containers around the world being upcycled into houses, offices and complexes these days, but this one designed by Texas architect Jim Poteet of Poteet Architects in 2010, is one of the cutest and most attractive I have seen.
The house is made from a standard 40-foot shipping container and is located in the San Antonio artists community. It has air conditioning and heating systems, as well as a roof garden to insulate the interior from hot weather. There is also a shower and sink.
The house is intended to be a visiting guest and playhouse and the unused section functions as a gardening shed. Jim Poteet’s creation looks bright and exciting and sets a new benchmark in shipping container house design.
8. Casa Ecologica de Botellas Plasticas, Puerto Iguazu, Argentina
The Alfredo Santa Cruz family constructed this house from 1,200 plastic PET bottles, to promote ecological and social responsibility. A smaller playhouse was also built in a similar fashion for the youngest daughter.
As well as PET bottles, 1,300 milk and wine Tetra packs were used in the roof and 140 CD cases were used in the doors and windows. Couches and beds inside the house were also built with plastic bottles and the family invented their own way of fusing the plastics together, while retaining the symmetrical design.
9. Lego House, Surrey, UK
Built with over 3,300,000 Lego bricks, the Lego House is the creation of James May, who always wanted a house made of Legos. With a working toilet, a hot shower, staircase and bed — all made with Lego bricks — this two-story Lego House was built by volunteers and attracted a lot of international attention.
Unfortunately, the house was demolished in 2009, as it crowded prime grape real estate in the local area and would have cost £50,000 to dismantle and transport. Lego refused to pay. May plans on building a life-sized Lego ship for his next project.
10. The Cloud House, Melbourne, Australia
Australian architecture firm McBride Charles Ryan created the cloud house as an extension on a century- old Edwardian home. The aim was to add a modern touch and stir interest in the property, making it into a local landmark again.
Visitors walk through a traditional Edwardian interior and emerge into the ultra-modern extension, which features a red kitchen with box inspiration and lots of curved wood in the cloud-shaped façade, overlooking the pool.
11. Toilet Shaped House, Suweon, South Korea
Sim Jae Duck, mayor of Suwon and chairman of the World Toilet Association, was born in his grandmother’s bathroom and decided to dedicate his life to healthy ablutions, water conservation and improving global access to clean, efficient and working sanitation. In 2007, he rebuilt his house in the shape of a toilet.
Containing two stories and three toilets, Duck’s toilet-shaped house is the only toilet- themed house in the world and cost $1.1 million to build. It features a showcase bathroom in the center and is equipped with rainwater harvesting technology.
Sim Jae Duck died in 2009 and his house was donated to the government, who made it into the “Toilet Theme Park,” a sort of museum. Statues of lavatorial exercises surround the house and tourists can even buy souvenir poo.
12. Steel House, Lubbock, Texas
Built out of 110 tons of steel over a 23-year construction period, the Steel House appears to be in the shape of a giant pig. Architectural sculptor Robert Bruno was a bit disappointed with the flat landscape and found something a bit more exciting he could work with at Ransom Canyon.
Initially, he wanted to construct a one-story house, but after many adjustments and additions — including removing walls, adding legs so as not to impact the earth and adding more stained glass windows, etc. — the Steel House ended up with more stories; an artistic, unique look; and a magnificent view. Nearby, Robert Bruno also built the Lawson Rock House in Ransom Canyon.
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