From a broad perspective, architecture can be defined as an activity of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures for the purpose of providing shelter. At the same time, architecture can be classified as a process of documentation, which is based on the original sketches and schematics and has the role of marking out the structure as well as the behavior of a building.
Even though these properties are still valid today, modern architecture allows the introduction of new paradigms in regards to the functionality and structure of buildings as well as a vision of the future. In this light, we can also draw the conclusion that architecture represents a quest (with or without a real purpose) for perfection and that helps form a simple instrumentality. Following are some examples of buildings across the world that fit this description.
1. The Crooked House (Poland)
Located in a residential shopping center in downtown Sopot, the Crooked House is currently considered an architectural marvel. The idea behind the structure comprises of a rich imagination of a children's book designer (J.M. Szancer) and Swedish painter (Per Dahlberg). A fascinating element about this structure consists of the fact that it includes very few straight lines situated somewhere in the middle of the building. Essentially, the Crooked House gives the impression of a melting building or a structure sagged out of exhaustion.
2. The UFO houses (Taiwan)
The UFO houses also dubbed as the Sanzhi pod houses were built in 1978 and were intended to serve as a vacation resort for US military officers in the Northern Coast of Taiwan. Even though they are currently abandoned and were demolished in 2010, they are still remembered for their unusual flying saucer-like shape. A strange thing regarding these wacky structures is that numerous deaths and car accidents occurred during the construction, a fact that scared tourists away and earned the UFO buildings the title of Ruins of the Future.
3. The Hundertwasser Building (Germany)
Commonly known as the Forest Spiral, this incredible structure is the masterpiece of the famous Austrian architect F. Hundertwasser. The building includes all the elements the Austrian architect is renowned for. To summarize, the Hundertwasser edifice is essentially a vast array of organic forms, shapes and structures all combined to create an extravagantly irregular pattern that leaves the impression it is alive.
4. Mind House (Spain)
The Mind House in Barcelona is perhaps one of the most famous creations of world renowned Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudi. The construction as well as the Park Guell it guards have an interesting story: while they were initially commissioned for the building of a residential area for rich people, it turned out that its location was simply too far away from the center of Barcelona and too close for those who wanted to live outside the city. Therefore, the owner sold the area with all the structures to the Catalan authorities who opened them to the public.
5. Dancing Building (Czech Republic)
The Dancing Building in Prague embodies a daring statement of the Neo Renaissance style, a trend that became very popular at the beginning of the 19th century. There is no denial that the Dancing House itself is quite an attention grabber. However, it is necessary to mention the fact that the contrast to the next door building is what creates a string impact on anyone who sees the structure. While the building next to it looks rather normal and monotonous, the Dancing Building is its vivid, moving counterpart.
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