This Week’s Crazy Building: Grand Arche of Defense

The Grand Arche of Defense in Paris, France is part of the Triumphal Way. This line of monuments and buildings starts at the Louvre, includes the Arc de Triomphe, and finally ends with the Grand Arche. It was designed by architect Johan Otto V. Spreckelsen who won the competition of 424 entries. Completed in 1989,
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This Week’s Crazy Building: The Valencia Opera House

The unusual Valencia Opera House by architect Santiago Calatrava makes a fitting addition to Valencia, Spain’s City of the Arts and Sciences complex. It features an oceanarium, science museum, sculpture garden, and suspension bridge, many of which were designed by Calatrava who is known for his visionary works. Calatrava is the recipient of multiple honorary
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This Week’s Crazy Building: John Curtin School of Medical Research

The John Curtin School of Medical Research in Canberra, Australia is reminiscent of dominos, probably due to its repeating forms. Designed by architecture firm Lyons, this modern building screams high-tech. Its sinuous form was inspired by the double helix structure of DNA. Features like the name, cut from concrete, and concrete panels with abstract molecules
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Air Force Academy Chapel

The Air Force Academy Chapel, located in Colorado Springs, CO is the most visited building on campus. With its uncommon look, it’s easy to see why! It was designed in the modern architecture style by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1962. In 1996 the Chapel won the AIA Twenty-five year award and in 2004 it
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Fondation Louis Vuitton

The Fondation Louis Vuitton located in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne park makes a noticeable splash. Designed by Frank Gehry, the contemporary art museum’s unusual forms exhibit his characteristic deconstructed look. The park is nearly twice the size of New York’s Central Park and is composed of several smaller parks. The Fondation is in the Jardin
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Heritage Park

Did you know there is a Victorian village right here in San Diego? Heritage Park, located in Old Town boasts 7 genuine buildings from the 1880s to 1890s. The goal of the park is to preserve these historic buildings which were threatened with demolition after World War 2. Victorian style is composed of several subcategories
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Ideal Palace

The Ideal Palace or Ferdinand Cheval Palace is a truly unique structure. Ferdinand Cheval, a rural postman with no formal training, built it himself over 33 years. It was named a historical monument in 1969 and influenced artists such as André Breton. In 1879 Cheval, age 43, struck his foot on an unusual rock while
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Esplanade Theatres

The Esplanade Theatres, better described by locals as “The Durian,” are Singapore’s premier performing arts venue. Located on the bay, the spiky outer shells afford excellent views and provide shade by day. At night the Theatres transform into lamps that shine out onto the bay. The design process invited much criticism. One early rendition was
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Dar al-Hajar

The 5-story Dar al-Hajar in Yemen is an engineering feat! This iconic building was constructed on top of a rock pillar in the 1930s. Originally intended as a residence for Ali bin Saleh Al-Amari, a scholar and renaissance man. The property is now a tourist destination and has become a symbol of the nation’s architecture.
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This Week’s Crazy Building: WonderWorks

The WonderWorks buildings are crazy by design. Their multiple locations all follow the same pattern, a classical building that is upside down! The Orlando location features a 3-story building on top of a 1930s style brick building. The front entrance is especially fun, appearing to be a hole in the facade. Inside, visitors will find
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