This Week’s Crazy Building: Temple of Valadier

Sitting in the midst of a cave, the Temple of Valadier seems bizarrely out of place. Located nearby Ancona, Italy, a small port city. The Temple was built in 1828 by architect Giuseppe Valadier and uses white travertine. This spot is believed to have been used as a sanctuary from invaders as early as the
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Chongqing Guotai Arts Center

China’s Chongqing Guotai Arts Center draws inspiration from various sources such as the white fig tree and traditional Chinese architecture. Construction took 8 years but its history began in 1937 when the Chongqing Theater was founded. The Arts Center is important to locals due to its history and the performances that took place at the
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Oodi

The undulating shape of Oodi evokes the feeling of a passing cloud. While that image may conjure the feeling of a daydream, this new public library is the opposite, being practical and well thought out. Designed by ALA Architects it sits across the street from the parliament building in Helsinki, Finnland. Oodi means “ode” in
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This Week’s Crazy Building: U.S. Bank Stadium

The U.S. Bank Stadium is crazy by design. Inspired by the local landscape of Minnesota as well as Viking longboats this structure by HKS Architects is a landmark piece in several ways. The stadium is LEED Gold certified, meaning it meets international criteria for best in class strategies and practices to make it a sustainable
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Located in Dallas, Texas, the monolithic Perot Museum of Nature and Science was inspired by the local landscape and designed to spark the imagination. The original museum dates back to 1936. Its current form represents the merger of the Dallas Museum of Natural History, The Science Place, and the Dallas Children’s Museum. The new building,
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Scottish Parliament building

Drawing inspiration from the local landscape and culture the Scottish Parliament building’s futuristic forms are a definite departure from the norm. Architect Enric Miralles referenced boats, the Scottish cross, and the flower paintings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh to name a few sources. Although his proposal came in second place, he was awarded the contract because
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Porsche Museum

The Porsche Museum, located in Stuttgart, Germany seems inaccessible at first glance. The large, bold structure seems to sit high above the ground, this feeling is enhanced by the reflective surface on its underside. Inside there is a contemporary, futuristic feeling that blends with the cars and exhibits. Even the dining areas exude the same
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Sydney Opera House

Little did architect Jørn Utzon know when he created his initial drawings, that the Sydney Opera house would become a milestone in 20th century architecture. Utzon was 38 when he submitted his entry in the design competition. An unknown architect at the time, he was surprised when his sculptural design was selected from over 200
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This Week’s Crazy Building: San Jose City Hall

San Jose’s City Hall features a unique, contemporary glass rotunda that harkens back to historic public buildings. Designed by Richard Meier & Partners the entire project comprised an eighteen story office building, plaza, and underground parking. It was completed in 2005. The $384 million expense of construction will be offset over the next 50 years
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This Week’s Crazy Building: OCAD University

The Sharp Center for Design at OCAD University has been described as a “dalmatian that swallowed a billiard table.” This whimsical addition to the school’s historic building is a smart solution for expansion. OCAD University (formerly known as the Ontario College of Art and Design) is located in Toronto, Canada. The 2 story addition was completed
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