There are those who relish a life of peril, and in the cases of these dwellings, we mean that quite literally; just try to fathom what it would be like to face each new day in constant fear for your life. Some of these homes were built on the edge of a thousand-foot cliff, while others were designed as architectural oddities that engineers said were impossible to build. Whatever the case may be, it is clear that the people who build and inhabit such bizarre and potentially hazardous dwellings thrive on the rush of adrenaline they provide.
Takasugi-an, Japan
Takasugi-an, a teahouse in Nagano, Japan, was built by jamming downed trees into the ground, giving the building a surreal appearance. In order to reach the teahouse, visitors must first ascend a precariously balanced ladder, then take off their shoes and ascend a second precariously balanced ladder. The teahouse’s interior is charming, but patrons should be aware that the building is vulnerable to swaying in the wind. The name “Takasugi-an,” which means “too high” in Japanese, suggests that whoever constructed the building did so with a sense of humor.
Takasugi An, Japan
Sutyagin House, Russia
The Arkhangelsk, Russia, crime lord Nikolai Petrovich Sutyagin began building the Sutyagin House in 1992 and spent the next 15 years perfecting it. The Sutyagin family expanded their three-story home into a 13-story structure without a building permit or formal plans, making it the world’s tallest wooden structure. The building was torn down in 2008 after it was deemed a fire hazard by city officials. In all honesty, though, we think it’s for the best that way.
Sutyagin House, Russia
Phoenix House, Hawaii
The Phoenix House is currently listed on Airbnb, so if you’ve always wanted to sleep in the shadow of an active Hawaiian volcano, now’s your chance! The Phoenix House on Hawaii’s Big Island is perilously close to the lava flow during an eruption of Kilauea. In addition, Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes right now, so you’ll almost certainly see some eruptions if you decide to take a vacation there.
Phoenix House, Hawaii
Drina River House, Serbia
In 1968, two brothers built a house on an island in the Drina River not far from the town of Bajina Bata in Serbia. It was unfortunately washed away during the rainy season, but it was reconstructed the following year. The house became famous all over the world in 1994 when it was passed by some 20,000 people at the first annual Drina Regatta. Nowadays, it’s a popular tourist destination in Serbia.
Drina River House, Serbia
Elliðaey Island, Iceland
Do you consider yourself an introvert? If so, do you think you’d be able to handle life in the world’s most isolated home? This isolated home was once used as a hunting lodge on Elliaey Island, which is located off the southern coast of Iceland. Also on the island is a decrepit warehouse that was once occupied by scientists. Why, then, do you think it’s risky to be here? Let’s just say that if you have the misfortune of breaking your leg in a fall, good luck getting to a doctor.
Elliðaey Island, Iceland
Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain
Catalonia’s Castellfollit de la Roca sits on a cliff formed when two lava flows stacked on top of one another, towering over the confluence of two rivers below. The town, which is over a millennium old, stretches for almost a full kilometer and is home to fewer than a thousand people. In the event that you absolutely must traverse this neighborhood, there is a teeny, tiny street that winds its way around the perimeter of the houses. Imagine, for a moment, that your backyard is a precipice.
Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain
Chemosphere, Los Angeles
The Chemosphere is a 2,200-square-foot, one-story octagonal house in Los Angeles that sits atop a 30-foot-tall, 5-foot-wide concrete column. It was once called “the most modern home built in the world,” and it was designed by John Lautner in 1960. Considering that the house was built on a 45-degree incline, the ingenuity of its design is being singled out for special praise.
Chemosphere, Los Angeles
Just Room Enough Island, New York
Hub Island, also called Just Room Enough Island, is located in the Saint Lawrence River in upstate New York and straddles the international border between Canada and the United States. Just Room Enough Island, the world’s smallest inhabited island, measures a scant 3,300 square feet, which is more than adequate space for a single dwelling, a single tree, and a modest stretch of beach. The Sizeland family bought the island in the 1950s with the intention of using it as a private getaway; however, as soon as word got out, the island was no longer isolated.
Just Room Enough Island, New York
Shadowcliff, Lake Michigan
Shadowcliff, an architectural masterpiece by Harry Weese, is a glass cube perched on a cliff above Lake Michigan. A former advisor to Lyndon B. Johnson, Ben W. Heineman, had his own office here built as a getaway. Weese made sure it was built to withstand winds of up to 90 miles per hour, despite its intimidating appearance. The glass floor window overlooking the cliff below is unquestionably the most interesting aspect of this structure.
Shadowcliff, Lake Michigan
Solvay Hut, Switzerland
There is a small hut hidden away on the side of the Matterhorn in the Alps, built specifically for mountaineers to use as a temporary shelter from the elements. It’s not a huge space, but it could accommodate 10 people if absolutely necessary. In the event of an avalanche or other injury requiring evacuation by helicopter, it also features an emergency phone line.
Solvay Hut, Switzerland
Falling Water House, Pennsylvania
The Falling Water House in Pennsylvania is literally situated on top of a waterfall and is ensconced in lush greenery, as the name would imply. The Falling Water House, built by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, was not built with durability or safety in mind. Raising $11 million was necessary to correct the problems, such as floors that were too weak to support the structure and beams that cracked under the weight of the house.
Falling Water House, Pennsylvania
Meteora Monasteries, Greece
One of the largest and tallest Eastern Orthodox monastery complexes in the world can be found in the Meteora in central Greece. As a defense mechanism against invasion, the original 24 monasteries were constructed atop the natural pillars at the end of the 14th century. There are now fewer than ten people living in each of the six that still exist. How, then, do the residents enter and exit the area? It used to be reachable only by means of a rope; however, modern-day rock formations have been modified to include stairs.
Meteora Monasteries, Greece
Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan
You’ve probably noticed by now that monks oftentimes live on the edge, both figuratively and literally. Those who have lived at Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest Monastery have found this to be the case. The monastery, which is perched on a cliff at an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet, is reached after a two-hour hike at the very least. If you’re ever in Bhutan and aren’t afraid of heights, you should visit this spot immediately because it’s rumored to be breathtaking.
Leaning Towers of Santos, Brazil
As it happens, leaning towers aren’t restricted to Italy. Unlike the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which serves primarily as a tourist attraction, the leaning towers of Santos, Brazil, are actually occupied by people who make their living in those buildings. These structures lean to one side because their foundations were hastily built into soft clay rather than dug deeper into the group, as would have been ideal under stricter building codes. While they may raise eyebrows, if there is ever an earthquake, these buildings could be disastrous.
Leaning Towers Of Santos, Brazil
The Hanging Houses of Cuenca, Spain
Although evidence of the Hanging Houses, also known as Las Casas Colgadas in Spanish, dates back to at least the 15th century, their etymology and historical development remain a mystery to historians. You have to admit that they blend in with the rock very well. There is now a restaurant and the Spanish Museum of Abstract Art located in the Hanging Houses. Probably not surprisingly, they are the most well-known structures in all of Cuenca.
The Hanging Houses Of Cuenca, Spain
The Cliff House, Australia
Those with a fear of heights should probably avoid this cliff house in Victoria, Australia. This five-story home got its inspiration from the way barnacles attach to ships, and it is built directly into the vertical face of a cliff. The house’s roof doubles as a garage, so if that weren’t unnerving enough, you can pile even more stuff on top! How about you? Are you all set to move in?
The Cliff House, Australia
Glass House, Sonoma Valley, California
This Sonoma Valley home is only two hours from San Francisco and has an asking price of $3.9 million. Almost the entire home has breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Why wouldn’t you love it? First of all, the majority of the structure is made out of glass. It has a vantage point 300 feet above the water and is perched on a rocky point. Is there any value to it all? We’ll defer to your judgment on that matter.
Glass House, Sonoma Valley, California
House on Middle Sedge Island, New Jersey
Middle Sedge Island is a private island off the coast of New Jersey in the Atlantic Ocean that contains a single residence with numerous high-end features, including a heated pool, guest house, bocce court, and more. Unfortunately, all that opulence came at a price; not only is the home inaccessible except by boat or helicopter but it was completely wiped out in Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The cost of fixing the damage was prohibitive, so no action has been taken as of yet.
House On Middle Sedge Island, New Jersey
The Underground Homes of Coober Pedy, Australia
Coober Pedy, in the Australian state of South Australia, is famous as an opal mining center. But perhaps most peculiar of all is the fact that 80% of the town’s inhabitants reside in “dugouts” beneath the surface, all in an effort to survive the unbearable daytime heat. It can get as hot as 127 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime in Coober Pedy, so if you live there, you should be prepared to risk heat stroke whenever you go outside.
The Underground Homes Of Coober Pedy, Australia
WoZoCo Apartments, Netherlands
What would you think about an apartment that extends completely beyond the building? The residents of the WoZoCo Apartments in Amsterdam can attest to this fact. They were built in an inventive way that complied with local regulations but also accommodated the specific needs of the customer. The protruding units are securely attached to the building, but it is still unsettling to stand directly beneath them.
WoZoCo Apartments, Netherlands
Lake Kivu, Central Africa
About 2 million people call the picturesque Lake Kivu region home, which straddles the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. But don’t be fooled by its beauty; it’s actually a time bomb waiting to go off. Limnic eruptions, where carbon dioxide bubbles up from deep within a lake, are extremely rare but have been documented on three lakes around the world, including Lake Kivu. The end result is a deadly gas cloud that can suffocate everything for miles around. Oh, and researchers still don’t know what would set off a limnic eruption in Lake Kivu. House construction there should be done at the owner’s own risk.
Lake Kivu, Central AfricaCasa do Penedo, Portugal
The Stone House, or Casa do Penedo, can be found in northern Portugal. The home’s construction began in 1972 and continued through 1974; the owners planned to use it as a vacation retreat throughout construction. However, now it is only a tourist attraction, with a small museum displaying artifacts from the home’s past. Although it is close to a wind farm, the house itself does not receive any of the power generated there. This is what you call a rustic lifestyle?
Casa Do Penedo, Portugal
Keret House, Poland
Keret House could be the perfect home for you if you’re a fan of compact living. The Keret House in Warsaw, Poland, was built as an art installation and is the world’s narrowest house at its widest point (just under 5 feet). The Keret House is not up to Polish building standards, so it is technically an art installation rather than a residence (but just one at a time, to be precise).
Keret House, Poland
Dumpster Apartment, New York City
Living costs in New York City are high; nobody disputes that. It has been argued that you couldn’t even rent a dumpster for less than $1,500 per month. One decorator set out to prove that such a thing is possible by creating a fully functional dumpster apartment, complete with a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and sun deck, as seen in this installation art piece. And all for only $1,200/month!
Dumpster Apartment, New York City
Katskhi Pillar, Georgia
Near the Georgian town of Chiatura stands the 130-foot-tall Katskhi pillar, which is made of natural limestone. A hermit from the 9th or 10th century constructed the structure atop the pillar. Maksim Qavtaradze, a Georgian Orthodox monk, currently resides there. Qavtaradze only ventures off his pillar twice a week to collect food from the monastery below, and even then he has to use a ladder to descend the sheer rock face.
Katskhi Pillar, Georgia
Transparent House in Tokyo, Japan
If you enjoy having natural light in your home, this house is perfect for you. It is fully transparent, providing plenty of sunlight and no sense of seclusion. Architects from Sou Foux komodo created this house. The home is the ideal illustration of an open floor plan. The house’s design is comparable to that of a tree house. The residence isn’t very private. For privacy, there are drapes placed between the rooms’ walls or between them. Many people have requested a comparable house style ever since the house was built.
Transparent House In Tokyo, Japan
SkateBoard Hous, California
The Skateboard House is a private residence located in Malibu, California. On any interior or outdoor surface in this house, you can skate. The project’s client and visionary is Pierre Andre Senizergues (PAS), the founder of Etnies and a former World champion skater. The land is divided into three sections that together make up the residence. The first has a living room, dining room, and kitchen; the second has a bedroom and bathroom; and the third is a skating practice space. Because the ground changes into a wall, then a ceiling, and so on on a continuous surface that forms a tube with a 10-foot radius, every place is skateable.
SkateBoard Hous, California
The Steel House, Texas
This enormous piece of artwork is more like a sculpture than a residence. The Steel House, which is 20 minutes outside of Labbock in Texas, is completely unlike any other house. You’ll understand why once you learn its tale. Robert Bruno, an unorthodox sculptor, began this piece in 1973. He continued working on this incredible endeavor from that point until his death in 2008, creating every component by hand and using no outside help. The unfinished house has an extremely unique form that can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Some say it looks like a UFO, some say it looks more like a huge insect, while yet others say it looks like an AT-AT Walker from Star Wars.
The Steel House, Texas
The Slide House , Japan
In this case, the name pretty well says it all. Apart from the enormous slide that extends over three stories and is a crucial component of the structure, the Slide House is one of the most entertaining and whimsical houses around. Despite this, the design is surprisingly straightforward and typical. It surrounds the entire interior of the rounded-cornered building. Level Architects created this lovely home, which was finished in 2009. It was difficult to determine every little detail, such as the ideal slope angle or the appropriate materials for the slide, but it all worked out beautifully in the end.
The Slide House, Japan
Seashell House , Mexico City
Have you ever considered what it could be like to reside within a seashell, much like hermit crabs? We’d like to assume that it would be similar to living in this bizarre seashell-shaped house from Mexico City. Javier Senosiain, who was inspired by the Nautilus, created the home. Naturally, the shell’s form and design were modified and turned into this incredible architectural marvel. The project was finished in 2016, and from the obvious shape of the house, one of the most striking features is that amazing wall of colored mosaics that produced the most exquisite rainbow effect.
Seashell House , Mexico City
Flintstone-style house , California
It would be a shame to leave out this unusual refuge from Malibu, California, as we’re wondering what it would be like to live in all kinds of bizarre residences. If the Flintstones lived in our time, their home would look like this. The lines and angles are never completely straight, and the entire design has a very organic sense. Everything about this house gives the impression that it is formed of stone and has unchiseled and uneven surfaces. There is only one sizable room inside.
Flintstone Style House , California
Caterpillar House , Chile
We’re not entirely sure why this name was picked, but there’s no denying that this house is both unusual and really interesting. This stylish family home was created using shipping containers and is situated in Chile. A swimming pool was created out of one of the 12 containers that were used overall. Of course, this house has other unique qualities as well. In actuality, what’s most intriguing about it all is how the interior spaces are organized and how the different zones interact with one another while yet keeping their distinct identities.
Caterpillar House , Chile
Hằng Nga Guesthouse, Vietnam
The Hang Nga Guesthouse, which was originally created by Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga, is also referred to by the locals as the “Dalat Crazy House.” That kind of looks like a big tree. The mansion welcomes visitors and features 10 themed guest rooms. It is advertised as a fairytale-themed house surrounded by sculptures and gardens, and it features a ton of nooks, crannies, twists, turns, bridges, passageways, and staircases. To complement the organic shape of the interior, all of the furniture in the house has to be created.
Hằng Nga Guesthouse, Vietnam
Urban Cactus, Netherlands
This very spectacular apartment structure was created by UCX Architects as an illustration of how to make the most of alternating patterns to provide more sunlight for outdoor spaces in future communal living. The innovative design, which has 98 residential apartments and 19 floors, gives each residence access to sunlight, both on the garden petal and in some areas of the interior. The project was planned to provide spectacular city views in addition to green space close to the Vuurplaat Port. The building’s construction started in 2006.
Urban Cactus, Netherlands
Sea Rescue Station, Germany
The design of this particular sea rescue station, which has been converted to homes along with many others throughout the world, is particularly distinctive. It was built in 1968 by German engineers Ulrich Müther and Dietrich Otto, and Ulrich refurbished it once more in 2004. In his career, he also constructed a variety of other structures, such as planetariums, restaurants, and mosques. Although it appears to be the perfect seaside house, the Binz Rescue Station is actually the registrar office’s maid room.
Sea Rescue Station, Germany
Cosmic Muffin, Florida
Only ten Boeing 307 Stratoliners were made in the 1930s and it was the first commercial pressurized aircraft. Named “The Cosmic Muffin,” Howard Hughes cut the tail and wings off and turned it into a houseboat. The 1930s saw the production of just ten Boeing 307 Stratoliners, the first commercial pressurized aircraft ever. The Cosmic Muffin, dubbed a one-of-a-kind invention, has had a few owners who have painstakingly restored and maintained it. The Cosmic Muffin is a historical and educational attraction that offers charters and tours for a variety of organizations, including school groups, sponsored events, and corporate meetings. If interested, you can also hire it for film, television, and commercial campaigns.
Cosmic Muffin, Florida
Resident Church XL, Netherlands
There are many unique conversion projects out there, so they must be cool in some manner. Not everyone would love living in a house that used to be something different. One of them is an Utrech church that was transformed into a home in 2009. The Saint Jakobus Church, of which we are speaking, was founded in 1870. After ceasing to be a church in 1991, it afterwards served as a showroom for events and the display of furnishings. Then, in 2007, convert the church into a home in order to revive this lovely historical monument. These are the outcomes of the project’s approval.
Resident Church XL, Netherlands
Cement factory conversion, Spain
Wait until you see this house if you thought transforming a church into a home was spectacular. It was formerly a cement factory and is situated in Barcelona, Spain. One of the most incredible conversions ever, by far. Ricardo Bofill completed the project after finding the factory in 1973 and deciding to give it a new use. The facility included over 30 silos, a network of underground passages, and enormous engine rooms in addition to being abandoned and largely in ruins. Only 8 of the silos were left after some of it was destroyed. They were transformed into offices, archives, a library, a laboratory, a projection room, and a location known as The Cathedral that hosts events. After two years of arduous work and extensive landscaping, the architects finally succeeded in transforming the unfinished building into a magnificent complex that serves as both his home and office.
Cement Factory Conversion, Spain
Casa Ecologica de Botellas Plasticas, Argentina
This house was built by the Alfredo Santa Cruz family out of 1,200 PET plastic bottles as a way to encourage environmental and social responsibility. For the youngest daughter, a tiny playhouse was also constructed in a similar manner. Together with PET bottles, the roof was constructed using 1,300 milk and wine Tetra packs, while the doors and windows were constructed using 140 CD cases. Inside the home, plastic bottles were also used to construct beds and couches. The family developed a unique method of joining the plastics while maintaining the symmetry.
Casa Ecologica De Botellas Plasticas, Argentina
Upside Down House, Poland
Daniel Czapiewski, an olish businessman and philanthropist, completed this house in 2007, and since then, the community of Szymbark has used it as a tourist attraction. Due to the tradesmen’s disorientation during building, the house took five times as long to build as a typical one. As people visit the Upside Down House and wander around on the internal ceilings, they say they feel queasy and giddy. The home is intended to symbolize Poland’s transition from communist control to democracy, which was marked by an uncertain time. The inside decor looks like it dates back to the 1970s, and the television is playing socialist propaganda among other things.
Upside Down House, Poland
Heliodome, France
This Eric Wasser-designed bio-climatic solar home functions as a 3D sundial that tracks the sun’s movement throughout the day to collect solar energy for free heating in the winter and to cool the home and store solar energy in the summer. The Heliodome is a stunning structure made of wood, glass, and concrete that maximizes solar energy while completely eradicating CO2 emissions. Wasser’s desire of a green home is realized, despite the fact that the neighborhood is divided over the structure’s unusual architecture and claims it resembles a spacecraft.
Heliodome, France
Tree Hotel, Sweden
At least not the sleek and contemporary ones like the Tree Hotel from Harads, Sweden, treehouses aren’t what they used to be. The building is a cube-shaped chamber that is encircled by a tall tree’s trunk. Because it is composed of lightweight metal and has mirrored glass covering its outside, it can reflect the sky and trees and blend in seamlessly with its environment. The interior, which is composed of plywood, provides a 360-degree view of the surroundings. The inside features a bedroom, a tiny bathroom, and a living area with a roof terrace. One must cross a rope bridge attached to the following tree to get to the entryway. Tham & Videgrd Arkitekter was the project’s architect.
Tree Hotel, Sweden
Pierre Cardin’s “Bubble House”, France
The architect Antti Lovag created this bubble-shaped mansion in the 1970s. He aimed to include organic, flowing aspects into the design and was motivated by the flowing shape of prehistoric caves and troglodyte environments.
The 8,500m2 Palais Bulles, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, has an outdoor amphitheater, a reception hall that seats 350 people, a garden with a pool, and ponds. Even round beds are available to match. Despite having created his famous bubble garment thirty years earlier, designer Pierre Cardin ironically purchased this 28-bedroom house in 1989. It has frequently served as a setting for film festival parties and for fashion photography. At the age of 90, Antti Lovag is still creating extraordinary homes.
Pierre Cardin’s “Bubble House”, France
Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica
Unbelievably, this hotel was formerly a real Boeing 727 aircraft from 1965. One of the most strange, bizarre, and singular hotels in the entire world. Piece by piece, the salvaged airframe was moved to this location. On a 50-foot pedestal near the edge of the national park in Costa Rica, it was later put back together. The views of the jungle are extremely breathtaking from up there.
Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica
Mobile Aquatic Pod, England
The “Exbury Egg,” created by Stephen Turner as a personal experiment, was first meant to be an art installation but ended up being Stephen’s floating residence. The egg is pulled to its location by boat and is described as an ultra-minimal living solution. Its wooden exterior is intended to age over time and mix in with the marshes where it is located. The pod is a one-room living area with a rudimentary shower, hammock, and cooking equipment inside. To provide access, a detachable dock was placed into the egg. The ergonomic egg form is anchored by ropes and bobs slightly with the tide, giving it the perfect mobile floating house.
Mobile Aquatic Pod, England
Habitat 67, Canada
Habitat 67 was created by Israeli-Canadian architecture student Moshe Safdie and constructed for Expo 67. The construction of high-density community living that incorporates gardens, fresh air, and privacy in a multilevel architecture is the revolutionary vision behind this housing complex. It has a maximum height of 12 stories and is composed of 354 prefabricated concrete components that may be combined in different ways to create 146 homes of varied sizes. Every apartment has access to an own terrace or terraces.
Habitat 67, Canada
