Architectural Oddities

An alien church provides much needed silence in the midst of a Finland shopping center.

Yemen's "Stone Palace" looks like it was carved right out of the tall stone column on which it is built.

An uber-secure, windowless tower of doom in the center of Manhattan is an NSA spyscraper.

This is not only one of the oldest collections in Europe, but also possibly the most beautiful.

When the big city meets the edge of the frontier, log skyscrapers are born.

A former fisherman's hut deemed too small for habitation is now a delightful tourist draw.

What is it about mushrooms that makes people wish they lived inside of them?

Perhaps the world's only gas station inspired by a political scandal.

The house where Good Will Hunting was written is a surreal fairytale abode.

One lonely, modern pyramid has gone from corporate think tank to deserted boondoggle.

This massive chapel in the middle of the Indonesian forest is both haunting and fowl.

This tiny little island has, as the name says, just enough room for its single house.

This historic Dutch newspaper building is covered with media-themed details—and one unrelated oddity.

This beautifully historic Bahrain fortress might not be the most popular attraction around, but that might make it all the better.

This skewed English house has looked like it's going to fall over for centuries.

This surreal art house looks like a geometric version of a small chapel.

This southwest-styled home in Santa Fe claims to be the oldest house in America thanks to an ancient bit of foundation.