Architectural Oddities

This centuries-old Italian chapel hangs midway down a sheer cliffside.

This ultra-modern California span is actually a titanic solar clock in disguise built by famed architect Santiago Calatrava.

Madrid's romantically ornate crystal palace has been offering shelter to plants and art for over a century.

This domed temple was built in a hidden cave mouth as a refuge for sinners seeking absolution.

Hidden away in the city of Madison, Wisconsin is a nearly forgotten home that Frank Lloyd Wright built for a childhood friend.

What if all public housing projects had been designed by "the Pygmalion of modern architecture," not only their prototype?

This "social palace" housing complex created a relatively stable and self-contained worker's society... for a time.

It’s not hard to see why the historic Peabody Conservatory of Music’s library has been described as a “cathedral of books.”

This historic lavatory leftover features two levels of defecation stations completely without context.

First known as the "Sample House," this construction mash-up was meant to be a living catalogue of building styles.

This replica medieval European village in the Dominican Republic was built by a Hollywood set designer.

This high-design church is made up of two dizzying spirals meant to evoke the weaving together of marriage.

One of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world keeps an eye out in every direction.

In this tiny Iranian town playing on the roof isn't just encouraged, it's the only place to go.

After this one-of-a-kind palace was built the architect's hands are said to have been cut off to keep it that way.

This chilly Canadian hotel has a four-month lifespan due to the unusual material it's made of.

Mind-blowing carvings and fantasy ice scenes grace the largest year-round ice environment in the world.

The world's first ice hotel is still one of the most elaborate and beautiful.