A new book titled "Weird Buildings" by Imogen Fortes, published by Hoxton Mini Press, explores what makes architecture truly extraordinary and unconventional. According to Fortes, a genuinely weird building goes far beyond the typical quirks and strange noises that homeowners often experience in their own houses. Instead, these structures are deliberately designed "to amuse, to stop us in our tracks, to force us to reimagine what architecture can be — or all of the above."
The comprehensive book celebrates a century of offbeat architecture that successfully combines both functional and fantastical elements, with each building displaying an apparent desire to represent something entirely different from traditional structures. Notable examples include an Indian fisheries department building shaped like an actual fish and a striking glass structure designed as a series of waves rippling along a Danish fjord. These innovative buildings demonstrate how architecture can transcend conventional boundaries while maintaining practical functionality.
"They ignore the conventional architectural script," Fortes explains in her analysis of these unique structures. "Many rebel against the rigid logic of right angles, rectangles and the restrained. Instead, they stretch and curve, bulge and tilt." According to the author, many of these buildings feel more sculptural and resemble living organic organisms rather than static objects, emphasizing that they are equally concerned with form as they are with function.
The book features an impressive collection of both world-renowned and lesser-known architectural marvels. Fortes acknowledges established world-class buildings that have already gained international recognition, including New York's iconic Flatiron Building, Beijing's distinctive CCTV Headquarters, and the Centre Pompidou. She also dedicates significant space to the celebrated works of renowned architects like Gehry, Gaudí, and Zaha Hadid, which millions of visitors have had the pleasure of experiencing firsthand.
In addition to these famous structures, the book showcases some incredible and incredibly exclusive British holiday homes designed by prominent architects Richard Woods, MVRDV, and Charles Holland. Holland notably collaborated with artist Grayson Perry on the baroque fairy cottage known as House for Essex, which represents a unique blend of architectural innovation and artistic expression.
Fortes pays particular attention to buildings that serve alternative and unexpected functions across different regions. In the Nordic countries, her selection includes an innovative Icelandic church, a uniquely designed Swedish sauna, and a seed vault located in northern Norway. These structures demonstrate how unconventional architecture can adapt to serve essential community and environmental purposes while maintaining their distinctive aesthetic appeal.
The United States showcases what it does best through a collection of brake-screeching roadside attractions that have become beloved landmarks. These include Ohio's famous Basket Building, Washington's charming Tea Pot service station, and Idaho's whimsical Dog Bark Park Inn. These structures represent America's tradition of creating memorable roadside architecture that captures travelers' attention and imagination.
"They encourage us to approach the everyday with curiosity and a willingness to live just a little more playfully," Fortes observes about these unconventional buildings. However, she acknowledges that some of these structures, while visually striking, might not be entirely practical for everyday living. She specifically mentions the mind-bending Crooked House in Sopot, Poland, as an example of a building that visitors might admire but not necessarily want to call home.
The book ultimately serves as both a celebration of architectural creativity and an invitation for readers to reconsider their relationship with the built environment. Through her carefully curated selection of 100 years worth of unconventional architecture, Fortes demonstrates how buildings can transcend their purely functional roles to become sources of wonder, inspiration, and joy. These weird buildings challenge our preconceptions about what architecture should look like and remind us that the spaces we inhabit can be both practical and fantastical, encouraging a more playful and curious approach to our everyday surroundings.
