One bizarre-looking ‘crooked’ house has been called one of the “strangest buildings” in the world.
Its unusual shape and playful almost dreamlike qualities quickly turned it into a Polish landmark, and became of the most intriguing buildings in the country.
Built in 2004, the whimsical building in Sopot was inspired by the fantastical illustrations of Jan Szancer, a renowned Polish artist known for his fairy tale-like drawings.
Translated as Crooked House, Krzywy Domek quite literally does what it says on the tin, incorporating warped walls, rounded edges, and surreal curves to make it resemble something from a fairy tale.
Designed by architects Szotynscy & Zaleski, the windows are made of colourful stained glass framed in sandstone to mimic neighbouring buildings, adding a slightly earthy touch to the otherwise playful appearance.
The showstopper has to be the concave roof with turquoise enamelled tiles, which is said to evoke the look of a mythical dragon.
Despite its unconventional design, The Crooked House serves a practical purpose, housing a mix of shops, restaurants, bars, and office spaces over 4,000 square metres, as well as the Polish version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
It’s made it to many rankings that value the weird and wonderful, including the 12 of the Strangest Buildings in the World list by Architectural Digest.
It’s also been named one of the seven wonders of the Tricity area, which includes the neighboring cities Gdańsk and Gdynia.
