The Crooked House in Sopot, Poland

All who visit the Krzywy Domek call it the world’s most crooked house. Perhaps fitting, then, that it is predominantly used to conduct business, with most of its rental space let as commercial real estate to companies seeking a spot in the building’s umbrella complex, the Rezydent shopping center. Designed by Polish architects Szotyscy & Zaleski, who drew their inspiration for the showstopper from the fairytale illustrations and drawings of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg, the Krzywy Domek’s construction completed in in 2004. Today, 43,000+ square feet of warped walls and windows, concave roofs, and architectural glass that look like the reflection of a funhouse mirror await the gaping mouths and camera flashes that pass by and through its doors every day.

Krzywy Domek is Polish for Crooked House, and this is an apt name for a bizarre building in the seaside resort of Sopot, Poland. Designed by Szotynscy & Zaleski and completed in 2004, it functions as a shopping centre and eatery and has become a popular tourist attraction. Along with Gdynia and Gdansk, Sopot makes up a metropolitan area called the Tricity, known for its shopping, restaurants, and bars, as well as it beautiful urban young people.

The Krzywy Domek has a tradition of having those who participate in its cultural events add their names to the building’s “Wall of Fame”, the Polish version of the American Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, this quirky attribute was one of many that helped it earn a spot on the list of the 7 Wonders of the Tricity. The designers are great fans of the well known illustrator of children’s fairy tales, Per Dahlberg, and his imaginative sketches became the inspiration for the design of this fun building. They have even purchased some of his original sketches which are displayed throughout the store.

The architectural style of the house is in fact in line with the traditional form of the town but in a warped version as though we are observing it through a fairground mirror. The stained glass entrance and the blue and green enamelled shingles on the roof are illuminated at night, creating an even more surreal appearance for the structure.  It comes as no surprise that it claims the prize for being the most photographed building in the whole of Poland.

The Krzywy Domek  comes with contemporary society’s version of everlasting cheat sheets: CAD drawings and construction plans. Thanks to these miracles of modernity, we–and future generations into infinity–will always be privy to the secrets of the Krzywy Domek’s bends and buckles. Although the building is relatively young it is already extremely well known around the world and has become a local icon. Built in 2004 the Krzywy Domek aka “The Crooked House” is located in Sopot, Poland. Part of a larger shopping center the building houses restaurants, shops and offices on four levels encompassing some 43,000 square feet

Aqua Tower Chicago Skyscraper

Chicago has been home to hundreds of skyscrapers since 1885. The first building to be build was only 42 meters in height and was finished in 1891. The photos here are pictures of the New Water Tower also known as the Aqua Tower. The tower is built with the illusions of waves engulfing the entire tower. The tower has 82 stories and also has six levels of parking underneath the building.

The tower has been built by Jeanne Gang who is the first woman to be commissioned with a project as big as this one. The tower has attracted a lot of attention and is one of the tallest structures in Chicago. The building is a part-residential and part-office complex and houses a lot of amenities like pools, gardens, gazebos and walking tracks. The building also contains a hotel that occupies the first 15 floors. The unique wave design of the building has got a lot of critique from architects but has been well received by everyone.

At 82 stories and over 1.9 million sf, Aqua Tower is one of few high-rises in the world that creates a community on its facade. With one of Chicago’s largest green roofs, this multi-use tower demonstrates both architectural and technical achievements. Its outdoor terraces—which differ in shape from floor to floor based on criteria such as views, solar shading, and dwelling size/type—form the tower’s distinctive undulating appearance and create a strong connection to the outdoors and to the city.

With enthralling design and innovative concept Aqua surely manages to be the biggest show stealer ever. The fluid contour of Aqua’s exterior creates distinctive floor plans with most residences having their own unique balcony design. Aqua’s balconies not only create the stunning exterior shape of the building, they bring individuality to each home. With no two balconies alike, for the first time ever, each unique owner has a unique condo. you gotta hold your breath as floor to ceiling buildings will take your breath away with that beautiful view right outside.

Aqua Tower Chicago Skyscraper – Building Information

Size: 1.9 million SF
Cost: $300M, on-time and on-budget
Unique Characteristics: Designed with undulating outdoor terraces, no two floors alike
Owner: Magellan Development Group
Status: Completed 2010
Services provided by Studio Gang Architects: Design architect from concept through completion
LEED rating: targeted Silver

Architectural Awards:

2010 International Highrise Award Finalist, Deutsches Architekturmuseum
2010 Honor Award, Distinguished Building, AIA Chicago
2009 Skyscraper of the Year, Emporis
2009 Annual Design Review Honorable Mention, Architect Magazine
2009 “Proggy” Award, PETA
2008 American Architecture Award, Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture & Design

As much sculpture as structure, Chicago’s newest jewel in its breathtaking skyline is located on the 200 block of North Columbus Drive. A mixed-use skyscraper that boasts 215 hotel rooms, 475 rental units and 263 condos and penthouses, the 82-story building was developed by Magellan Development.

Despite its prime location, Aqua was not built for the super-wealthy; and in spite of its great height, it is not an iconic attention-grabber. With almost 750 residential units and nearly 2 million square feet, the challenge of Aqua was to house a large number of people at a reasonable cost, while enhancing its environment with an elegant design, according to architect Gang.

At its core, Aqua is the standard glass hi-rise. But protruding from its four surfaces are undulating concrete balconies resembling ripples or waves — a highly appropriate architectural signature, considering the building’s proximity to Lake Michigan. To capture these views of the lake as well as nearby landmarks for Aqua residents, Gang stretched its concrete balconies outward by as much as 12 feet. The result is a building composed of irregularly shaped concrete floor slabs, which lend the facade an undulating quality from a distance.