These whimsical architectural structures are some stunning examples of how surreal and fairytale-like designs can make for a visually mesmerizing building.
Modern day architects are constantly striving to create designs that are new, inventive and visually appealing, which often means having to draw inspiration from all sorts of eccentric or bizarre places. These whimsical architectural structures are showcasing some magical buildings that seem more fitted for storybooks and dreams than ordinary everyday life. By incorporating such features as beautifully curved designs, vibrant colors and eccentric shapes, these whimsical pieces of architecture are able to draw in people's gazes with its imaginative references.
From fluorescent medical hospitals to surreal LEGO cityscapes, these whimsical architectural structures will definitely have anyone who passes by stunned and amazed.
80 Whimsical Architectural Structures
From Whimsical Eco-Home Concepts to Cloud-Inspired Dwellings:
Tana Makmanee — Aug 30, 2013 — Art & Design
80
Curving Cumulus Cottages
The McBride Charles Ryan Cloud House is Whimsical
79
Artistic Mosaic Stairs
The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps in San Francisco is Vibrantly Colorful
78
Fairytale-Themed Stores
'Mood Swings Apartment' Revisits Alice in Wonderland
77
Creepy Tree Hotels
The Crazy House by Hang Nga Seems Inspired by Famed Antoni Gaudi
76
Never Neverland Houses
A Home in Ibiza, Spain, by Andrés Jaque Architects
75
Floating Lotus Cabins
Fiorella by Hyun-Seok Kim is Like a Whimsical Picnic Spot
74
Surrealist Staircase Installations
Beautiful Steps by Lang-Baumann Spiral with Surrealism
73
Dr. Seuss Homesteads
The Stamberg Aferiat House is Topsy-Turvy
72
Sustainable Childhood Fantasy Homes
J.K Rowling's Proposed 40 Ft Tree House is Fantastic
71
Surreal LEGO Cityscapes
The Habit Makes Us Blind Project Builds Urban Planning Awareness
70
Snail-Shaped Residences
The Nautilus by Javier Senosiain is a Small But Fascinating Space
69
Abridged Abodes
Bridge Homes, Like those by H3ar, Let You Live on the Water
68
Arboreal Abode Publications
Philip Jodidio Focuses on Fantasy Tree Houses in His New Book
67
Freight-Hauled Homes
The Patrick Partouche 'Container House' is Modernly Made of Eight Pieces
66
Fantasy-Filled Architecture
Dalki Theme Park Encourages Creativity in Children
65
Fairytale Garden Castles
Dreaming Spires Willow Playhouses are Designed for Imaginative Play
64
Lace-Pattern Architecture
The XTEN 'Sapphire Gallery' Accommodates Fairy Tale Art
63
Mystical Art Abodes
The Sculptural Home by A-cero is a Residence Ready to be Explored
62
Glass Monument Museums
The Salvador Dali Museum is a Piece of Architecture with Many Mediums
61
Enchanting Fairytale Resorts
La Balade Des Gnomes is a Fantasy Themed Rustic Retreat
60
Whimsical Eco-Home Concepts
This Home-Scape Building System by Michael Jantzen is Eco-Friendly
59
Castle & Palace Hotels
Global Fairytale Escapes
58
Technicolor Steps
The John Jones Framed Staircase at V&A Lets You Walk on the Rainbow
57
Accordian Architecture
The Condesa DF Hotel Has a Courtyard of Folding Facades
56
Camouflaged Kaleidoscope Structures
The Assembly One Pavilion Pushes Visual Boundaries
55
Sinuous Futuristic Malls
The Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid is a Surreal Beijing Structure
54
Mind-Bending Surrealist Libraries
Avondale Heights Library Offsets Simple Design with Bold Colors
53
Woven Wood Ceilings
The Ikibana Restaurant by El Equipo Creativo is Whimsical and Warm
52
Topsy-Turvy Architecture
The Upside Down House in Terfens, Austria is Disorienting
51
Human-Integrated Cityscape Illustrations
Tomek Setowski Depicts Metropolises Embedded into People
50
Smoldering Train Stations
The Anisotropic by Handan Yalki Takes its Form from Curling Flames
49
Urban Jungle Architecture
The HWKN MEtreePOLIS Aims for an Organic Utopian Urban Design Strategy
48
Gravity-Defying Bookstores
The Archizines Pop-Up Shop is Conceptually Mind-Boggling
47
Colorful Curving Constructions
The Pulgon Diseno Spanish Pavilion is Architecturally Striking
46
Geometric Insect-Like Housing
Terunobu Fujimori's Beetle House is a Surreal Architectural Creation
45
Bright Bottle Chapels
The Whimsical ‘Airlie Gardens' by Virginia Wright-Frierson
44
Surreal Sprouting Structures
Victor Enrich Creates Unreal Architecture That Pushes Boundaries
43
Bamboo Woven Canopies
The Pulse Pavilion Boasts a Latticed Framework
42
Abstracted Corridor Architecture
Working Blue Appears to Comprise Vertically Oriented Hallways
41
Playground Bookstores
Kid's Republic in Beijing Offers a Fun Way to Learn
40
Whimsical Watery Urbanism
'City on the Sea' Imagines a Shanghai that Embraces Rising Shores
39
Real-Life Toy Car Ramps
The Double Loop Dare Brings Hot Wheels to Life
38
Sci-Fi Cantilevered Structures
The EYE Film Institute Netherlands is Strikingly Futuristic
37
Fairytale-Inspired Houses
A House for Essex by FAT and Grayson Perry Looks Straight From a Story
36
Whimsical Y-Shaped Dwellings
House H has a Unique Spatial Arrangement Under Slingshot Pillars
35
Artistic Architecture
Nhow Berlin is Being Touted as Europe's First Music Hotel
34
Octagonal Tunnel Boutiques
The LN-CC Store Will Take Shoppers On a Surreal Journey
33
Woven Willow Artwork
Laura Bacon Creates Monumental Artworks by Weaving Branches Together
32
Glowing Translucent Structures
Hidemi Nishida's Fragile Shelter Looks Like an Oversized Lantern
31
Whimsical Medical Spaces
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne is Imaginative and Fun
30
Inflatable Icicle Structures
The Drift Installation by Snarkitecture Takes Inspiration From Nature
29
Extravagant Canadian Ice Hotels
Quebec's Hôtel de Glace is a Whimsical Winter Wonderland
28
Water-Reflected Architecture
The National Archives of France Building Features Fluid Seperations
27
Weaved Twig Architecture
Artist Patrick Dougherty Creates ‘Ballroom’ Structure
26
Kid-Friendly Cafes
The Phill Restaurant by Nuca Studio Features a Whimsical Concept
25
Inverted Mountain Ceilings
'If Dogs Run Free' Bar Houses a Space for Artistic Expression
24
Epic Indoor Treehouses
Shelter of Nostalgia Takes Adults Back in Time with Every Ascending Step
23
Architectural Fantasy Exhibits
NL Architects at Venice Biennale
22
Gilded Window Frames
Housing Project in Helsingborg Features Whimsical Detailing
21
Sinuous Canopy Creations
The Trailfinders Australian Garden is Organically Sculptural
20
Cloud-Inspired Dwellings
This Clever Cloud Cabin Offers a Unique Sleeping Experience
19
Vine-Resembling Rest Stations
This Design Takes an Extravagant Take on the Traditional Metal Arbor
18
Luminous Geometric Salons
ROW Studio Turns a Mundane Room into Popping Shapes and Hues
17
Stringy Spectral Playgrounds
The Rainbow Ropes Project Envisions Colorful and Dynamic Urban Spaces
16
Stunning Stained-Glass Homes
The BOFFO Show House Embraces One’s Imagination
15
Teepee Towers
The Swedish Ski Resort is a Little Boy's Fantasy Playground
14
Redesigning the Merry-Go-Round for the Twenty First Century
13
Whimsical Work Environments
The 'Ocean of Dots' Office by Matsuya Art Works is Dynamic
12
Nomadic Atmospheric Neighborhoods
Cloud Skippers Communities Live Sustainably Suspended in Mid-Air
11
Rockin' Hotel Expansions
Plans for the New Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
10
Sleek Sci-Fi Prisons
The 499.summit Concept by Greg Knobloch and Andreas Tjeldflaat is Futuristic
9
Mirrored Canopy Structures
The Port Vieux Pavilion is Reminiscent of Chicago's Cloud Gate
8
Looping Timber Pavilions
The Ribbon Folly is a Delightful Fixture in the Contemporary Cityscape
7
Cubic Fairytale Architecture
Russia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 Inspired by Tradition
6
Mesmerizing Shadow Bubble Displays
The Color-Changing Bubbles are a Magical Sight to Explore
5
Extreme Moonlit Activities
Volcano Hikes, Night Safaris, After-Dark Markets
4
Cheesy Cultural Centers
The Fai-Fah Prachautis Takes on a Deliciously Contemporary Appearance
3
Electric-Hued Education Centers
The L’École Polyvale Claude Bernard Makes Learning Fun
2
Reinventing British Beach Huts
Bathing Beauties Festival Architecture
1
Bright Umbrella Projects
The Centro Abierto de Actividades Ciudadanas Adds Color
Related Ideas
Venetian-Inspired Museum Designs
The Conceptual Floating Glass Museum is AI-Generated
Ultra-Modern Apartment Designs
No Architects Created a Multi-Functional Modern Apartment
Futuristic Capsule House Concepts
The ONCO Capsule House Concept is Sleek and Minimal
A-Frame Alpine-Inspired Cabins
The Adventure Whare Retreat by Studio Well is Demure
Nature-Inspired Building Block Sets
The LEGO Seven Natural Wonders of the World Sets are Detailed
3D-Printed House Neighborhoods
EYRC and Mighty Buildings Develop the Suburbs of the Future
Cat-Centric Compact Homes
This Japanese Dwelling Embraces Feline-Friendly Design Choices
Elegant Treehouse Designs
Studio MEMM Has Developed a Beautiful Treehouse in Brazil
Luxuriously Artistic Homes
Child Studio Taps Mid-Sentury Modern Sensibilities & Art Deco Motifs
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Floating Meditative Pavilion Designs
The Crystal Lake Pavilion by Marc Thorpe Design is Tranquil
Glass-Reflective Illuminated Homes
The Invisible House is Detailed with Flos Lighting Systems
Brutalist Cube Homes
Ludwig Godefroy Creates the Casa Alférez Holiday Home in the Alférez Region
Smart Glass-Topped Lookouts
These Picturesque Cabins Offer Stunning Views Of the Sky
Supermarket-Style Pavilions
Venice Architecture Biennale's Latvian Pavilion Has a Familiar Form
London-Based Narrow Houses
Yellow Cloud Studio Completes the Courtyard House Design
Cactus-Inspired Urban Skyscrapers
This Danish Skyscraper Features a Spiky Facade Design
Shapeshifting Outer Space Hotels
The Acromnia Orbital Hotel Imagines Life in Space
Treehouse-Inspired Norwegian Residences
This House Aesthetically Connects With its Surroundings
Futuristic Auto Micro Factories
Most Architecture Unveils a Modern Factory for Charge Cars
Picturesque Family Retreats
Malcolm Davis Architects Adds to This Beautiful Building
Kaleidoscopic Kindergarten Buildings
The Tianshui Kindergarten by SAKO Architects is Whimsical
Abstract Fantasy Home Exhibitions
Fort Makers Invite Six Creatives to Design Their Dream Home
Rurally-Inspired City Buildings
The 'Ziel' High-Rise Building Brings the Country to the Cityscape
Tranquil Elevated Tiny Homes
Jan Tyrpekl Designs the Cozy Zen House in Austria
Contemporary Extravagant Houses
Wittehaus Unveils the Gerendák Residence in North Carolina
Arts and Crafts-Inspired Homes
Rural Office Designs the Middle Avenue House in Surrey
Floral Field-Inspired Townhomes
Tariq Khayyat Design Partners Designs the Fold in Dubai
Wildlife-Embracing Jungle Homes
This House is Fully Exposed to the Costa Rican Jungle
Geometric Structural Forest Homes
The C House by GetAway Projects has a Half-Hexagonal Shape
Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums
Qatar Museums Unveils Official Images of the Lusail Museum
Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings
Akio Isshiki Architect Overhauls an Old Wooden Building
Stunning Mid-Century Coastal Homes
Design Theory Updates a House from the 1960s
Plant-Covered Concrete Homes
Studio Symbiosis Designs the Villa KD45 in Delhi with a Terraced Roof
Playfully Designed Family Homes
boq architekti Designs the House for Dorothy in Prague
Artful Wooden Pavilions
Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónia Designs the Orchid Pavilion
Timber Nature Reserve Towers
The 'Lookout Tower' from Robert Gutowski Architects is Sculptural
Circus Tent-Inspired Holiday Homes
Cubo Design Architect Designs the Circus Home in Japan
Elevated Airy Office Designs
The 'Aerie' Office Sits High Above the San Francisco Landscape
Stunningly Whimsical Playgrounds
XISUI Design Draws Inspiration from Natural Forms Such as Caves
Multi-Generational Houses
AUN Design Studio Designs the Reflection House in Bangkok, Thailand
Panoramic Scenic Dreamy Homes
Simple Architecture Designs the Tranquil House in Sozopol
Glossy Panelled Pentagonal Buildings
JM Architecture Designs the Pinwheel Building in Italy
Breathtaking Library Designs
MVRDV Showcases Its Plan for a Massive Wuhan Library
Playful-Focused Polish Homes
Znamy się Designs a New Home in Poland Inspired by Wooden Blocks
Whimsical Family Home Renovations
2LG Studio Utilizes a Pastel Color Palette for This London Home
Water-Inspired Theatre Designs
Open Architecture Unveils Its Plans for the Yichang Grand Theatre
Silver Curtain Concrete Homes
Local Studio Bangkok Tokyo Architecture Designs the House K
Curved Concrete Hotels
Atelier d’More Transforms a Two-storey Building into a Contemporary Hotel
Contemporary Stable Designs
Wiercinski Studio Designs an Equestrian Center in Rural Poland
Compact Pink Residences
PHTAA Designs House R3 as a Blocky Structure with Curving Glass
Nature-Inspired Indoor Playgrounds
Sarit Shani Hay Designs a New Playground in Tel Aviv
Energy-Efficient Office Buildings
This Czech Office Complex is Outfitted With Eco-Friendly Designs
Town-Like Classroom Designs
Atelier Apeiron Designs the Kindergarten of Museum Forest Building
Traditionally Formed Gabled Homes
Studio Circle Growth Designs the Casa De Mi Luna
Snow Mountain Minimal Homes
Design Over The Norms Creates the Blissful Snowfall House
Temple-Inspired Idyllic Homes
Schemata Architects Designs the New K Residence Overlooking the Sea
Modern-Updated Traditional Homes
KiKi ARCHi Designs the Skip House in the Middle of Beijing
Wavy Metal Facades
SO-IL's 9 Chapel Residential Tower Offers a Istinctive Architectural Vision
Ultra-Colorful Design Studios
Camille Walala and Our Department Partnered on this Whimsical Studio
Bamboo-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Cultural Center Seamlessly Blends Into its Surroundings
Toy Brick-Inspired Studios
Sukchulmok Designs the Curving Block Photography Studio
Farmland-Inspired Rural Hotel Cottages
Kooo Architects Designs the Ningshan LuZhai Cottage
Lotus Plant-Inspired Skyscrapers
Aedas Designs the Pair of One Future Buildings Lined with Bronze
Dynamic Y-Shaped Glazed Houses
Saunders Architecture Designs the Y House in Alberta
Prefabricated Exposed Structural Homes
Workshop Architecture Inc Designs the Unfinished House
Discarded Toys-Created Homes
Wallmakers Designs the Toy Storey Home with Repurposed Toys
Bamboo Luxe Pool Houses
Baldó Arquitectura Designs the Godai Pavilion with a Hanging Roof
Caterpillar-Shaped Apartment Buildings
Undecorated Developed an Eye-Catching Metal Building
Economical Modular Wooden Homes
The Cake House Reinvents Housing in the Czech Republic
Roof-Planed Cascading Homes
Worrell Yeung Designs a New Home by Candlewood Lake in Connecticut
Greenery-Packed Museum Buildings
This Science Museum is Designed Around a Central Park
Sustainably Built Canopied Buildings
Kevin Daly Architecture Designs a Foundation's Headquarters
Warehouse-Transformed Homes
Fala Atelier Designs the House of Many Faces in Porto
Playfully Angular House Designs
Takeshi Hirobe Architects Design the Villa MKZ in Japan
Self-Sustaining Houses
Archiopteryx Designs the People Tree House in Noida, India
Youth-Focused Architectural Toys
The Freckled Frog's 'Happy Architect' Toy is for Curious Youth
Architecture-Inspired Home Sculptures
Origin Made Spotlights the Spiral and Flight Sculptures
Avian-Inspired Luxury Residences
This Hill-Top Costa Rican Home is Inspired By Bird Plumage
Environmentally Blending Residences
A Threshold Studio Designs the Ineffable Light Home
Figure 8-Structured House
Silvia Fiarman and Alexis Dornier Design the Loop House in Bali
Mirrored-Detailed Garden Cafes
IDIN Architects Designs Structures for Nana Coffee Roasters
Optical Illusion Replica Artworks
Leandro Erlich Forms the Building in the Liberty Science Center
Generously Glazed Spiral Buildings
This Building is Inspired By Czech Glassmaking Tradition
Contemporary Nature-Inspired Homes
Fuller/Overby Architecture Designs the Nebo House
Crystalline Chinese Museum Buildings
The 'Space Crystal' Building Looks Like An Otherworldly Rock
Local Craft-Shown Bamboo Pavilions
AtArchitecture Designs the Northeast Pavilion for an Art Fair
Volcano-Surrounding Modern Homes
Schwartz and Architecture Design the New Leit House
Cement Block-Decorated Homes
Bloom Architecture Designs the Small Houses Collection
Floating-Style Classroom Designs
Ennead Architects & Rockwell Group Completes the Bloomberg Center
Metal-Wrapped Exhibition Spaces
Trace Architecture Office Creates a Structural Steel Wrap
Wave-Like Structural Art Centers
Studio Zhu-Pei Designs the Zibo OCT Art Center in Shandong
Monolithic Sleek Summer Homes
Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter Creates the Vollerup Atrium Home
Curvaceous Brick Forest Homes
Blurring Boundaries Designs the Asmalay Home in a Forest
Live-In Art Gallery Homes
Casa Galeria is a Home That Doubles as an Art Gallery
Sculptural Canteliver Concrete Houses
Espacio 18 Arquitectura Designs the Casa del Alma
Galactic-Themed Sci-Fi Museums
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs the New Star Cloud Museum
Modern Vacation Barn Houses
Faure & Miniau Agency Completes Les Greniers de Babel Home
Modular Beam-Themed Furniture
The Beam Collection by Adam Weir has a Harmonious Structure
Inconspicuous Art Museums
Wang Chong Studio Designs a Beautifully Expressive Building
Tree-Centered Cubic Home Designs
Moises Sánchez Designs the Tonalli House in Jocotepec
Greenery-Topped Winery Designs
This Czech Winery Complex Pays Tribute to its Green Surroundings
Elevated Garden-Filled Buildings
Snøhetta Designs the New Cloud 11 Building in Bangkok
Modern Water Tower Apartments
Zecc Architecten Creates a Series of Elevated Apartments
Traditional Garden-Inspired Cultural Centers
Open Architecture Designs the Shanfeng Academy
Geometric African Homes
Gregory Katz Architecture Designs the Great Primary Shapes Home
Animated Game-Inspired Buildings
Lev Libeskind Designs the New Rainbow Road Building in Phoenix
Forested Residential Buildings
GAAGA Designs the Forest Bath Building Framed by Tree Trunks
Halo-Like Skylight Homes
Tamara Wibowo Architects Designs the Halo House in Indonesia
Stunning Ecuadorean Skyscrapers
This New Skyscraper is Inspired By Local Architecture & Culture
Sustainable Cubic Homes
Appels Architekten Designs a New Wooden Home in Germany
Geometric Colorful Residential Spaces
Office S&M Designs the Vibrant Graphic House in London
Waved Metal-Wrapped Buildings
SO-IL Designs the 9 Chapel Residences Located in Brooklyn
Natural Landscape-Surrounding Homes
All(zone) Designs the Under the Rain Trees Holiday Home
Kaleidoscope Vibrant Pavilions
Google's Mountain View Features a Halo Pavilion Artwork
Lighthouse-Functioning Concrete Structures
Lin Architecture Creates the Concrete Pavilion in China
Nature-Immersive Tranquil Resorts
Stilt Studios Designs the Treehouse Villas in Bali
Pale Yellow Minimal Townhomes
i.B. Archstudio Designs the VVV Townhouse with Pastel Hues
Modular Tent Classroom Designs
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs a Series of Classrooms for Refugees
Spiralling Stainless-Steel Cultural Center
Clouds AO Designs the New 010 Building in Fukuoka
Pyramidal Roof Steel-Framed Homes
Niall McLaughlin Architects Designs the Saltmarsh House
Lotus Flower-Inspired Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Lotus Villa Inspired by Nature
Curved Brick Rooftop Structures
Sukchulmok Adds New Structure to the Parconido Bakery Cafe
Sculptural Concrete Hotel Designs
Atelier d’More Designs the Sleeping Lab Hotel in Beijing
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Illuminating Water-Based Pavillions
Daniel Ryabakken Installs the Shelter Pavilion in Stockholm
Lantern-Like Tea House Pavilions
Grau Architects Designs the Tea House Pavilion by the Lake
Contemporary 1960s Italian Villas
The Twisted House Honors its Past with Modern Updates
Industrial Warehouse-Inspired Offices
Carr Designs a New Office Block with Industrial Themes
X-Shaped Nature-Interacting Gabled Cabins
Tall Architects Designs the Fowl River Cabin in Alabama
Wooden Pavilion Seaside Homes
LAND Arquitectos Designs the House of Circumstances in Chile
Lantern-Topped Sleek Workshops
Cabinet Designs the Gardeners House in a Park in Geneva
Water Flow-Inspired Art Buildings
MAD Designs the Waterfront Nanhai Arts Center in Guangdong
Whimsical Flowing Woodland Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the 3 Bedroom Balinese Villa
Curved Sculptural Skyscrapers
Kengo Kuma Designs the Alberni Residential Skyscraper
Immersive Breeze Houses
Alya Ola Abbas' Design Was Installed for Dubai Design Week 2023
Repurposed Imperfection-Embraced Buildings
Civic Architects & VDNVP Elevate a Series of Workspaces
Distinctive Airlifted Structures
Arête Architects and Makers Fabrication Design the Karka Tower
Interfaith Family House Complexes
Adjaye Associates Designs the Abrahamic Family House
Weatherized Visual Wooden Homes
Denizen Works Creates the Hundred Acre Wood House in Scotland