Buzz
The United States often evokes images of towering skyscrapers and urban apartments, uniform suburban homes with white picket fences, and quaint, isolated red farmhouses dotting the fields and prairies. These structures typically follow standardized designs of steel, glass, and brick. Yet, the US is also a land of renowned artists, visionary architects, and affluent individuals who have turned their wildest dreams into reality. Some have crafted architectural marvels that inspire awe, while others have at least managed to create something truly one-of-a-kind. Below, we present 10 of the most extraordinary and unique buildings across the United States.
10. Summum Pyramid
Situated in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Summum Pyramid stands nearly 9 meters tall (30 ft) and spans 12 meters in length (40 ft), serving as the central hub for the Summum religion. Established by Claude “Corky” Nowell in 1975, this faith bears many resemblances to Christianity, with two notable exceptions: its teachings are believed to originate from extraterrestrial entities, and it is one of the few groups practicing modern-day mummification.
The Summum philosophy holds that the soul does not perish but transitions to a new state of consciousness after death, necessitating a preserved body for this transformation. To honor this belief, they constructed a sacred space between 1977 and 1979 to store mummified remains. While unconventional, thousands have entrusted the Summums with mummifying their loved ones—both humans and pets—with costs ranging from $20,000 for pets to approximately $70,000 for human mummification and ceremonies. This is particularly remarkable for a religion whose founder legally adopted the name Summum Bonum Amen Ra.
9. The Longaberger Company Building
How many businesses can you name where employees work inside the very product they sell? In Newark, Ohio, the staff of the Longaberger Basket Company operate within a seven-story replica of their iconic product. This colossal basket measures 59 meters (192 ft) in length and 38 meters (126 ft) in width at its base, expanding to 63 meters (208 ft) long and 43 meters (142 ft) wide at the top. The handles alone weigh around 150 tons. Not surprisingly, this seven-story headquarters holds the title of the world’s largest basket.
The building was the brainchild of Dave Longaberger, the company’s founder. After launching the business in 1976, Longaberger invested $30 million to construct the office in 1996, a project that took over two years to finish. Initially, he envisioned franchising the design, transforming all company buildings nationwide into replicas of the headquarters. Unfortunately, this dream faded with his passing. Shortly after the basket headquarters was completed, Dave Longaberger died at 64 in 1999 due to kidney cancer. Yet, his legacy endures through his company’s baskets and one of the most unusual corporate headquarters in the world.
8. Dick Clark’s Flintstones Home
When visiting Malibu, California, you might expect to see luxurious mansions and beachfront properties owned by celebrities, not a dwelling straight out of prehistoric times. Designed by the late TV host and media icon Dick Clark, this home is entirely carved from stone. Facing restrictions from the Malibu Park Conservancy Group, Clark revealed in an interview that he was permitted to build on the land only if the structure resembled a natural rock formation.
The stone house is situated on 23 acres and features one bedroom, two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. Furnished with decor that matches its prehistoric theme, the home is a striking homage to the Flintstones’ residence from the beloved 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Flintstones. Following Dick Clark’s death in 2012 from a heart attack, his widow listed the property for sale. In 2014, an undisclosed buyer purchased the home for $1,777,777, a bargain compared to the original asking price of $ million.
7. The Mansion On O Street
While exploring Washington, DC, many overlook the Mansion on O Street, often mistaking it for one of the larger hotels in the vicinity. What they miss are three expansive, three-story homes that make up the hotel. Originally designed in 1892 by Edward Clark, the architect of the US Capitol, for his family and relatives, these homes were constructed with interconnected basements and main floors but separate sleeping areas. In the 1930s, they were divided into individual residences to accommodate FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and his agents. However, on February 14, 1980, H.H. Leonards acquired the properties, restored them into a single entity as a bed-and-breakfast, and later added another row of townhouses, expanding the complex to five buildings.
Spanning 2,800 square meters (30,000 ft), the hotel boasts over 100 uniquely themed rooms, ranging from Victorian elegance to 1970s disco flair. Additionally, the building features numerous hidden rooms accessible only through secret passageways, such as moving a book on a shelf, concealed doors in wallpaper, or even behind mirrors and spice racks. The hotel’s strict privacy policy has made it a sanctuary for the elite, including presidents, international ambassadors, musicians, artists, and civil rights leaders. It also doubles as a museum, housing countless memorabilia and gifts donated by guests. Whether you need to escape or avoid a scandal, the Mansion on O Street is the perfect hideaway.
6. The Mushroom House
Nestled in Perinton, New York, is a home that seems plucked from the pages of a sci-fi story. Known as the Mushroom House or Pod House, it was designed by architect James H. Johnson in 1970. Inspired by the underside of the Queen Anne’s Lace flower, the house earned its name due to its brown hue, reminiscent of a mushroom. Covering 387 square meters (4,168 ft), the home features four interconnected pods elevated by reinforced concrete “stems.”
In 1989, it was designated a Perinton Town Landmark. After the original owners relocated, the property was listed for sale. In 2012, Michael Gaginer and Theresa Sherrod purchased the whimsical home for $799,900, significantly less than the initial asking price of $1.1 million. This serves as a reminder that while people may splurge on a stone-carved residence, they’re less inclined to do so for a home resembling something you’d slice onto a pizza or burger.
5. The Moroccan-Style Palace
Our next architectural marvel appears as though it belongs in a Middle Eastern fairy tale. This sprawling Moroccan palace boasts mosaic ceilings, vibrant tiles, and opulent furnishings. However, its location is what makes it truly unusual: it’s situated in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. Constructed in 2005, the home exemplifies Arabesque architecture, a style of Islamic art and design characterized by intricate, repeating patterns. (Notable examples of this style include the Brunei Royal Palace.)
Spanning 1,858 square meters (20,000 ft), this home features eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, multiple living and dining areas, and a courtyard adorned with three tiled fountains. The interior is exquisitely decorated with detailed tiled floors, mosaic-style ceilings and walls, and custom-made furniture. Additionally, the property sits on 3.8 acres of land, complete with two separate two-story guesthouses, a cabana, a swimming pool, and an unused petting zoo. Although this desert paradise was listed for sale in 2011, it is now available for rent, making it one of Texas’s most distinctive and costly rental properties. How costly? The monthly rent for this gem is $26,000. For that price, you might as well visit Aladdin’s palace at Disneyland for half the cost.
4. The Gehry Residence
When Frank Gehry and his wife settled into their Santa Monica, California, home in 1977, their neighbors had no idea the aspiring architect would turn it into a masterpiece. Today, Gehry is renowned as one of the world’s leading deconstructivist architects, known for distorting and rearranging the fundamental elements of buildings to create wild, often chaotic structures. His first major project was the radical transformation of his own residence.
Radically altering the 1920s two-story pink bungalow, Gehry encased the structure in corrugated aluminum, typically used in airplane hangars, added expansive skylights, and connected the new exterior to the second floor using chain-link fencing. In 1991, to accommodate his growing family, Gehry expanded the building and reshaped the skylights and outer barriers. In 2012, the American Institute of Architects honored Gehry with the AIA Twenty-five Year Award, and his home remains intact to this day. When asked about the cost, Gehry revealed in an interview with Barbara Isenberg that purchasing and renovating the home totaled just $260,000.
3. The Parisian Palace
While castles are often associated with Europe, many architects and settlers—either from Europe or inspired by its architecture—have constructed castles in the US. Some are breathtaking structures with a majestic and picturesque aura. Others, like the Parisian Palace, fall short. Situated in Las Vegas, Nevada, this 638-square-meter (6,872 ft) palace was designed and built by Nico Santucci in 2004.
The palace boasts an extravagant European design. Visitors enter through expansive front gardens adorned with statues of Roman and Greek gods. Inside, the home features 12 imported crystal chandeliers weighing 272 kilograms (600 lb) each, hand-painted murals by Thomas Bisesti covering nearly every ceiling and wall, and a full marble bathtub, all of which may sound luxurious.
However, the eccentricities begin with windowless rooms featuring only red carpet and disco balls, staircase walls covered in 10,000 red roses or gold crocodile patterns, rooms filled with gold and gold-colored furniture, and a motorcycle placed beside a grand staircase. The Parisian Palace was listed for sale in 2013 at $5.25 million. While awaiting a buyer for this... unique mansion, the owners have repurposed it as a hotel, party venue, and wedding location. After all, nothing screams “romantic escape” like a room that looks like King Midas went on a decorating spree.
2. The Walt Disney Concert Hall
Since its establishment on October 16, 1923, The Walt Disney Company has become a symbol of innovation and bold creativity. This brings us to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California, one of the most renowned concert venues globally. Designed by Frank Gehry, the hall was initially conceived in 1987 after Lillian Disney donated $50 million to honor her late husband. However, the project was halted in 1994 but was revived two years later thanks to a successful fundraising campaign and media spotlight.
Completed in 2003, the 19,000-square-meter (200,000 ft) structure features an exterior with flowing, curved, and angular forms that embody both the dynamic energy of Los Angeles and the essence of musical motion. The building’s reflective stainless steel surface channels sunlight into the interior during the day. Inside, the hall is designed as a unified space, with the orchestra and audience sharing the same area instead of being separated into boxes and balconies. However, this design had one flaw: in 2005, several panels had to be replaced because their glare was not only blinding but also reflected enough heat to raise temperatures on the opposite sidewalk to over 60 degrees Celsius (140 °F). Now that’s what you call scorching art.
1. Hole ‘n The Rock
Another unusual structure, located in southern Moab, Utah, the home of Albert and Gladys Christensen stands out as it is entirely carved from a sandstone cliff. Albert Christensen spearheaded the project, which took over 12 years to complete, involving the excavation of more than 1,400 cubic meters (50,000 ft) of sandstone. What began as a small sleeping area for his sons in the 1940s evolved into a 464-square-meter (5,000 ft) home by 1952, when Albert and Gladys moved in. Together, they furnished the space, transforming it into a unique living environment.
The house features a 20-meter (65 ft) chimney, a bathtub carved directly into the rock, and 14 spacious rooms designed to accommodate the Christensen’s children and grandchildren. Albert adorned the walls with his religious paintings, while also displaying his homemade taxidermy projects and his wife’s doll collection. (Certainly not the stuff of nightmares.) Sadly, Albert passed away from a heart attack in 1957, but Gladys continued to maintain the home, offer tours, and operate a gift shop until her death in 1974. Today, the home serves as a memorial and tourist attraction, offering daily tours and a functioning gift shop.
