Since the dawn of mankind, we have been looking for shelter to live a home and later work life. As innovations developed, many different materials and construction methods came into play, and architects became increasingly ambitious. Here's a list of interesting pieces of architecture around the world—the good, the bad, and the ugly.
10. Dar Al Hajar, Yemen
In Wadi Dhahr, this palace was built by the ruler Imam Yahya in the 1930s. Originally built as a summer residence, this remarkable building and its magnificent interior are now open to tourists.
9. Manchester Civil Justice Centre, England
Australian architects Denton Corker Marshall designed this multi-courtyard building with Europe's largest hanging glass wall at 11,000 m2. The same design group is currently in talks to create a sister courthouse in nearby Birmingham. Photo: Iain Peacock
8. Stone house, Portugal
This domestic house was carefully carved out of a large block of stone. Although it is privately owned, many go to the top of this hill in Guimaraes to take photos and admire the unique residence.
7. Beijing National Stadium, China
This stadium, used in the 2008 Summer Olympics, was designed by architects Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Stefan Marbach, Li Xinggang and artist Ai Wei Wei. They came up with the design after studying Chinese ceramics and deciding on a 'Bird's Nest' theme.
6. Kansas City Public Library
The Kansas City library, established in 1873, was adapted to include this incredible wall of books that runs along 10th Street between Wyandotte Street and Baltimore Avenue. There are twenty-two 25-by-9-foot bookends featuring titles such as Catch 22, Huckleberry Finn, The Lord of the Rings, and Charlotte's Web, all suggested by Kansas City readers.
5. The Crooked House, Himley, England
This pub in England's West Midlands fell into disrepute due to excessive coal being removed from under its foundations during the mining era. The result is that it sinks to one side, drinks roll off the table and punters feel incredibly tipsy after a few beers. The bracing kept the building from sliding even though it was still at a 15-degree angle.
4. Upside down house, Poland
Philanthropist and businessman Daniel Czapiewski created this house in 114 days as a statement about communism. It attracts thousands of tourists every year, who often complain of seasickness and dizziness after visiting the structure.
3. Habitat 67, Canada
Moshe Safdie was the designer of this multi-cube living space in Montreal. Ironically, even though they were designed with the intention of creating affordable yet stylish living, the housing became more expensive as architectural infamy grew.
2. The Winchester Mystery House, California
Winchester Mystery House, California
This former private residence of Sarah Winchester is now a popular tourist attraction for its unusualness. From 1884 until his death in 1922, Winchester required round-the-clock ground-up construction. This resulted in seven stories (now four), 160 rooms, two ballrooms, hidden spider motifs in the designs, and stairs and doors leading to nowhere.
1. Atomium, Brussels
The Atomium is a monument built for the Expo 58 World Fair held in Brussels in 1958.
Designed by André Waterkeyn, it is 102 meters (335 ft) tall, nine steel spheres are joined together to form a single cell image of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Tubes connecting the spheres to the cube's 12 edges and all eight vertices to the center surround escalators connecting the spheres, which contain exhibition halls and other public spaces.
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