Surreal estate: homes in the UK and beyond that break the rules

Extraordinary homes pushing the limits of architecture

They say home is where the heart is, but perhaps it's where the art is? Innovative architects across the world are pushing the boundaries of residential design into the realm of abstract – and occasionally absurd – artistry.

From snail shells and snakes to saxophones and helmets, these unpredictable properties resemble all sorts of weird and wonderful objects.

All dollar values in US dollars except where otherwise stated.

Bonita Domes, California, USA

A cross between a real-life Hobbit house and the family home of the Flintstones, this eye-catching residence is positioned in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park in California.

Both inside and out, the Bonita Domes are truly spectacular – and we're not just talking about the stunning desert landscape that surrounds them.

Bonita Domes, California, USA

The brilliant bubble house is made up of a large adobe dome and several smaller domes, totalling 1,339 square feet. The largest dome, pictured here, comes complete with a kitchen, living area, two bedrooms and two bathrooms, decorated with curving walls and ceilings, quirky nooks and sleeping alcoves.

The smaller domes are more like sleeping pods, with just enough space for a bed. In fact, to get inside you have to open a tiny wooden door and crawl inside.

Bonita Domes, California, USA

Generally, adobe homes are formed from a mixture of materials, with many created from plaster, stone, cement and even seashells, which in itself is unusual.

This mesmerising property also boasts its very own meditation temple, which was imported into the country by the former owner. There's even a handmade adobe firepit area and a swimming pool.

If you've fallen in love, the property is currently for sale for a cool £1.2 million ($1.5m). But don't worry, if your budget can't quite stretch that far the quirky home is also available to rent via Airbnb.

The Nautilus, Naucalpan, Mexico

This ambitious, psychedelic house was created for a family who wanted an unusual home that would bring them closer to nature. Designed by innovative architect Javier Senosiain, this giant shell-shaped structure was designed to be both a striking example of organic architecture and an enormous contemporary art piece.

The Nautilus, Naucalpan, Mexico

A stained-glass window marks the entrance to the weird and wonderful house, giving way to a fluid, open-plan living space. The floor is covered in plants and there's even an artificial stream to bring the outdoors in. The windows cast colourful lights across the living area, adding to the whimsical feel.

The interior is just as convincing as the exterior, with the walls, floors and ceilings twisting and turning like a snail's shell.

The Nautilus, Naucalpan, Mexico

Bold, organic-inspired architecture is present throughout, with the rooms imitating natural structures. The master bedroom appears to have been hollowed out of rock, creating a warm, enveloping environment that's straight out of a fairytale, while this living area looks like something out of Alice in Wonderland.

Snake house, Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico

Fancy slumbering in the belly of a beast? From its scale-like tiles to its long, curvaceous structure, this otherworldly home is a replica of a slithering snake.

Just north of Mexico City, the architectural marvel and surrounding sculpture garden is also the work of architect Javier Senosiain.

Snake house, Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico

Built on rugged, sloping terrain, an ancient cave on the site reminded Senosiain of the mouth of a snake, so he set about creating a coiling concrete structure to complete the serpent. Incredibly, 10 apartments now reside within this unconventional dwelling.

Snake house, Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico

In one of the striking communal areas, a multicoloured glass dome frames an indoor greenhouse, illuminating the space with vibrant shards of light.

With an eight-bedroom holiday home available to rent, you can experience the awe-inspiring architecture for yourself.

Modern airship, Oban, UK

As stunning as it is unique, this modern UFO-like home is situated in Drimnin, close to the shores of the Sound of Mull on Scotland’s rugged west coast.

Described as an airship on Airbnb, the pod-like structure is enclosed by four acres of land and benefits from incredible views of the surrounding Highland peaks, thanks to porthole windows and walls of glass.

Modern airship, Oban, UK

The sustainable hideaway was designed by British architect Roderick James and is formed from insulated aluminium, making it nice and toasty all year round. Rustic yet beautifully contemporary, the home's interior is decorated with exposed natural timber, steel accents and bespoke furnishings.

Modern airship, Oban, UK

Despite its compact size, the modern cabin benefits from a comfy sitting area that looks directly out over the water, a chic kitchenette with clever storage solutions and two sleeping quarters, one with a queen-size bed and one finished with two singles.

Thanks to porthole windows, any occupant can take in views of the stars while they doze.

A House to Die In, Oslo, Norway

Built to function as both a sculpture and as a house, A House to Die In by Snøhetta is a project that has long been in the pipeline for Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard.

The eye-catching structure will be built close to painter Edvard Munch’s former home to continue the area’s tradition as an artistic hub. Located in Oslo, the extraordinary dwelling will comprise a wooden house, resting upon animal-shaped sculptures.

A House to Die In, Oslo, Norway

The project, which is still ongoing, has been carefully designed with the future in mind. A shallow pond will be situated under the building to give the illusion of floating, while the exterior is covered with black, burned oak.

This material, inspired by building traditions in Japan, will naturally weather over the years, allowing the home to shift and change as it ages.

A House to Die In, Oslo, Norway

Plans for the interior are intriguing, with rooms serving multiple purposes. One room functions as both a swimming pool and a dining room, while another combines a workspace and a spa. We can't wait to see this architectural marvel when it's complete!

The Saxophone House, California, USA

It isn't hard to believe that this hillside home was inspired by the shapes and contours of a saxophone. Secluded in the Claremont Hill neighbourhood of Berkeley, California, the Tunnel Road Castle was designed by Ace Architects back in 1996 for an amateur jazz player – which goes some way to explaining the home's incredible gilded turrets that resemble the flared bell of a sax.

The Saxophone House, California, USA

Yet it isn’t just the exterior that’s truly mesmerising. Inside, the 4,083-square-foot home is overflowing with distinctive and bespoke details, including golden spiral staircases, wave-like fireplaces and curved balconies with railings decorated with treble clefs.

The Saxophone House, California, USA

The three-storey property boasts multi-level living spaces and four bedrooms – one of which lies on a mezzanine above the lounge. It features a huge, elevated platform with a custom-built circular bed, topped by rotund ceiling accents.

Amazingly, the ceiling is formed from large panels of glass and automated shades can be opened and closed to allow the occupant to soak up the stars while lying in bed. A true masterpiece of luxurious design, the pad sold in May 2023 for £1.4 million ($1.8m).

Geodesic dome house, Victoria, Australia

This futuristic house is located in the aptly named town of Apollo Bay, in southwestern Victoria.

Positioned close to the coast and the area’s spectacular Great Otway National Park, the one-of-a-kind property looks a little like a golf ball, floating in mid-air, but it's actually nestled on a sloping plot, with access provided by a blue steel bridge.

Geodesic dome house, Victoria, Australia

The striking Australian structure might be small, but it’s perfectly formed. It was constructed in the mid-1960s by prominent Tasmanian furniture designer John Smith, and boasts plenty of quirky touches, both inside and out.

While the exterior is truly unusual, with its hat-like dome and tiny windows, the interior is light, bright and characterful.

Geodesic dome house, Victoria, Australia

Inside, there’s a living room with a barrel ceiling and wood-burning stove, a galley-style kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. The dazzling dome was designed to take advantage of the captivating surrounding scenery, so benefits from mezzanine sleeping quarters and endless skylights.

There are numerous alcoves and built-ins too, as well as rotund ceilings, honeycomb wall coverings and spiral staircases. The property last sold in September 2020 for AU$600,000 (£315k / $397k).

Milton Sidley House, California, USA

Milton Sidley House was designed by the notable contemporary architect Ed Niles and quickly became the designer's most iconic creation – for quite obvious reasons.

Built almost entirely from steel and glass, the futuristic spaceship-like home seems to hover above the ground on which it sits, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind aesthetic.

Milton Sidley House, California, USA

Constructed in 1992, the contemporary glass house can be found in Malibu, California, and spans around 4,365 square feet. From the outside, the property appears to be formed from a series of pod-like structures, with a sky bridge leading to a separate wing of the house suspended 16 feet off the ground.

Inside, you'll find dazzling living spaces enclosed by sheets of glass. Throughout, the home's structural elements have been left exposed, adding to its unique character.

Milton Sidley House, California, USA

The ultra-modern metal home offers four bedrooms and four all-glass open bathrooms, as well as a curvaceous kitchen, a gym, a den, a media room and a 35-foot-high semicircular great room that offers unrivalled views across the surrounding garden.

The house sold in June 2021 for a cool £7.6 million ($9.5m) – but you can't really put a price on a masterpiece, can you?

Casa Invisibile, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Blending seamlessly into the snowy rural landscape, this cleverly camouflaged house in Slovenia was designed by Austrian studio Delugan Meissl Associated Architects.

Clad in mirrors, the property reflects its rural surroundings, creating a wow-factor architectural statement that responds sensitively to its natural spot.

Casa Invisibile, Ljubljana, Slovenia

The façade of the near-invisible home is even more spectacular at night when the edges of the property blur into the dark sky, reflecting shooting stars as they flash overheard. Available as a prefabricated design, the otherworldly dwelling can be built in a flash.

Casa Invisibile, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Measuring 47 feet by 11 feet, the interior may be snug, but there's no shortage of style. Light wood cladding, tactile accessories and minimalist lines ooze Scandi chic, while floor-to-ceiling glazing frames the stunning surroundings outside.

Cleverly, the floorplan is divided into prefab modules, so homeowners can adapt the design to suit their needs.

Keret House, Warsaw, Poland

If you thought you were pressed for space in your house, spare a thought for the owners of the Keret House in Warsaw, Poland. Built in 2012, the super-skinny house measures just 48 inches at its widest point yet, remarkably, it still offers a fully functional living space.

Keret House, Warsaw, Poland

Squeezed between two buildings in the city, the house is set on raised stilts, with a narrow staircase connecting the living areas. While there’s a bedroom and a small living space, it’s no surprise that the facilities are limited.

In the bathroom, there’s a small toilet with a showerhead, while the kitchen’s tiny fridge offers enough space for two drinks.

Keret House, Warsaw, Poland

Once residents have enjoyed a meal on the compact dining table, they can climb up the ladder that connects the first and second floors and crawl into the cosy single bed or work at a small built-in desk. There’s even a small window in the bedroom to bathe the narrow space in light.

Reversible Destiny Lofts, Tokyo, Japan

The Reversible Destiny Lofts in Tokyo certainly stand out from other bland residential projects. An exciting mishmash of colours and shapes, the apartments were inspired by basic geometric forms and designed to challenge and stimulate the senses.

Reversible Destiny Lofts, Tokyo, Japan

Each apartment consists of a circular open-plan living area, which radiates out from a central kitchen space. Further rooms are connected by bulbous doorways and hanging ladders, offering a humorous colourful playhouse aesthetic that's enchanting for children and adults alike.

Reversible Destiny Lofts, Tokyo, Japan

A combination of 14 colours is used to decorate each apartment and create a bright and bold living environment.

The playful use of colour, texture and form heightens the senses, while unconventional design elements, such as circular rooms and hanging storage units, are meant to challenge the way we navigate our living spaces.

Hill House, Melbourne, Australia

The work of Austin Maynard Architects, the Hill House in Melbourne is an exceptional example of a modern home that challenges the norms of architectural design. A large black box seemingly juts out of the hillside, which is, in fact, the grass-covered ground floor of the property.

Hill House, Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne has experienced an increase in the number of high-rise builds in the past decade, which means gardens are a luxury for most.

For this reason, the architects of Hill House took the innovative decision to extend the green space up onto the exterior walls, transforming the structure into a veritable playground.

Hill House, Melbourne, Australia

Inside, the south-facing property is injected with light through a series of floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a large, glass entrance portal.

A winding staircase connects the lower ground open-plan living area to the upstairs bedrooms, offering a spacious and stylish suburban family home. Pretty ingenious!

Darth Vader House, Texas, USA

When this unusual home hit the market in 2021, Star Wars fans flocked to viewings in their masses. Fondly nicknamed 'Darth Vader House', the eye-catching residence has the appearance of a Sith’s helmet from the outside, although the original owner was actually aiming to achieve an aviation-inspired design...

Darth Vader House, Texas, USA

An unintentional superfan shrine, the house can be found in Houston, Texas, and was built in 1992. Luckily, it's not just the home's façade that boasts plenty of personality.

Inside, the imposing 7,040-square-foot residence is made up of multi-level living spaces and walls of glass, concrete and stone. The centrepiece of the home is the sunken conversation pit, which is framed by a dual staircase.

Darth Vader House, Texas, USA

The space-age home boasts four bedrooms and five bathrooms, as well as a large kitchen, dining room and a glass office, each with a sophisticated monochrome colour palette.

Outside, you'll find a balcony overlooking the yard, which comes equipped with a swimming pool. Now that's what we call one of a kind!

The Mirror House, Pennsylvania, USA

Aptly named, the Mirror House lies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has been described as a "whimsical artistic masterpiece". The unusual property was built in 1969 and is completely clad in small, reflective glass tiles that mirror the home's leafy surroundings.

The Mirror House, Pennsylvania, USA

The ranch home measures 4,291 square feet and every inch is unique. It was designed by a pair of artists, who created a truly one-of-a-kind home that reflects their unique sense of style.

The house boasts 25 skylights, as well as truly wow-factor living spaces with vaulted ceilings, monochrome fixtures and mirrored ceilings and walls – which can be seen best in this stunning dining room.

The Mirror House, Pennsylvania, USA

The magnificent mirrored home also benefits from a state-of-the-art home theatre, a library, an artist’s studio and plenty of areas for grand-scale entertaining.

There are also three bedrooms and the master ensuite bathroom comes with a sunken black tub and striking psychedelic wallpaper. In April 2023, the house landed on the real estate market with a £715,000 ($899k) asking price, which has since dropped to £666,800 ($839k).

Waldspirale, Darmstadt, Germany

This extraordinary building rises above the German city of Darmstadt like a fairytale castle emerging from a cloud forest. Waldspirale – or forest spiral in English – might look like a fantasy realm "drawn by a horde of happy children", but is in fact an apartment building designed by Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Building began in 1998 and Waldspirale was completed just months after Hundertwasser's death in February 2000.

Waldspirale, Darmstadt, Germany

The surreal building swirls in a U shape and boasts a 12-storey tower, ornate golden domes and a grass roof planted with lime, beech and maple trees. Its colourful facade is said to reflect the soil layers found in the earth beneath the building, while trees – known as 'tree tenants' – grow out of some windows.

Hundertwasser is known to have disliked order, even declaring "The straight line leads to the downfall of humanity". Instead, he embraced non-conformity, going so far as to ensure not one of the more than 1,000 windows in the building was the same.

Waldspirale, Darmstadt, Germany

Hundertwasser evidently found uniformity so repellent that he went so far as to place different handles on the doors and windows of the building's 105 apartments. Some apartments are decorated in the architect's own style, with colourful tiles in the bathrooms and kitchens rounded-off walls.

The courtyard is also a joyous space, containing a charming children's playground and a water feature. The eccentric architect is also known for Hundertwasserhaus, a similarly unusual and colourful apartment building in Vienna, Austria.

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