Architectural art is something that we’re surrounded by on a daily basis, but hardly ever take the time to ask questions about or study. This list of examples of phenomenal architectural artworks may feature structures you may find fascinating or just straight up bizarre, but it goes to show that the people responsible for constructing the buildings we eat, sleep and live in make magic with their designs.
Featuring everything from Liz Hickock’s edible architecture that sees this artist making miniature buildings out of jello, to Marjan Teeuwen’s destructive apocalyptic architecture, this list isn’t about the size or style of buildings, but rather what they’re being used to express.
Buildings and how we use their space can really be a fascinating adventure, which many of the artists on this list have chosen to use as a way to express themselves.
62 Art-Based Buildings
From Jello Palaces to Book Made Buildings, Architectural Art is Boundless:
Brandon Bastaldo — Apr 18, 2013 — Art & Design
62
Eco Urban Tree Houses
These High-Tech Tree Houses Bring Green Shelter to Urban Areas
61
Surreal Architecture Artistry
Jeremy Miranda Turns Living Quarters Into Painted Masterpieces
60
Origami-Esque Architecture
The DMAA Festival Hall Compositionally Mimics Magnified Paper Craft
59
JELL-O Architecture Artworks
These Liz Hickok Creations are Spectacular Zero-Impact Edible Art
58
Futuristic Movie Theatre in Hong Kong
AMC Pacific Place Cinema
57
Vibrantly Geometric Illuminators
These Geometric Light Sculptures Features Mesmerizing Displays
56
Abstract Expressive Facades
Granular Spa Haus' Sculptural Cladding is Indicative of its Interior
55
Folding Facade Abodes
Dolomitenblick by Plasma Studio Slices Through Its Spanning Landscape
54
Avant-Garde Architecture Editorials
The Vogue Italia Suggestions Photoshoot is Mostly Geometric
53
Cubic Labyrinth Interiors
The JAIST Gallery Design is Inspired by Cryptic Puzzles
52
Arched Geometry Structures
The Roskilde Dome Pavilion is Home to the Danish Music Festival
51
Slatted Barn-Like Buildings
Proyecto Roble is a Mod But Fitting Feature in its Agrarian Landscape
50
Timeless Stone Residences
The Cassell Street House is Inspired by Byzantine Buildings
49
Sharply Angled Abodes
The Nth Fitzroy House by AM. Architecture is Modern and Sophisticated
48
Illusory Imploding Interiors
'PuLSaTe' Uses Op-Art Architecture to Create a Captivating Showroom
47
Stark Minimalist Homes
This New Addition to Spanish Architecture is by Alcolea+Tárrago Arquit
46
Grid-Like Wave Canopies
The Lignum Pavilion Shows Off the Modern Uses of Wood in Architecture
45
Skeletal Ripple Structures
The Mosque Amir Al-Momenin is Designed with Sustainability in Mind
44
Sturdy See-Through Homes
The Rio Bonito House Features Clear Beams of Glass
43
Garden-Infused Staircases
The Ars Technica Staircase Project Includes Plants Under Each Step
42
Atavistic Architectural Art
Illustrator Thibaud Herem is Inspired by His Hometown
41
Abstractly Linked Architecture
The CASIS Headquarters Embodies a Stylized Exterior and Circulation
40
Webbed Angular Architecture
The Hewlett House by MPR Design Group Epitomizes Modern Ideals
39
Chic Penthouse-Style Cabins
This Renovated Georgian Bay Cottage by Altius Architecture is Flawless
38
Abstracted Corridor Architecture
Working Blue Appears to Comprise Vertically Oriented Hallways
37
Brilliant Blinds Sculptures
Haegue Yang Creates Sensual Experiences Through Her Architectural Art
36
Colorful Stick Architecture
The Ekoda Sugamo Shinkin Bank is Cheerful and Playful
35
Sci-Fi Pool Pavilions
The Aquarena Aqua Leisure Center Embodies its Futuristic Inspiration
34
Aged Architecture Art (UPDATE)
Matthias Haker Turns Forsaken Buildings into Unforgettable Art
33
Sleek Keyboard-Shaped Loungers
The Keyboard Sofa by Zo_loft Will Have Office People Buzzing
32
Chromatic Architecture Captures
The Hong Kong Facades Series by Miemo Penttinen is Visually Bold
31
Stunning Seaside Escapes
Villa Kishti by Frank Alfred Hamilton and Cecconi Simone Inc is Refined
30
Abstract Architecture Art
Mattia Mognetti's Photography Distorts and Manipulates Buildings
29
Artistic Fast Food Joints
The McDonald's in Batumi, Georgia is a Feat of Fast Food Architecture
28
Laidback Luxury Beach Abodes
The Beech House by Altius Architecture is Modern Yet Liveable
27
Book-Made Buildings
The Book Cell by Matej Kren is an Octagonally Awesome Accomplishment
26
Imaginary Architecture Art
Denis Andernach Renders Abstract Structures within Barren Landscapes
25
Illuminated Structure Captures
This Collection of Bridges at Night by Cuded is Marvelous
24
Neon Architectural Artistry
Kervin Brisseaux Renders Futuristic Images Evocative of TRON
23
Protruding Window Architecture
The Shipara Office Building Slopes Like a Vertical Skate Park
22
Urban Waterfall Architecture
425 Park Avenue in NYC Gets a Makeover by Norman Foster
21
Revamped Farmhouse Designs
A2BC's Farmhouse Architecture Mixes Modern Style with Rustic Living
20
Abstractly Amalgamated Architecture
Contemporary Vernacular Expresses a Modern Indigenous Style
19
Stringy Steel Sculptures
Convergence by Chris Fox Flows Cohesively
18
Optical Illusion Architecture
This Solar Powered Home Attempts to Trick the Eye
17
Elastic Environment Buildings
11 11 Triples as a Parking Garage, Restaurant and Yoga Studio
16
Dinsaur-Modeled Homes
The Jurgen Mayer H OLS House is Shaped Like Ancient Creatures
15
Fading Architectural Artwork
These Matt Bahen 'After The Wolves' Oil Paintings are Sombre
14
Mountain-Mimicking Structures
The Slow Horse Hotel Resembles the Slopes of Ski Hills
13
Distorted Architectural Art
Gabor Ekecs Digitally Alters Photographs of Disney Hall
12
Typographic Architecture Artwork
Frank Magnotta Will Dazzle Your Eyes With Text Towers
11
Remixed Chapel Concepts
The Notre Dame Haiti Cathedral Modernizes a Classic Design
10
Intricate Transforming Towers
The Hydropolis Skyscraper Embodies and Elaborate Structure
9
Organically Undulating Seats
Mathias Bengtsson's Paper Chair Uses No Frame, Joints or Screws
8
Mirrored Canopy Structures
The Port Vieux Pavilion is Reminiscent of Chicago's Cloud Gate
7
Looming Atmosphere Art
Thomas Lamadieu's Fills in Open Spaces with Quirky Doodles
6
Natural Galactic Pavilions
The Chinese Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2012 References Nature
5
Sculptural Structured Supports
A Monstrous Cardboard Squid by Wil Natzel
4
Eviscerated Architecture Art
Marjan Teeuwen Presents Chaotic Buildings on the Verge of Collapse
3
Fire-Breathing Bridges
This $85 Million Dragon Bridge in Vietnam Lights Up and Breathes Fire
2
Meticulous Seat Structures
The Screenplay Bench by Oyler Wu Collaborative is Complex
1
Wall-Ripped Artworks
Unfolded Architecture Shows That Art Can be Found at Every Turn
Related Ideas
Venetian-Inspired Museum Designs
The Conceptual Floating Glass Museum is AI-Generated
Beautiful Automotive Design Books
Auto Photo Manual drives the car design coffee table book trend
Nest-Inspired Urban Houses
This Vietnamese Dwelling Offers Respite From the Concrete Jungle
Wonderous Art Installations
Olafur Eliasson’s 'Your Psychoacoustic Light Ensemble' is Immersive
AI-Generated Real-World Transformations
AI-Artist Who Gives a Unique Design to Real Objects
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Artful Doghouse Design Exhibitions
The Architecture for Dogs Exhibition Opens at ADI Design
Cactus-Inspired Urban Skyscrapers
This Danish Skyscraper Features a Spiky Facade Design
Extreme Space-Saving Architecture
A 74-Square-Foot Apartment is Redefining Urban Living
Discreet Architectural Polish Homes
Mobius Architekci Designs the Loop House in Rural Poland
Kaleidoscopic Kindergarten Buildings
The Tianshui Kindergarten by SAKO Architects is Whimsical
Colorful Educational Art Installations
Mario Cucinella Architects Displays Sparking Change
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
Contemporary Smartphone Exhibitions
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs 'The World in My Hand'
Vibrant Inclusive Playground Exhibitions
Wade and Leta Presents the Falling Into Place Exhibition
Ultra-Compact Bungalow Designs
Satish Jassal Architects Completes the Haringey Brick Bungalow
Box-Like Innovative Apartment Designs
Photon Studio's Designs the Box in the Box Apartment
Everyday Material Colorful Pavilions
Foster + Partners and NEON Create Two Pavilions in London
Modern Minimalism Apartments
Between the Walls Designs the Old&New Apartment in Kyiv
Curved Translucent Experimental Apartments
NEUHÄUSL HUNAL Designs the Sculptor's Apartment
Perception-Challenging Art Exhibitions
Raise the Moral Studio Presents the Becoming Familiar Show
Extravagant Wedding Cake Pavilions
Joana Vasconcelos Designs an Impressive Sculptural Installation
Red Brick Apartments
Martens Willems & Humblé Architecten Design the Miller Apartment Building
Energy-Efficient Office Buildings
This Czech Office Complex is Outfitted With Eco-Friendly Designs
Kilometer-Long Museums
Junya Ishigami Introduces the Zaishui Art Museum Along a Lake
3D-Printed Ceramic Home Facades
The Ceramic House in Amsterdam Gets a Ceramic Feature
Colorful Rooftop Unified Buildings
Urbanus' Nantou Hybrid Building is Comprised of Five Buildings
Intricate Food Waste Teahouses
Mitsubishi Jisho Design Uses Food Waste Materials for Its Pavilion
Sculptural Sunken Gardens
Montalba Architects Renovates an Iconic Building in Los Angeles
Architectural Sugar Sculptures
Kellogg's Worked with Artists to Create 'A Story of Salt and Sugar'
Modernism Birdhouse Exhibitions
Andu Masebo and Rio Kobayashi Create the Dwellings Project
Gallery-Like Elevated Retail Designs
Format Architecture Office Designs the Leica Store & Gallery
Sculptural Water Tower Structures
White Arkitekter Designs the Våga Water Tower
Architecture-Inspired Furniture Capsules
SeungBum Ma Designs the Form-Functional Archi-Furniture
Swooped Museum Roof Planes
BIG Designs the Waterfront Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art
Modern Office Environments
The MOL Campus Project Was Designed by Architecture Firm Kinzo
Bamboo-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Cultural Center Seamlessly Blends Into its Surroundings
Hyperrealistic Food Art Exhibitions
Japan House London Presents Looks Delicious! Installation
Wooden Surrounded Concrete Homes
Omer Arbel Presents Designs for a Range of Washington State Homes
Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
Buzz Designs the Hermit Space Yards in Beijing Park
Digital City-Inspired Art Works
New Digital Art is on Display in Grand Central Station
Greenery-Packed Museum Buildings
This Science Museum is Designed Around a Central Park
Affordable Social Housing Campuses
Studio Libeskind Creates The Atrium at Sumner Houses
Mexican Designer Collaborative Exhibitions
Hall Haus Presents the Design Mixtape Exhibition
Slopped-Base Green Tiled Homes
Bak Gordon Arquitectos Integrates a Home with Surrounding Buildings
Experimental Biomaterial Art Exhibitions
Copenhagen Contemporary Opens the Reset Materials Show
Energy-Neutral Media Pavilions
AMDL Circle Designs the Novartis Pavilion in Basel, Switzerland
Viewing Box Cultural Centers
The Center for Arts & Innovation Hosts Events and Education Spaces
Contemporary Artful Bright Apartments
Butterfly Studios Designs a Bright Krakow Apartment
Youth-Focused Architectural Toys
The Freckled Frog's 'Happy Architect' Toy is for Curious Youth
Robust Monolithic Walled Homes
H Arquitectes Completes the Casa 1736 in Barcelona
Hip-Hop-Influenced Art Installations
B-side: (Broken) Memory and Remix Presents the BRIC House
Weightless Pavilion Museum Wings
Snøhetta and Alley Poyner Macchietto Expand the Joslyn Art Museum
Geometric Prefabricated Pavilions
Heams & Michel Architectes Presents the 7 Kiosks Project
Organic Sculptural Furniture Exhibitions
Gallery Fumi Hosts the Growth + Form Exhibition in London
Contemporary Modern Artful Homes
Clara Lleal INTERIORISTA Designs the Art Gallery House
Prayer Room Government Offices
Agata Kurzela Studio Rewors a Floor of a Heritage Building
Tea-Honoring Angular Libraries
Atelier Xi Designs the Interconnected Library and Tea Rooms
Cloister-Style Sculptural Galleries
Axel Vervoordt and Tatsuro Miki Design the Meridiano
Concrete Boxes-Overlapping Homes
FujiwaraMuro Architects Designs the House in Tsurumi-ku
Natural Japanese Art Galleries
Brazil's Yayoi Kusama Gallery Features a Nature-Inspired Design
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
Brutalist Concrete Tower Apartments
Archmongers Renovates the Trellick Tower in London
Rammed Earth Furniture Installations
I/Thee Created the Dining Room as the First of Six Pavilions
Cement Block-Decorated Homes
Bloom Architecture Designs the Small Houses Collection
Exposed Concrete Stealthy Homes
OFIS Aritekti Designs the Villa Eternal Way in Slovenia
Self-Designed Exhibition Spaces
Kiki & Joost Adds a New Installation Space to Eindhoven Studio
Floating-Style Classroom Designs
Ennead Architects & Rockwell Group Completes the Bloomberg Center
Metal-Wrapped Exhibition Spaces
Trace Architecture Office Creates a Structural Steel Wrap
Artful Reflective Art Exhibitions
Rice Roshan Showcases The Space in Between Exhibit
Monolithic Sleek Summer Homes
Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter Creates the Vollerup Atrium Home
Live-In Art Gallery Homes
Casa Galeria is a Home That Doubles as an Art Gallery
Vast Wooden Structural Pavilions
Sou Fujimoto Architects Showcases Progress of the Grand Ring
Graphic-Accented Brutalist Apartments
Jean Verville Designs a Creative Laboratory in Quebec City
Woodland-Inspired Timber Office Spaces
Atelier du Pont Completes the Pavilion Jardins Building
Pier-Side Dynamic Office Spaces
The New BIG HQ is a New Office on the Industrial Harbour
White Concrete Boxy Museums
Thomas Phifer Designs the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw
Brutalism Pop Art Residences
02A Studio Presents the Casa Polly in Historic Rome Quarters
Architecture-Inspired Building Blocks
James Paulius Designs the Blockitecture® Frank Lloyd Wright
Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions
Mass Studies Unveils the Visuals for the Archipelagic Void
Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits
Abelardo Morell Presents the New Ground Exhibition
Textural Brick Structures
Bennetts Associates & Citizens Design Bureau Create BEAM Cultural Center
Geometric African Homes
Gregory Katz Architecture Designs the Great Primary Shapes Home
Ice Factory-Transformed Galleries
Malik Architecture Designs the IF.BE Gallery and Event Space
Parametric Style Video Games
Zaha Hadid Architects and Epic Games Add to Re:Imagine London
Sculptural Wooden Art Exhibitions
Joel Shapiro Presents His Out of the Blue Exhibition in NY
Concrete Cultural Visitor Centers
UAD Completes the Villagers' Home Center in Zhejiang Province
Cascading Aluminum Pipe Museums
Kengo Kuma Design the Audeum Museum with an Aluminum Facade
Red Concrete Exhibition Centers
Mix Architecture Designs the Red Box Exhibition Center
Waved Metal-Wrapped Buildings
SO-IL Designs the 9 Chapel Residences Located in Brooklyn
Bright Red Timber Buildings
Office ParkScheerbarth Designs the Compact Haus 2+ in Berlin
Kaleidoscope Vibrant Pavilions
Google's Mountain View Features a Halo Pavilion Artwork
Brutalist Converted Learning Centers
Archipelago Transforms a Post Office to a Learning Space
Lighthouse-Functioning Concrete Structures
Lin Architecture Creates the Concrete Pavilion in China
Aegean Architecture-Inspired Home Designs
Studio Kali Designs the Arkhe Collection of Furniture
Pale Yellow Minimal Townhomes
i.B. Archstudio Designs the VVV Townhouse with Pastel Hues
Office Building Rainbow Facades
SAKO Architects Designs the Vertical Rainbow Office Building
Large Concrete Educational Buildings
Stanton Williams Introduces the UCL East Marshgate Building
Contemporary Art Puzzle Sets
LEGO's Modern Art Building Set is a Great Buildable Decor
Artfully Rotating Glass Pillars
Sebine Marcelis Created the Panorama Pillars in Atlanta
Alleyway-Inspired Art Centers
Neri&Hu Completes the New Bund Performing Arts Centre
Efficient Architecture Design Tools
Architecture Helper Provides Design Insights in Seconds
Atrium Stacked Toronto Courthouses
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Creates a Justice Building
Brick-Centric Art Exhibitions
Floris Wubben Designs the Brick Collection at the Future Perfect
Roman Architecture-Themed Pavilions
Pratique and Fanum Design the Forum des Vestiges Pavilion
Basketry-Informed University Facades
Heatherwick Studio Designs a Building for Universidad Ean
Interconnected Brick-Clad Buildings
David Chipperfield Architects Blends Three Housing Typologies
Brutalist Minimal Apartment Designs
Zalc Arquitetura Reimagines the JF Apartment in Brazil
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Architectural Pottery Museums
1+1>2 Architects Designs the Bat Trang Pottery Museum
Dynamic Military Archive Buildings
Jahn Completes the Pritzker Military Archives Center Design
Stone Vaulting Glass Sculptures
AAU Anastas and Tomoko Sauvage Create the Serpentine Bell
Multifunctional Cross-Disciplinary Buildings
The BLOX Building in Represents Joint Thinking
Blocky Structural Coastal Homes
Åsa Hjort Architects Completes a Home Design in Sweden
Botanical Visitor Pavilions
NU Architectuuratelier and Archipelago Create the Green Ark Pavilion
Paper-Like Art Museum Roofs
BIG Expands the Museum for Paper Art in Denmark with a Folded Roof
Industrial Warehouse-Inspired Offices
Carr Designs a New Office Block with Industrial Themes
Ice Block-Formed Pavilions
BIAD Creates the Ceremonial Falling Hours Pavilion for Visitors
Romantic Debut Solo Exhibitions
EJR Barnes Debuts A Room on East 79th Street Show
Terracotta-Clad University Faculties
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Completes New Art Faculty
Dual Level Concrete Galleries
Morphosis Designs the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas
Bakery Converted Art Spaces
OMA Converts 1900s Bakery into the Lantern Art Building
Concrete Block-Formed Residences
nendo Designed the block-wall house Located in Karuizawa
Barrel Vault-Topped Metro Stations
KA Architecture Studio Designs the Jahad Metro Plaza
Square Structural Canadian Homes
PARTISANS Designs the Canvas House in Toronto, Canada
Immersive Artful Apartments
Tereza Porybná and Objektor Architekti Design the Ovenecká 33
Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions
Minsuk Cho Designs the Archipelagic Void Shelter in London
Whimsical Sculptural Furniture Series
Micah Rosenblatt Presents the City Block Series in Art Show
Dynamic Concrete Modern Buildings
Atelier Matias Mosquera Designs the Shire Building
Sloped Concrete Roofed Restaurants
RAD+ar Completes the Aruma Restaurant Design in Jakarta
Housing Block Defensive Facades
Bureau des Mésarchitecture Creates Gold Aluminum Shutters
Water Flow-Inspired Art Buildings
MAD Designs the Waterfront Nanhai Arts Center in Guangdong
Repurposed Imperfection-Embraced Buildings
Civic Architects & VDNVP Elevate a Series of Workspaces
Asymmetrical Sculptural Apartment Blocks
LOHA Designs the South E8 Housing Block in Raleigh
Distinctive Airlifted Structures
Arête Architects and Makers Fabrication Design the Karka Tower
Colonial History Art Exhibitions
RIBA Presents Raise the Roof: Building for Change
Warm-Tonal Urban City Apartments
General Assembly Creates a Comforting Palette in New York
Large Passive House Buildings
Handel Architects Builds the Harmony Commons at UofT