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100 Examples of Non-Standard Architecture

From Free-Shaped Homes to Reef-Like Urban Expansions

— November 6, 2013 — Art & Design
These examples of non-standard architecture show the emergence of complex organic forms that would be extremely labor-intensive to design and construct without the aid of technology.

Boxy, geometric buildings can be constructed simply and quickly, but the use of only 90 degree angles can be quite bland and uninteresting. Fortunately, the use of CNC machines, BIM technology and 3D printed architecture makes it easier to manipulate glass, wood and other materials into unusual organic forms. These technologies allow architects, engineers and designers to emulate nature all the more closely and make stunning marvels that are unreal to see.

Although it is costly to invest in some of these methods, these technologies are able to construct completely unique structures by pre-fabricating individual pieces, which speeds up the assembly process significantly.
6.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
98
Alien-Approved Interiors
Alien-Approved Interiors
The Martian Embassy by LAVA Inspires Youth Learning
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97
Reef-Like Urban Expansions
Reef-Like Urban Expansions
Convoluted Corrosion Imagines the Organic Growth of the Future City
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96
Cellular Train Terminals
Cellular Train Terminals
This Chicago Union Station Proposal Affords Much More Organic Circulation
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95
Digital Dali-Esque Structures
Digital Dali-Esque Structures
Geocomb by Yuichiro Itayama Explores the Limits of Computer Modeling
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94
Ballooning Concert Halls
Ballooning Concert Halls
The Ark Nova Auditorium Will Host the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in Japan
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93
Mind-Boggling Metabolic Architecture
Mind-Boggling Metabolic Architecture
Radiant Soil by Philip Beesley is Futuristically Alien
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92
Sinuous Pedestrian Structures
Sinuous Pedestrian Structures
NEXT Architects Won a Competition to Design This Bridge for China
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91
Undulating Udon Buildings
Undulating Udon Buildings
A Wavy Tokyo Noodle Shop by ISSHO Architects
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90
Melting Marshmallow Eateries
Melting Marshmallow Eateries
The L'Opéra Restaurant Paris Features Soft Architectural Element
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89
Nomadic Barvertising
Nomadic Barvertising
Baileys Traveling Bar is a Sanctuary of Color and Cocktails
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88
Crime-Fighting Pavilions
Crime-Fighting Pavilions
The Social Technologies Project Combines Architecture with Digital Tools
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87
Tortoiseshell Bicycle Shelters
Tortoiseshell Bicycle Shelters
Bankside Bikeshed Creates a Coherent Cyclist Community
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86
Maternally Organic Structures
Maternally Organic Structures
Paul Nicholls' Elevated Brood Has a Sheltering Skeletal Presence
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85
Triple-Latticed Domes
Triple-Latticed Domes
The Trilux Pavilion is Illuminating
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84
Organically Frothy Libraries
Organically Frothy Libraries
'Biodigital Processes in Architecture' Promotes Calm Creativity
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83
Environmentally Adaptable Architecture
Environmentally Adaptable Architecture
Sensory City by Xiaofeng Mei Evolves to Thrive Off its Site
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82
Futuristically Undulating Structures
Futuristically Undulating Structures
The Aurora Borealis Arctic Observatory Enhances the Sighting
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81
Spherical Coral Concert Halls
Spherical Coral Concert Halls
The (a) Ball Auditorium is Enclosed by Polyps that Disseminate Sound
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80
Wound Wooden Walk-ins
Wound Wooden Walk-ins
EverRest by Simon Takasaki Makes a Mountain of a Mining Hole
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79
Charming Architecture Inpired by Birds
Charming Architecture Inpired by Birds
Quetzacoatl Nest
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78
Phytoplankton-Inspired Pavilions
Phytoplankton-Inspired Pavilions
The Cocoon_FS is a Portable Structure for PlanktonTech
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77
Funky Foliage-Shaped Abodes
Funky Foliage-Shaped Abodes
The 'Casa Folha' by Mareines and Patalano is Lush
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76
Whimsical Eco-Home Concepts
Whimsical Eco-Home Concepts
This Home-Scape Building System by Michael Jantzen is Eco-Friendly
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75
Symbiotic Eco Dwellings
Symbiotic Eco Dwellings
The Fab Tree Hab by Terreform One is a Living Graft Structure
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74
Dam Tower Structures
Dam Tower Structures
Yheu-Shen Chua 's Re-Imagining the Hoover Dam is a Daring Design
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73
Whale-Inspired Pavilions
Whale-Inspired Pavilions
The Blue Planet Aquarium Pays Tribute to Underwater Life
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72
Space-Age Airline Pavilions
Space-Age Airline Pavilions
The Midfield Terminal Airport Complex Features a Futuristic Design
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71
Delightful Macaroni Montessoris
Delightful Macaroni Montessoris
The Tellus Nursery School Embraces a Creative Education
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70
Woven Willow Artwork
Woven Willow Artwork
Laura Bacon Creates Monumental Artworks by Weaving Branches Together
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69
Free-Shaped Homes
Free-Shaped Homes
Ephraim Henry Pavie Creates a Feng Shui-Inspired Piece of Concept Architecture
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68
Urban Jungle Architecture
Urban Jungle Architecture
The HWKN MEtreePOLIS Aims for an Organic Utopian Urban Design Strategy
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67
Rippled Sci-Fi Theatres
Rippled Sci-Fi Theatres
The Hangzhou Broadway Cinemas Features Three-Dimensional Elements
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66
Cellular City Planning
Cellular City Planning
The Urban Field is an Evolving Skin for the Modern Metropolis
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65
Elaborately Entangled Installations
Elaborately Entangled Installations
Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Hypnotizes with Curvaceous Shapes
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64
Sensationally Squiggly Structures
Sensationally Squiggly Structures
The New Taipei City Museum of Art Proposal is Future-Friendly
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63
Sinuous River Viaducts
Sinuous River Viaducts
The Chongqing Eco-Bridge Translates Natural Beauty into Industrial
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62
Arching Ribbon Transit Terminals
Arching Ribbon Transit Terminals
The Sofia Metro Station 20 Concept Features an Undulating Canopy
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61
Sinuous Canopy Creations
Sinuous Canopy Creations
The Trailfinders Australian Garden is Organically Sculptural
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60
Netted Hammock Installations
Netted Hammock Installations
The WHITE Project is Artful and Spatially Interactive
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59
Sweeping Strawlike Structures
Sweeping Strawlike Structures
Fresh Hills Integrates a Wind Farm with a Park on a Covered Landfill
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58
Organic Urban Architecture
Organic Urban Architecture
'Praxis of Flow' Redefines Interior and Exterior Interaction
<
57
Streamlined Riverside Structures
Streamlined Riverside Structures
The Project Eco Link Building Bridges City and Nature
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56
Cylindrical Coastline Structures
Cylindrical Coastline Structures
The One Ocean Thematic Pavilion by Soma is Created For Expo 2012
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55
Sci-Fi Pool Pavilions
Sci-Fi Pool Pavilions
The Aquarena Aqua Leisure Center Embodies its Futuristic Inspiration
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54
Undulating Pixelated Buildings
Undulating Pixelated Buildings
Hangzhou Waves Boast Mirrored Office and Hotel Structures
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53
Plastic Cloud-Shaped Pavilions
Plastic Cloud-Shaped Pavilions
This Cloud-Shaped Sculpture is Made of Upcycled Plastic Bottles
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52
Forest Canopy Eateries
Forest Canopy Eateries
Koichi Takada Architects' TREE Restaurant is Like the Hometree in 'Avatar'
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51
Glowing Hospital Architecture
Glowing Hospital Architecture
The 'Orangery' by Spacelab is Modern
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50
Cardiovascular City Architecture
Cardiovascular City Architecture
The Heart of the District Hotel Redefines Urban Travel
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49
Sinuous Vertical Skyscrapers
Sinuous Vertical Skyscrapers
Intricate Density Tower Was Conceived Through Inverted Urban Planning
<
48
Undulating Grid Ceilings
Undulating Grid Ceilings
V’ammos Restaurant by LM Architects is Structurally Hypnotic
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47
Building From a 3D Printer
Building From a 3D Printer
Enrico Dini's Gaudi-Inspired Sand and Epoxy Structures
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46
Punctured Coral Pavilions
Punctured Coral Pavilions
'From Shade to Shadows' Explores the Effect of a Shifting Light Source
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45
Transforming Insectile Architecture
Transforming Insectile Architecture
Ichneumonid Faces Structural Infestations of Parasitic Forms
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44
Dizzying Contortionist Towers
Dizzying Contortionist Towers
The Wavy GT Tower East by ArchitectenConsort is Fascinating
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43
Photovoltaic Rooftop Waves
Photovoltaic Rooftop Waves
The Solar Wave Pavilion by Michael Jantzen
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42
Wavy Social Architecture
Wavy Social Architecture
The Huge 'Glasshouse' is an Arts, Conference & Entertainment Centre
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41
Cranial Concert Venues
Cranial Concert Venues
The Celeton Excessive Music Hall Embodies the Sensory Experience of Sound
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40
Printable DIY Dwellings
Printable DIY Dwellings
The Wikihouse is Assembled Using Design Mockups Found Online
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39
Loopy Lumber Interiors
Loopy Lumber Interiors
The Nautilus Project is Organically Sophisticated and Elegant
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38
Kid-Friendly Cafes
Kid-Friendly Cafes
The Phill Restaurant by Nuca Studio Features a Whimsical Concept
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37
Extensive Spiralling Sculptures
Extensive Spiralling Sculptures
Sity by Sonik Module Wraps itself Around an Urban Park
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36
Arterial Gallery Architecture
Arterial Gallery Architecture
The 'Uncaged' Whitney Museum Brings the Built World to Life
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35
Bio-Glamour Architecture
Bio-Glamour Architecture
Architect Ephraim-Henry Pavie Creates an Aesthetically Eco-Friendly Home
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34
Environmentally Integrated Architecture
Environmentally Integrated Architecture
EcoNET Challenges Current Building Practices
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33
Sinuous Ribbon Museums
Sinuous Ribbon Museums
Winding Layers of Steel Craft the Design Museum Holon
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32
Stunning Sinuous Stairs
Stunning Sinuous Stairs
The Atmos Studio Stairways are Beautiful Works of Art
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31
Sinuous Futuristic Malls
Sinuous Futuristic Malls
The Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid is a Surreal Beijing Structure
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30
Wavy River Walkways
Wavy River Walkways
The Maribor Footbridge by Ja Studio & Tadj-Farzin Studio
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29
Mod Musculature Mansions
Mod Musculature Mansions
The Bundle House is a Formal Experiment in Manipulating a Flat Site
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28
Grid-Like Wave Canopies
Grid-Like Wave Canopies
The Lignum Pavilion Shows Off the Modern Uses of Wood in Architecture
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27
Seashell Arts Centers
Seashell Arts Centers
The OODA Busan Opera House Embodies an Organic Oceanic Influence
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26
Underwater Webchitecture
Underwater Webchitecture
Aquaria Floating Pavilion Behaves Like Coral Amidst the Swell of the Sea
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25
Music-Themed Architecture
Music-Themed Architecture
The Hotel Liesma Has a Wavy Wood Facade
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24
Undulating Utopian Offices
Undulating Utopian Offices
Kaffee Headquarters is an Elegant & Modern Architectural Masterpiece
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23
Overgrown Pedestrian Overpasses
Overgrown Pedestrian Overpasses
Issy les Moulineaux Promenade is a Natural Connection in Paris
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22
Curved Crustacean Cabins
Curved Crustacean Cabins
Organic Scapes' Living Aleutian Home is Entirely Nature-Inspired
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21
Pleated Architectural Projects
Pleated Architectural Projects
Deep Facade Explores the Overlap of Indoor and Outdoor Structures
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20
Animate Urban Installations
Animate Urban Installations
Epiphyte Pavilion Will Enhance the Environment of its City Surrounds
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19
Wavy Wood Coffeeshops
Wavy Wood Coffeeshops
The Don Cafe House by Innarch is Inspired by Sacks of Coffee Beans
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18
Fabulously Futuristic Boutiques
Fabulously Futuristic Boutiques
The Stuart Weitzman Boutique Aesthetic is Futuristic Minimalist
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17
Climbing Vine Condominiums
Climbing Vine Condominiums
The Graft Tower is a Living Structure to Support Life
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16
Tubular Fish Farming
Tubular Fish Farming
Fin's Labyrinth is Home to Fresh Seafood in the City
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15
Coke Crate Installations
Coke Crate Installations
The Upcycling Pavilion by BNKR Arquitectura Uses 5,000 Coca-Cola Cases
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14
Inflated Flowering Spheres
Inflated Flowering Spheres
Amaury Gallon Bubble Gardens Provided Organic Urban Refuges
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13
Sand Dollar Superstructures
Sand Dollar Superstructures
Flat Tower Complements the Urban Landscape by Covering it
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12
Underwater Webchitecture
Underwater Webchitecture
The Dancing Water Pavilion Revitalizes Interaction with the Han-River
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11
Futuristic Nightclub Facelifts
Futuristic Nightclub Facelifts
Home House Bar's Ultra-Modern Renovation by Zaha Hadid
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10
Sand Dune Architecture
Sand Dune Architecture
UAE Pavilion Will Shimmer, Morph and Change Color
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9
Curvy Cafeteria Designs
Curvy Cafeteria Designs
Karim Rashid's Food Court Design is Sculptural and Organic
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8
Soap Bubble Buildings
Soap Bubble Buildings
The Emergent Busan Opera House Plays with Space and Transparency
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7
Cellular Megastructures
Cellular Megastructures
The Beijing National Hotel Breeds Natural Life Within
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6
Oceanic Shopping Centers
Oceanic Shopping Centers
The Aedas Olympia 66 Mall Embodies Wealth and Abundance
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5
Ultra-Organic Architecture
Ultra-Organic Architecture
Austria's Kunsthaus Graz Oozes Art
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4
Tree-Lined Apartments
Tree-Lined Apartments
Tour Vegetale de Nantes Has an Organic Shape and Purpose
<
3
Natural Disaster Architecture
Natural Disaster Architecture
The Solus4 Marine Research Center is Inspired by Tsunami Waves
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2
Wonderfully Wavy Buildings
Wonderfully Wavy Buildings
This Futuristic Building Design Comes from Zaha Hadid Architect
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1
Wooden Geodesic Pavilions
Wooden Geodesic Pavilions
The Peoples Meeting Dome Has a Geometric Organic Aesthetic
<