Architectural solutions can go beyond expectations much more often than expected. And while in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe the bolder and the unusual architectural approaches are rather rare, in Western Europe, the United States and other countries, these solutions have been present and added value for a long time, enriching the urban environment.

Today we present you several buildings that are an example of non-standard architecture. Some of them are known to the general public, while others are less popular, but that doesn't make them any less interesting.

Waldspirale (Forest spiral) residential building, Germany

This colorful and spiral residential complex is located in the German city of Darmstadt. It is called the "Forest Spiral" ("Waldspirale" in German). The idea for its creation came from the eccentric Austrian architect, artist and sculptor Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The building was completed in 2000 by architect Heinz Springman.

The complex is subject to an ecological concept and resembles a winding forest tale, ending with a green roof. Almost every one of the 1000 windows of the housing creation is completely different. The building has 105 apartments and reaches 12 floors at its highest part.

 “Harpa” Concert Hall (Harpa, Reykjavik), Iceland

 “Harpa” is the name of the extremely beautiful conference and concert hall in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik. It was opened on May 4, 2011.

The building is distinguished by its stunning glass facade, which is inspired by the nature of Iceland. The architectural creation is like a kaleidoscope of crystal shells that change the light at any moment and play with the perceptions of the visitors.

 “Harpa” was designed by the Danish-Icelandic artist Olaf Eliasson together with two architectural studios. The idea of the creators is the building to be like a seashore connecting the water and the sky.

The “Lotus Temple”, India

 “The Lotus Temple” is a place of worship in the Indian capital New Delhi. The building is made of 27 structures that look like lotus petals. They surround the central building, which is 40 meters high. The surface of the entire temple is covered with Greek white marble - the same that was used in the Parthenon in Athens.

The temple is not dedicated to a particular deity and people of all religions can enter and pray there.

The building was designed by the Iranian-American architect Fariborz Sahba. His choice to make it in the shape of a lotus is dictated by the fact that the flower is important for several religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism.

The temple was completed in 1986. It has 9 doors and can accommodate up to 2,500 people. Since its opening, it is one of the most visited buildings in the world, attracting over 100 million visitors.

 “Habitat 67”, Canada

“Habitat 67” is an extremely provocative residential complex on the shore of the St. Lawrence River in Montreal, Canada. It was built based on the idea of the Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie on the subject "Man and his world" for the World Expo 67 in Montreal in 1967.

The residential complex consists of 345 almost identical cubes of pure concrete, arranged in various combinations, reaching 12 floors in height. The building has 146 properties, and in its highest part reaches 12 floors.

Most of the apartments have a garden or a terrace. The architectural style is called brutalism (1950-1970), which shocks with the use of raw concrete - without decorations and other facade elements.

 “Habitat 67” continues to be one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in Montreal and Canada.

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