2023-09-03 18:33:03
The Crooked House in Sopot, Poland. Breakthrough like few others and an architectural challenge that continues to be highly visited (Photo: Grosbygroup)
Architecture continues to break molds around the world, but there are two buildings located in central Europe that surprise locals and strangers. One is in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and the other is in the city of Sopot, in Poland. They are two urban challenges that stand out from the rest of the constructions.
It may interest you: The other side of the rental drama: the temporary rental boom prompted the construction of exclusive buildings for the “Airbnb model”
A unique building, known as Krzywy Domek (Crooked House, in Polish), is located in the city of Sopot, 351 kilometers from Warsaw, the Polish capital. This original property is located at 53 Bohaterów Monte Cassino street. It was built in 2004 and it is still a phenomenon of analysis and visits by tourists who come to this area to see what it is all about.
It was designed by the architects Szotyński and Zaleski, who in turn were inspired by the comics by Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. It has a facade full of curves that tends to deceive the eye. That is why many people, seeing it from a distance, think that it is a doctored image.
It may interest you: Dollarized rentals: pending changes in the law, short agreements that are paid in cash with US bills grow
Also, the curious thing is that this design was only embodied in the front. That is, the internal facilities are composed of straight and traditional walls.
It has an area of about 4,000 square meters. In the Crooked House there is a shopping center, a restaurant with a terrace, a games room and the Radio FM Muzyka Fakty. More than USD 200,000 was invested for its construction and it is still visited by thousands of people per month.
In Krzywy Domek in Poland there is a shopping center, some housing and coworking areas (Grosbygroup)
It received multiple awards such as, for example, the number one position in the list of the 50 Strangest Buildings in the World, prepared by the Village of Joy portal (which distinguishes different constructions).
In the world there are other disruptive constructions that transcend in different countries such as La Casa Loca in Vietnam, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, or the Wonder Works Museum, located in Orlando
The building has some residential homes that are temporarily rented, as well as bars, offices and a coworking area.
The Crooked House is 4 hours from Warsaw (Grosbygroup)
The Dancing House was built between 1992 and 1996 on the site of a house that was bombed in 1945, around the end of World War II. At the time, the Nationale-Nederlanden insurance company bought the plot of land, but everything was left unfinished and private investors later carried out the project that was inaugurated at the end of the last century. Although most tourists only see it from the outside, few know that inside it houses an impressive art gallery and a luxury restaurant with a terrace that offers magnificent views of the city.
It may interest you: Unbridled increases: neighborhood by neighborhood, how much does it cost to rent a two-room apartment in CABA
The design was carried out by the Czech-Croatian architect Vlado Milunić, who collaborated with the Canadian architect Frank Gehry. The building is located on a corner plot facing the Vltava River and the Jiráskuv Bridge. It belongs to the deconstructivist style, an architectural movement that emerged in the late 1980s, characterized by fragmentation, non-linear design, and interest in manipulating the surfaces of structures.
The Dancing House, another architectural challenge that is in Prague and was built on the remains of a building that was bombed in 1945 in the middle of World II. It took years and at the end of the 20th century this building was completed, which never ceases to amaze (Photo: Grosbygroup)
Due to its unique and curvaceous design, which evokes a dancing couple, the building has been nicknamed “Fred and Ginger”, after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the iconic Hollywood dancing couple.
Although a tourist attraction, the Dancing House is essentially an office building. However, on the roof there is a restaurant with panoramic views of the city. The construction of the building cost more than USD 400,000 and is considered one of the most original in the world.
Upon its completion, the building generated controversy. While some praised it for its innovative design and its contrast to Prague’s traditional Baroque and Gothic architecture, others saw it as a jarring element. However, despite initial criticism, the Dancing House has established itself as one of the most iconic buildings in Prague, attracting tourists from all over the world.
Offices function and it is of mixed use. And it is a tribute to the distinguished dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (Grosbygroup)
To enjoy the views from the domed terrace (right) without having to pay admission, it is recommended to have a drink at the bar. It is certainly worth appreciating the city from the rooftop of the Prague Dancing House.
This 8,000+ square meter, multi-level building is a testament to modern architecture and how it can simultaneously integrate and contrast with historic settings.
1693769180
#storybooks #disruptive #buildings #Central #Europe