Airplane house (Abuja, Nigeria)

At first glance, this looks like a horrible plane crash! But it turns out this site was no accident. To honor his wife’s love of travel, Said Jammal built their home in a shape of an airplane.

Credit: courtesy of the Washington Post

The Longaberger Basket was built in 1997 as the manufacturer’s headquarters at a cost of $30 million. The seven-story building is an exact replica of a medium-sized Longaberger picnic basket. Synthetic plaster was used to create the curved basket weave exterior. The handles are heated to prevent ice from forming and falling onto the roof.

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Boat House (Encinitas, California)

Living in a boathouse is pretty common—but living in a house that’s shaped like a boat? A creative builder took inspiration from his love for the sea and built the S.S. Encinitas and S.S. Moonlight apartments out of salvaged timbers from an old hotel. These houses have been a vital part of Encinitas’ history since the early 20th century and last we heard, community leaders had plans to turn them into museums.

Photographer: Larry E. Gunderson

Car House (Salzburg, Austria)

The compact Volkswagen Beetle has always been a fuel-efficient car, but what about applying that conservationist model to a house? German architect Mark Voglreiter took up the challenge and nailed it with the "Auto Residence." Its thermal insulation makes it very energy-efficient. The house was rented in 2004 for a pricey $2,500 euros a month.

Credit: stadtbaumeister.com

Dog Park Inn (Cottonwood, Idaho)

Dennis Sullivan and Frances Conklin created the Dog Bark Park for their love of beagles and classic roadside attractions. The beagle-shaped cottages are available for rent. The gift shop, which features “the whimsical chainsaw artwork of husband/wife artists Dennis and Frances” is definitely a highlight.

Credit: dogbarkparkinn.com

Guitar House (Fayetteville, Georgia)

Songwriter Elvis L. Carden, decided to devote the design of his house to his greatest passion: music. This 3,800 square-foot guitar-shaped home took approximately sixteen years to build, but Elvis was adamant on completing his dream house. The exterior walls have the perfect curves of a Gibson and the aluminum cables that stretch across the length of the exterior are the ultimate strings. What else could you expect from a guy named Elvis?

Credit: courtesy of Elvis L. Carden

Pickle Barrel House (Grand Marais, Michigan)

Talk about employee appreciation! In 1926, the Cooperage Company of Chicago (pickle manufacturer amongst other things) built this two-story barrel-shaped cottage for their head pickle ad illustrator, William Donahey. Today it is open to the public; entrance is free, but they charge for pickles.

Photographer: agilitynut.com

The Pineapple House (Dunmore Park, Scotland)

In 18th century Europe, nothing said affluence like a massive pineapple. This tropical delicacy became a symbol of coveted exoticism stretching from cuisine to architecture. And the IV Earl of Dunmore just had to have one. In 1761, he built this home addition as a garden retreat and hothouse and today it is one of the most famous buildings in Scotland.

Photographer: John Watson

Shell House (Isla Mujeres, Mexico)

While the materials used to build the Shell House were fairly traditional, the design of it was anything but. This whimsical conch construction on Isla Mujeres seems straight out of the Little Mermaid! The house has attracted a lot of attention throughout the years and it’s currently available as a very unique vacation rental.

Photographer: Lia Bo Bia

The Shoe House (Hellam, Pennsylvania)

Taking the idea straight out of the beloved folk tale, shoe retailer Mahlon N. Haines (aka the Shoe Wizard) built this house in 1948 to advertise his business. After Haines passed away, the Shoe House was sold and turned into a destination ice cream parlor. Today it is back in the Haines family’s hands and open for tours.

Photographer: Carl Stough

Space House (Chattanooga, Tennessee)

When this three-level flying saucer-shaped residence was built in 1970, it became known as the “house of the 21st century.” Futuristic features such as an entrance staircase that retracts with the push of a button and support legs that provide plumbing and electrical connections make this house just as interesting on the outside as the inside. This rare piece of architecture recently sold for $135,000—quite the bargain for a ride into the future.

Photographer: Rich Livingston

Toilet House (Suweon, Korea)

To highlight the need for better sanitation around the world, the chairman of the World Toilet Association, Sim Jae-duck, built his house in the shape of a toilet (now that’s dedication). The steel, white concrete and glass house is named Haewoojae, which in Korean means “a place of sanctuary where one can solve one’s worries.” Before he moved in, Jae-duck rented the house for $50,000 and gave the proceeds to his campaign to provide poor countries with proper sanitary facilities.

Credit: courtesy of the World Toilet Association