Homes come in all shapes and sizes, and while some offer four walls and ordinary interiors, others have been specifically designed to dazzle – and these properties certainly do that. When it comes to pushing boundaries in the world of real estate, these ground-breaking homes are in a league of their own.
From an architectural triumph nestled in the Californian desert to an amazing apartment building shaped like a snake, you've never seen anything quite like these homes before.
Click or scroll on to uncover the secrets of the world's most extraordinary residences...
When you take in all there is to take in about Quetzalcoatl Nest, you'd be forgiven for assuming it's some sort of theme park ride, but in reality, it is the shell for a block of apartments in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico.
The fantastical, snake-shaped property was created by iconic Mexican architect, Javier Senosiain, and was inspired by the Aztec serpent god, Quetzalcoatl.
Senosiain's aim was to create an organic space that would respect its rugged natural environment, so the structure was designed to fit with the caves, bends and hills of the site itself.
Amazingly, there are 10 apartments inside the building, spread over 16,500 square feet (1,533sqm) of space. Of course, the snake's head, body and tail take centre stage outside.
All of the apartments are connected via tunnels, with the snake's body creating its unique passageways, bridges and walls. The people who live here have to pass through gigantic snake mouths to reach their cave-like homes. This image was taken in 2016 and shows Senosiain inside the building's indoor garden.
Today, lucky guests can rent an apartment inside the building, via Airbnb. With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the apartment also benefits from a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and a laundry room.
Design-wise, it's fairly modest when you compare it to the exterior, but there's still something very appealing about its curving walls, eye-like windows and custom furnishings. There's no denying this building is one of the weirdest but most incredible in the world.
What could be more incredible than a home that has been designed and built to perfectly suit its surroundings and those inhabiting it? Well, that's exactly how this striking residence came to be.
Known as Pixel House, it was designed by the team at AGI Architects and can be found in a densely populated part of Kuwait City, where temperatures can sore as high as 45°C (113°F).
Not only did the new build home have to keep the homeowners comfortable and cool all year round, but it also had to be slotted into a very tight plot, which is enclosed on three sides. This meant the house had to be long and thin. For the architects, privacy and temperature filters were a major part of the design process.
The solution? To decorate the home with perforated screens that can be closed during the height of the heat and opened when the temperatures drop, allowing for natural ventilation.
The main living spaces, all air-conditioned, are located next to a shaded outdoor space, minimising heat gain caused by solar radiation.
A meeting area for friends and visitors (known as the diwaniya) is located near the entrance of the house and is divided into outdoor courtyards, for evening gatherings, and indoor areas for any time of day.
The courtyards and wider garden play a key role in filtering the interior, too, with native species planted as a barrier against warm air and desert sand storms.
The second filter, the pool, is covered with a perforated slab that, over time, will be covered with climbing plants. There's even an indoor garden, so the homeowners can enjoy nature even when the external temperatures are too high to go outside.
This remarkable property might look like it's been plucked from the pages of a children's fairytale book, but we assure you it's real.
Located in Grünwald, in the German state of Bavaria, the adorable cottage is akin to a mushroom and appears to be growing from the lush garden in which it finds itself.
With its organic white stucco walls, undulating roofs and pretty windows and doors, the house is almost too cute to be true. Though you can't tell from this angle, the stucco and wrought-iron balconies feature pretty embellishments, in the form of leaves and spirals.
One of its finest features is a glass dome, which sits above a hallway and allows anyone standing below to take in views of the sky. It is believed that a Korean artist designed and crafted the dome, using copper wire, fabric and semi-translucent leaves, to disperse natural light.
Plus, the interior is utterly stunning, with gorgeous hand-carved doors, kiva fireplaces and curving walls. Parquet flooring, made of seven kinds of wood, adds to the room's appeal.
Other highlights include the weird and wonderful kitchen, which is a surprising shape and features custom units and worktops. You'll also find ceramic mosaics, bold colours in every room and even circular skylights in some of the bedrooms, which allow the occupier to watch the stars while they dose.
It might look twee, but the house has everything anyone could need and more. There's an underground car park with a special car elevator, a gym and a lagoon-style swimming pool. If you love this place, then you can rent it out via Airbnb.
Over 70 years, Frank Lloyd Wright designed more than 1,000 buildings, including Fallingwater, Ennis House and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
Today, these structures are considered to be some of America's most amazing pieces of architecture, but we think this jaw-dropping residence should be included on that list. With all the hallmarks of Wright, it's undeniably one of the rarest masterpieces in the country.
Nestled in the city of Tulsa, Westhope is one of only three Wright-designed buildings in Oklahoma and it's one of the largest residences he ever built. It was completed back in 1929, long before some of his most iconic buildings had even been sketched – and yet the property is every bit as mesmerising.
Just like Ennis House, it was constructed from alternating panels of glass and handmade cement textile blocks, which decorate both the exterior and the interior.
The house was built for Tulsa Tribune publisher, Richard Lloyd Jones, a cousin of Frank Lloyd Wright, who requested a home filled with natural light. Wright achieved this by installing 5,200 glass panes.
A celebration of nature and organic architecture, the 10,405-square-foot (967sqm) property boasts a stunning, open-plan interior that's softly broken up by concrete pillars, small staircases and quirky alcoves. Formed from communal and private spaces, the house is both liveable and perfect for entertaining.
Inside, there’s an inviting entrance hall, a huge great room, a dining room, a kitchen, five bedrooms and four bathrooms, all of which are decorated with neutral tones and raw materials, such as concrete, wood and terracotta. From unique furnishings to built-in cabinets, every room benefits from something beautiful to look at.
Unsurprisingly, the one-of-a-kind home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, meaning it's protected from architectural changes. In April 2023, it landed on the market for £3.5 million ($4.5m), with listing agents Sotheby's International Realty describing it as "the most significant property to become available in this generation".
This home doesn't look that interesting from the front, aside from its unusual windowless façade. However, head around the back and you'll discover a truly unusual property that Business Insider called "one of the most uniquely designed mansions in Malibu".
With its dramatic futuristic design, cavernous living rooms and unusual art installations, this is undeniably one of the world's top distinctive dwellings. What's more, it was for sale in July 2024 for an eye-watering £32.6 million ($42m).
Designed by celebrated contemporary architect, Edward R. Niles, in collaboration with homeowner, Dr Wei-Tzuoh Chen, the surreal structure was crafted to be a Feng Shui, multi-generational compound. Built from concrete, glass and steel, the home was finished in 2006 after a six-year construction phase.
Interestingly, its design incorporates the number eight – the luckiest number in China. It comprises eight separate structures and features numerous art pieces and furnishings showcasing the figure.
Measuring 8,206 square feet (762sqm), the pad's all-grey interior is akin to a modern art gallery, thanks to its 29-foot (8.8m) ceilings, statement staircases and floating walkways, which hover above the main living areas. There's a mesmerising entrance foyer, numerous living rooms, five bedrooms and six bathrooms.
The kitchen lies inside a huge pyramid structure, with a vaulted glass ceiling, and opens up to an outdoor terrace. The house was also engineered to survive natural disasters, including tsunamis and earthquakes.
High-end features include the home’s state-of-the-art music room, soundproof home theatre, Gascoigne Blue natural limestone floors and nearly silent, hydraulic elevator.
The rear of the house is even more unusual, made up of contrasting forms and colours. Positioned just off the Pacific Coast Highway, the modern mansion benefits from a pristine, fine sand beach, a tide pool and a firepit. It's no wonder the residence is said to have cost £11.7 million ($15m) to build.
Suspended 131 feet (40m) above Fairhaven Beach in Australia, the Pole House is one of the most iconic cliff houses in the world. With 180-degree views of the sea, it benefits from vistas across the Great Ocean Road, which is one of the world's most picturesque stretches.
Thought to be the most photographed house in the region and maybe even in the whole of Australia, the Pole House is supported by steel stilts and accessed via a 76-foot-long (23m) walkway that's lined with glass balustrades.
Originally built in the 1970s by Frank Dixon, the Pole House recently underwent a luxurious renovation. The makeover of the previously crumbling building took around five years and was overseen by Franco Fiorentini from F2 Architecture.
Completed in 2014, the new house features floor-to-ceiling retractable glass walls and a modern interior.
The one-bedroom, one-bathroom home is fitted out with all the mod cons, including smart lighting and heat-sensitive taps.
The bedroom walls are clad in stylish burnt ash panels, while out on the balcony, you can glimpse 30 miles (48km) of uninterrupted coastline. If you've got a head for heights, the Pole House is available to rent for holidays down under.
Nick Fisher and Jo Jordan-Fisher built this remarkable farmhouse in Suffolk, England, with the couple undertaking most of the work themselves. The ultimate self-build, the remarkable residence looks like something out of a fairytale.
Finished in 2011, the beautiful Belle Grove Farmhouse, otherwise known as the Dragon House, was just under four years in the making. Now an amazing rental space, the property offers holidaymakers a truly unforgettable stay.
With their eclectic taste, the couple sourced all the building materials themselves, from fine French oak to quality marble from India. The characterful space is packed with fabulous antiques and unusual objects from all around the world.
The home has two ensuite bedrooms, while an unusual twisted elm tree trunk in the centre of the property supports the staircase.
Unsurprisingly, this unique home has gathered several prestigious accolades over the years and in December 2011 the farmhouse was declared the overall winner of The Daily Telegraph Homebuilding and Renovating Awards. It's now available to rent via Coolstays.
This psychedelic house, available to rent on Airbnb, has been ingeniously built into a cliff face in Salobreña, Spain. Perched high above the Mediterranean Sea, the extraordinary home was handcrafted from a trundle metal mesh canopy, allowing it to be shaped and moulded almost like clay.
It was finished with scale-like zinc cladding, making it reminiscent of the works of iconic Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudí.
Built to respond to the local climate, the shell of the house was specially designed to keep the interiors cool during summer, by cleverly regulating the flow of air.
Spread over two storeys, the house sits at a 42-degree incline and almost resembles a cave protruding out of the landscape. Unsurprisingly, the house is considered an architectural icon of the Costa de Granada.
Inside, there are three bedrooms and a main, multi-tiered living room that features a kitchen and a 492-square-foot (46sqm) living room, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
The room is decorated with a wave-like ceiling, stacked seating and unusual built-in embellishments that could have been inspired by the handcrafted forms of the Casa Batlló in Barcelona.
The living room opens up to a spectacular terrace that cantilevers over the cliff edge. The patio accommodates a stunning swimming pool with a curving, overhanging roof and boasts breathtaking ocean vistas. We could think of worse places to take a dip...
Conceived by London designer James Whitaker of Whitaker Studio, work on this futuristic shipping container home is set to begin in the not-so-distant future.
Nestled in the arid desert of California's Joshua Tree National Park, the realistic renderings of the residence are almost otherworldly, depicting a sprawling white structure comprised of several carefully angled container units.
Encompassing 2,000 square feet (186sqm), the interior will feature unusual geometries and jutting angles that will carve out unconventional living areas.
Thoughtfully positioned picture windows will allow light to pour inside the property, drawing the desert landscape inside the minimalistic spaces.
The floor plan will include three ensuite bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. Much thought has been put into the orientation of the shipping units to protect the residents' privacy and maximise the light flow throughout the contemporary home.
Adjacent to the main structure will be a garage with a canopy of solar panels that will generate the home's electricity. Once complete, the unique residence will be the home of a film producer – we can't imagine a more inspiring setting for them to hone their artistic vision.
It doesn't matter how many times you look at The Kellogg Doolittle House, it still just doesn't feel real. As well as being a true feat of engineering, it's also undeniably one of the world's most impressive homes. Also known as High Desert House, the residence was designed by San Diego-based architect, Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, and completed in 1993.
Kellogg designed the house back in 1988, but it took almost 25 years to fully come to fruition since the ambitious project required expert craftsmanship.
Nestled on a rocky plinth in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park, California, the home is formed from 26 freestanding concrete columns, embedded seven feet (2.1m) into the bedrock. Resembling fish bones, they give the exterior of the house a truly dramatic finish and allow it to melt into the surrounding boulders.
The interior is just as unusual. For starters, there's a parasol in the middle of the dining room, which was made from 800 pieces of sandblasted glass. The boulders that enclose the home also penetrate its walls and floors, resulting in random lumps and bumps in various rooms.
Light enters the interior through narrow, sandblasted glass panels slotted into the ceiling. These windows cleverly spread light throughout the rooms during the day and frame the stars at night.
The textures used in the design mimic the touch and feel of the desert, while the glass helps to bring the interior spaces even closer to the landscape outside. This incredible bedroom has to be one of the most awe-inspiring rooms in the house, with its angular walls and curving, scale-like ceiling.
This bathroom is also amazing and entirely one-of-a-kind. It features boulder walls and a glass shower enclosure that gives the impression of being outdoors.
Even more than 30 years after it was designed, this remarkable home remains one of the world's most incredible pieces of organic architecture. And luckily for us, it's available to rent via Airbnb!
Loved this? Take inspiration from more amazing homes and incredible architecture