Inspired by natural formations, bubble architecture is bold, bulbous and utterly brilliant. Originating in the 60s, it saw architects embrace organic shapes and free-form structures to create some of the craziest and most curvaceous buildings we've ever seen. These spherical structures from around the world will truly blow your mind. Click or scroll to step inside...
This perfect example of bubble-tecture hit the headlines in 2019 for being at the centre of a legal battle between the town of Hillsborough, California, and its proud owner – not Fred and Wilma, sadly – but the equally brilliantly named Florence Fang. Lawyers representing the upmarket town argued that the Bedrock-influenced house was an eyesore, and Florence's additions of dinosaurs in the backyard haven't helped relations...
With its curious curves and bold colouring, the structure was built in a rather unique way, back in 1977. Its distinctive shape was created by spraying a concrete mix called shotcrete onto steel mesh over a series of large balloons. Originally an off-white shade, the exterior was painted orange in 2017 with a purple dome added later, after Fang purchased the pad in 2017, having had her eye on the bubble building for a number of years.
Designed by William Nicholson, this living room is remarkably restrained, featuring neutral whitewashed walls and Jerusalem stone floor tiles. Splashes of orange and purple create a subtle flow from exterior to interior, while curved back-lit alcoves add depth and architectural interest.
At first glance, the home's kitchen more closely resembles a spaceship, with a futuristic glass island, intricate metal doors and circular shelving carved into the walls. A central sun tunnel in the ceiling allows light to flood into the quirky cooking space, while a snug recess keeps the fridge tucked out of the way.
Unsurprisingly, the home has divided opinions in Hillsborough, where at the time of its construction, it's purported that one local resident founded an architectural review board to keep out experimental architecture. Ugly or artful? You decide!
Considered one of the world's weirdest homes, this freeform property was created using the same technique as other bubble homes, with concrete coating a bespoke structural framework. However, unlike the other residences in our round-up, it was modelled after a specific object in the natural world: a seashell.
The surreal home, aptly named The Seashell House, lies in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and has quickly become an Airbnb favourite – and we can certainly see why. The house was designed by architect Eduardo Ocampo in 1994 for a famous painter who wanted something a little different from the norm.
To meet his client's needs, Ocampo built the seashell house with hand-formed walls, spiral staircases and a door that lies in the mouth of the shell. Inside, the property is just as dazzling, thanks to its characterful living spaces, with angular, rough surfaces, unique built-in cabinetry and handmade furnishings.
Across the floor plan, you'll find a living room, a dining zone, a kitchen and two king bedrooms complete with shell headboards and curtains that drape over the windows like the angles of a conch shell. Swirling shell motifs are commonplace, from quirky architectural chairs to engraved doors.
Of course, shells are always found near water, so the mysterious holiday home comes complete with a swimming pool, sunbathing patio and dining deck. Plus, with stunning views across the Caribbean Sea, who wouldn't want to stay here?
French-born architect and interior designer Ephraim Henry Pavie built this four-storey home for his family in 2007. Like Lovag, Pavie was inspired by the spherical shapes of the natural world.
Located on Israel's West Bank, the freeform building was constructed entirely from concrete, with the home's elongated windows bulging out from the structure, creating a futuristic silhouette.
At school, Pavie's architecture teachers warned him that if he wanted to graduate, he'd have to start sketching conventional rectangular structures like everyone else. However, once he'd secured his diploma, Pavie went on to build bubble houses in Paris, Miami and Israel.
Inside, the unusual home features intricately crafted curves. Expansive windows draw in the surrounding landscape, allowing light to pour into the unique open-plan living spaces. Pavie didn't see why his designs should be limited to geometric shapes, which were so at odds with the circular shapes found in the natural world.
Nestled in the mountainous landscapes of northeastern France, the Museumotel offers guests a truly unique stay. Spanning 11 structures, the bubble village was created by Swiss architect Pascal Hausermann, who is famed for his organic, freeflowing designs.
Constructed in the late 1960s at the height of bubble fever, the estate was intended to be a utopian society, pairing affordability with functional, bold design. Over the years, the motel fell into disrepair and was gradually taken over by nature until 2003, when it was restored to its former glory and reopened to guests.
Inside, the concave rooms feature specially designed windows, tailored to the motel's architectural quirks. In this building, a photographic exhibition has been set up for guests.
The estate's accommodation reflects the estate's rotund shape, with a spherical bed complete with circle-print bedding and artwork. Hot pink and orange create a retro scheme that harks back to the motel's 1960s heydey.
Sadly, the Museumotel closed down for good in December 2015, and the fascinating estate went up for sale for the bargain price of around $382,000 ($311k) in 2019. By September that year, the motel had sold. We can't wait to see what the new owner does with the place!
Located on a Mango farm in Thailand, this colourful property was completed in only six weeks. Homeowner Steve Areen undertook the project with help from his friend Hajjar Gibran, who owns Domegaia, a company that specialise in eco-building workshops.
Ingeniously, this spherical home was built with AirCrete, a construction mixture comprising air, concrete and foam. Its unique composition means that it can be moulded into practically any shape. AirCrete is also an entirely environmentally friendly and sustainable building material. It provides excellent thermal insulation and air-tightness.
A tranquil pond was installed in the grounds, its semi-circular shape creating a perfect mirror image for the home's glazed central window. Bursting with character, this unique eco build didn't cost the earth when it came to budget either. The total cost amounted to approximately $8,300 (£6.8k), which is an absolute bargain!
Nestled in a remote idyll, the bubble house boasts a swimming pool, spa and 360-degree viewing point, which offers breathtaking vistas across the mountains from Mout Blanc to Mount Lozère.
The 1,679-square-foot property, known as The Unal House, is illuminated by skylights in the ceiling, which allow sunlight to pour into the living spaces. Built without foundations, the floor lies directly on top of the rocky ground, creating an irregular tactile feel to the interiors.
Two spherical tunnels connect the home's three bedrooms, two bathrooms and living spaces, with furnishings carefully built into the walls to create a harmonious, organic flow throughout the interior layout.
The spherical property was labelled a heritage site in 2004, before being classified as a historical monument in 2010. Fancy getting your hands on a piece of architectural history? The Unal House is currently for sale, though the price is being kept under wraps. Proving somewhat unsellable, it's been on the market since early 2019.
Looking out over the tranquil Mediterranean sea, this private property is a pretty surreal structure. Designed once again by trailblazer Antti Lovag between 1975 and 1989, the building was inspired by the cave dwellings of prehistoric humans. In the early 90s, fashion designer Pierre Cardin snapped up the property as a luxury holiday home.
Interspersed with circular roof terraces and pools, Palais Bulles is an idyllic retreat tucked away above the Bay of Cannes. It's unsurprising then that this unique setting was chosen by Dior in 2016 as the dramatic backdrop for their resort collection catwalk show.
Measuring a whopping 3,937 square feet, the property is now available for private hire, catering to everything from film shoots to concerts and weddings. Boasting a 500-seat amphitheatre, ten suites and a panoramic lounge, plus gardens and swimming pools, there's no shortage of space in this vast and eclectic estate.
In 2017, Palais Bulles listed on Christie's International Realty with an asking price of $420 million (£342m), making it reportedly the most expensive home for sale in Europe. After languishing on the market for years, the listing was later removed and it's unclear whether it sold or was simply delisted. With its futuristic curves and experimental interiors, this home is definitely seeking an open-minded buyer.
Aptly named the Bubble House, this surreal structure lies in the rural residential suburb of Karalee in Queensland, Australia. The curvaceous pad first belonged to Graham Birchall, who dreamt up the home's design 36 years ago. He was inspired by monolithic domes and wanted to create a structure to honour the strength, beauty and simplicity of the humble circle.
Formed from 11 intersecting domes, the weird and wonderful house encompasses 11,302 square feet and its bubbles range from 13 feet to 26 feet in diameter. Each one has been painted in a different shade, resulting in an unusual exterior aesthetic that isn't too dissimilar to the Flintstone House.
The retro residence is split over three floors and the interior is every bit as strange as the exterior. There’s a rotund entrance tunnel, a dining room, lounge, library, media room, sports bar, three bedrooms and a basement, complete with a wine cellar and workshop.
Many of the rooms appear to have been plucked from the set of a sci-fi movie, thanks to their peculiar rotund walls and bespoke architectural details. In the living room, there's even a huge feature fireplace with a flute that extends through the floors of the home to the outside.
Other unorthodox features include the home's mini-pods, sunken living room and keyhole-shaped doorways – not to mention this spacecraft-like kitchen that was crafted by a boat builder. The wild home landed on the property in August 2020 for AUD$1.5 million, which equates to $1 million (£847k), but failed to sell.
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