For many of us, home sweet home is a place with four walls and a garden fence. However, all over the world innovative architects are pushing the boundaries of residential architecture into the realm of abstract – and occasionally absurd – artistry. From an invisible mirrored home in rural Slovenia to a custom-built mansion shaped like Darth Vader's helmet, these spectacular properties are anything but predictable. Click or scroll on and prepare to be amazed...

Milton Sidley House was designed by the notable contemporary architect Ed Niles and quickly became the designer's most iconic creation – for quite obvious reasons. Built almost entirely from steel and glass, the futuristic spaceship-like home seems to hover above the ground on which it sits, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind aesthetic.

Constructed in 1992, the contemporary glass house can be found in Malibu, California, and spans around 4,365 square feet. From the outside, the property appears to be formed from a series of pod-like structures, with a sky bridge leading to a separate wing of the house suspended 16 feet off the ground. Inside, you'll find dazzling living spaces enclosed by sheets of glass. Throughout, the home's structural elements have been left exposed, adding to its unique character.

The ultra-modern metal home offers four bedrooms and four all-glass open bathrooms, as well as a curvaceous kitchen, a gym, a den, a media room and a 35-foot high semicircular great room that offers unrivalled views across the surrounding garden. The house sold in June 2021 for a cool $9.5 million (£6.9m) – but you can't really put a price on a masterpiece, can you?

Fancy slumbering in the belly of a beast? From its scale-like tiles to its long curvaceous structure, this otherworldly home is a replica of a slithering snake. Located just north of Mexico City, the architectural marvel and surrounding sculpture garden is the work of architect Javier Senosiain.

In one of the striking communal areas, a multicoloured glass dome frames an indoor greenhouse, illuminating the space with vibrant shards of light. With an eight-bedroom holiday home available to rent, you can experience the awe-inspiring architecture for yourself. 

Built in 1961, this sculptural timber home in Oklahoma is more than a little unusual. Reminiscent of a shaggy buffalo or a dishevelled bird, layers of cedarwood overlap to create a feather-like effect. An example of organic architecture, the two-bed home's architect, Herb Greene, drew inspiration from the natural world and its creatures.

Hidden in the eaves, the master bedroom is cosy and compact, with built-in storage cleverly slotted in between structural beams. Found in three acres of rural land, this quirky property is perfect for those yearning for the pared-back prairie lifestyle.

Raised on stilts, this triangular structure perched on England's Cornish coast has a futuristic air to it. Clad in wood, the unusual construct is actually a one-bed holiday home, tucked away in a secluded rural spot. 

Designed as a retreat where visitors can disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with nature, the innovative home sits around eight feet off the ground, allowing panoramic views across the surrounding tree canopy. Available to rent, the hut even comes with its own hot tub tucked away in the forest.

Blending seamlessly into the snowy rural landscape, this clever camouflaged house in Slovenia was designed by Austrian studio Delugan Meissl Associated Architects. Clad in mirrors, the property reflects its rural surroundings, creating a wow-factor architectural statement that responds sensitively to its natural spot.

The façade of the near-invisible home is even more spectacular at night when the edges of the property blur into the dark sky, reflecting shooting stars as they flash overheard. Available as a prefabricated design, the otherwordly dwelling can be built in a flash.

Measuring 47 feet by 11 feet, the interior may be snug, but there's no shortage of style. Light wood cladding, tactile accessories and minimalist lines ooze Scandi chic, while floor-to-ceiling glazing frames the stunning surroundings outside. Cleverly, the floorplan is divided into prefab modules, so homeowners can adapt the design to suit their needs.

Taking the mobile home concept a step further, Belgian architectural firm dmvA designed this egg-shaped unit as a multifunctional home that can be adapted to each homeowner's individual needs. More than just practical, its fascinating silhouette is a minimalist work of art.

Despite its small stature, the unique micro home is surprisingly roomy. The side of the house can be opened up to create a porch, allowing light and air to flow through the structure on warmer days. Constructed out of polyester, the cosy home is light enough to be moved to any location you like. 

Inside, the open-plan living space contains a bathroom, kitchen and a multipurpose space that can be used as an office or a bedroom. Built into a compact area measuring 215 square feet, the blob can be adapted for any use, from a travelling tiny house to a garden room or futuristic home office.

If you thought you were pressed for space in your house, spare a thought for the owners of the Keret House in Warsaw, Poland. Built in 2012, the super-skinny house measures just 48 inches at its widest point, yet remarkably, it still offers a fully functional living space.

For the lucky owners of this award-winning home in Melbourne’s Fitzroy North, living with their head in the clouds is no new experience. From the street, the property may look like a normal Edwardian home, but head around to the back and you'll find a fantastical, cloud-shaped extension that transforms the home from a traditional building into a quirky, dreamlike space.

The south-facing addition, which is made of sustainable material, draws plenty of light into the kitchen, whilst framing the garden and pool to create an exceptional outdoor living area. Lined in wood, the two-faced home's curvaceous façade reflects the interior cladding for a sense of continuity between indoors and out.

Designed by the architects at McBride Charles Ryan, the interior of the property is far from ordinary too. The hub of the home is the vibrant red kitchen, which is offset by warm wood panelling. The walls curve around, enveloping the unusual space and creating a cosy, contemporary feel. 

Each apartment consists of a circular open-plan living area which radiates out from a central kitchen space. Further rooms are connected by bulbous doorways and hanging ladders, offering a humorous colourful playhouse aesthetic that's enchanting for children and adults alike.

A combination of 14 colours are used to decorate each apartment and create a bright and bold living environment. The playful use of colour, texture and form heightens the senses, while unconventional design elements, such as circular rooms and hanging storage units, are meant to challenge the way we navigate our living spaces.

The work of Austin Maynard Architects, the Hill House in Melbourne is an exceptional example of a modern home that challenges the norms of architectural design. A large black box seemingly juts out of the hillside, which is, in fact, the grass-covered ground floor of the property.

The Capital Hill Residence in the Barvikha Forest near Moscow was created for Russian businessman Vladislav Doronin, dubbed the Russian James Bond. Designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid, the futuristic property resembles a reimagined spaceship from the 1960s. With an impressive total floor plan of nearly 30,000 square feet, the enormous property isn't short on space. 

Inside, the Capital Hill Residence is sleek and minimalist. But don’t be fooled by its pared-back design – the home is kitted out with a number of 21st-century luxuries including a sauna, hammam bath, a library, entertaining spaces, an indoor swimming pool and a fitness area.

This ambitious, psychedelic house was created for a family who wanted an unusual home that would bring them closer to nature. Designed by innovative architect Javier Senosiain, this giant shell-shaped structure was designed to be both a striking example of organic architecture and an enormous contemporary art piece.

A stained glass window marks the entrance to the weird and wonderful house, giving way to a fluid, open-plan living space. The floor is covered in plants and there's even an artificial stream to bring the outdoors in. The windows cast colourful lights across the living area, adding to the whimsical feel. The interior is just as convincing as the exterior, with the walls, floors and ceilings twisting and turning like a snail's shell. 

Bold, organic-inspired architecture is present throughout, with the rooms imitating natural structures. Here, the master bedroom appears to have been hollowed out of rock, creating a warm, enveloping environment that's straight out of a fairytale. 

Conceived by Studio Libeskind, not a single facet of the exterior surface is the same, with the house offering a fresh perspective from every angle. The mirrored finish means the façade's hue is constantly in flux too, adapting to reflect its surroundings.

Occupying the top four floors of a late 19th-century tower in lower Manhattan, this elevated property might look like your average penthouse apartment from the outside, but once you step inside, you'll find all is not as it seems...

A number of shapeshifting walls pop up at various angles, creating a multi-layered interior out of a previously tight layout. Architect David Hotson played extensively with the space to create a quadruple-height living room, indoor balconies and plenty of playful elements.

Prepare to be simultaneously baffled and exhilarated by this modern house from Yuusuke Karasawa Architects. Designed and constructed without walls, the crisscross skeletal home is set over two abstractly organised floors, connected to each other by multiple staircases. 

Inside, the property looks like an Escher drawing with multiple staircases and levels left exposed due to the lack of walls. The property’s four glazed facçdes allow passersby to peek into the interior. This is definitely not a house for introverts!

Built to function as both a sculpture and as a house, A House to Die In by Snøhetta is a project in the pipeline for Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard. The eye-catching structure will be built close to painter Edvard Munch’s former home to continue the area’s tradition as an artistic hub. Located in Oslo, the extraordinary dwelling will comprise a wooden house, resting upon animal-shaped sculptures.

Plans for the interior are intriguing, with rooms serving multiple purposes. One room functions as both a swimming pool and a dining room, while another combines a workspace and a spa. We can't wait to see this architectural marvel when it's complete!

When this unusual home hit the market in 2021 with Sotheby's International Realty, Star Wars fans flocked to viewings in their masses. Fondly nicknamed 'Darth Vader House', the eye-catching residence has the appearance of a Sith’s helmet from the outside, although the original owner was actually aiming to achieve an aviation-inspired design...

An unintentional superfan shrine, the house can be found in Houston, Texas, and was built in 1992. Luckily, it's not just the home's façade that boasts plenty of personality. Inside, the imposing 7,040-square-foot residence is made up of multi-level living spaces, walls of glass, concrete and stone. The centerpiece of the home is the sunken conversation pit, which is framed by a dual staircase.

The space-age home boasts four bedrooms and five bathrooms, as well as a large kitchen, dining room and a glass office, each with a sophisticated monochrome colour palette. Outside, you'll find a balcony overlooking the yard, which comes equipped with a swimming pool. Now that's what we call one of a kind!

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