In any city, unique architecture is a major highlight, serving as its postcard. Architects possess imaginations that surpass those of ordinary people, allowing us to appreciate a diverse range of architectural styles. They've even turned their creativity to the animal kingdom, mimicking the shapes of different animals to create one animal-shaped building after another. You can find these hilarious animal-themed buildings all over the world—let's take a look!
1. Suzhou Hairy Crab Ecological Museum
As is well known, Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs from Suzhou are very famous. To showcase Suzhou's crab culture, a building resembling a hairy crab in both appearance and shape was constructed on the shore of Yangcheng Lake. The Hairy Crab Ecological Museum is located on the eastern shore of Yangcheng Lake within the Bajie Garden in Bacheng, Kunshan City, Suzhou. The building is 75 meters wide and 16 meters high, and cost over 1.3 million yuan to build.
2. Hebei Golden Turtle Pavilion
The Hebei Golden Turtle Pavilion is located within the Lotus Grand View Garden of Baiyangdian Lake. Its prototype is the Chinese softshell turtle, commonly known as a turtle. The pavilion is 68 meters long from east to west, 46 meters wide from north to south, and 18 meters high, with a total building area of 1680 square meters. It was once recognized by the Hong Kong World Record Association as the world's largest turtle-shaped building. The patterned areas on the turtle's back are windows.
3. Thailand, Chiang Mai, Wat Samurai
Thailand boasts many magnificent temples, but few can rival the imposing Wat Sam Phong. Located 25 miles west of Bangkok, this 17-story pink cylinder is choked by a scaled blue dragon, the mythical creature's pointed feet covering some of the windows, its head rising from the roof with a rumbling sound. Take the elevator to the roof, where you can touch the dragon's whiskers, gaze at its red nose, and enjoy panoramic views.
4. The Elephant Building in Bangkok, Thailand
The Elephant Building in Bangkok, Thailand, was completed in 1997. It was once voted the ugliest building in the world. From a distance, the Elephant Building looks like a capital "M". If you told me it was an elephant, I honestly wouldn't immediately recognize its shape.
5. India's National Fisheries Development Council
The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), established in 2006, is the Indian government's Ministry of Fisheries. As a fisheries ministry, its architecture naturally reflects this. The headquarters resembles a fish out of water.
6. Koala Museum, Victoria, Australia
Near the Adazwell Bridge in Grampians, Australia, stands a giant koala-shaped structure, 14 meters high and 8 meters long. It's actually a koala memorial. Given that the koala is one of Australia's three national treasures, the koala-shaped design of the building isn't surprising.
7. Paris, France, Giraffe Children's Nursery
The classical architecture of Paris contrasts sharply with the giraffe conservation center. The building resembles a yellow giraffe wedged into a protruding silver slab. The long legs of the African mammal support the cantilevered roof, where you can lie on its back and stroke its long neck.
8. Sri Lanka, Kabutara, Khumbuk River Resort
The wooden elephant experience at Kumbuk River Resort is incredibly lifelike, where you can sleep inside a 40-foot-long elephant made of wood and straw. The beast's large ears, clumsy feet, and protruding trunk blend seamlessly into the surrounding Sri Lankan jungle. Access to the elephant villa is via its trunk, leading to a spacious living area with two bedrooms and a bathroom. All guests enjoy complimentary mud baths during their stay.
9. Chicken Church, Java Island, Indonesia
In 1989, a Javanese man dreamed of building a church for all religions, shaped like a crowned dove. He began the project but later ran out of money and was forced to abandon it. However, local residents were intrigued by the dilapidated, narrow building, which resembled a quacking fowl. Now, hundreds flock to the Chicken Church daily, and artists have breathed new life into it.
10. Tilau i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, New Zealand
The i-SITE Visitor Information Centre in Tilau, New Zealand, is shaped like a sheepdog with its tongue lolling out, next to a shepherd. Actually, the building is a large wool product store, but its unique design has gradually made it a landmark. It's said that Nicky Wu and Liu Shishi took their wedding photos here.
11. Arimango Restaurant, Daguban City, Philippines
The horror film "Attack of the Crab Monster" became popular in the Philippines because of a restaurant shaped like a crab. When it opened in 1981, Alimango was a top choice for seafood feasts and disco parties.
12. Kakadu Crocodile Lodge, Australia
The Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel is located in Kakadu National Park in Australia's Northern Territory. As crocodiles are a well-known feature of Australia, this hotel was designed with crocodiles in mind.
13. Australia, New South Wales, Great Merino sheep
The Giant Merino sheep, nicknamed Rambo, is a 50-foot-tall merino ram. This sleek concrete sheep debuted in 1985 to draw attention to local wool products. Visitors can walk inside the obese Rambo, tour a historic exhibit, and purchase mohair and sheepskin products.
14. University of Bremen, Germany
The University of Bremen is a public university in Bremen, Germany, and one of Germany's 11 elite universities. It is world-renowned for its research in marine geosciences. The university's unique architecture is also a major highlight, resembling a giant blue clam shell in the middle of a lake.
15. Marietta KFC
This is a KFC in Marietta, Georgia, USA. Since KFC sells fried chicken, what could be more fitting than designing the building in the shape of a rooster? Many tourists go there not to eat fried chicken, but to take photos and post them on social media.
16. Wolfartsweier Kindergarten, Germany
The Wolfartsweier kindergarten in Germany is sure to be a hit with children. This cat-shaped kindergarten was designed by renowned artist Tomi Ungerer. The cat's mouth is the kindergarten's entrance, its belly houses classrooms, a kitchen, and a dining area, its head is the playground, and its tail is an emergency escape route.
17. Barking Park Hotel, USA
The Dog Barking Park Hotel in Idaho, USA, is also a dog-themed hotel shaped like a dog. At first glance, it looks like a giant dog statue, but actually, its rear end has a staircase leading to the hotel. There are two statues in total, the larger one is 9 meters tall, and the smaller one is only 3.6 meters tall.
18. Blue Whale Pond, USA
In the small town of Catoosa, Oklahoma, there stands a 25-meter-long blue whale-shaped structure. It was a wedding gift over 40 years ago from a zoologist to his wife, who dedicated her life to whale research. Although both individuals are no longer with us, the whale pond remains open to the public as a tribute to this remarkable love story.
19. Lucy the American Elephant
This enormous, adorable grey structure is sure to catch your eye; it's "Lucy the Elephant" in Margate, New Jersey, USA. Built in 1883, this approximately six-story restaurant, weighing 90 tons, is covered in 12,000 square feet of tin (previously thought to be wooden). It has served as an office, summer retreat, inn, and restaurant. Despite decades of corrosion, damage, and harsh weather, Lucy the Elephant remains energetic, attracting visitors from all over the world.
20. Nautilus-shaped building in Qingdao
The world's largest spiral-shaped building has been unveiled on Qingdao's West Coast. The building's design is inspired by the nautilus, a "living fossil" of the ocean. The shell is composed of 3,070 aluminum plates of various shapes. It is 23 meters high and spans more than 60 meters in diameter, making it the world's largest spiral-shaped building. The natural curves of the nautilus embody Qingdao's unique marine culture, showcasing an ingenious design.
