Check out some of the bizarre-looking structures in existence today. Just be sure not to judge a book by its cover!
Khan Shatyr Shopping and Entertainment Center
WHERE Astana, Kazakhstan
OPENING July, 2010
DISTINCT FEATURE A giant tent
INFO The structure is the world's biggest tent and also the largest shopping centre in Kazakhstan. Standing 500ft high (150 metres), the tent has a surface area of 140,000 sqm which is larger than 10 football stadiums. It features an urban-scale internal park, shopping and entertainment venues, and an indoor beach resort.
Fairmont Baku
WHERE Baku, Azerbaijan
OPENING June, 2013
DISTINCT FEATURE A series of buildings that look like flames
INFO The 318-room hotel is located within one of three buildings known as the Flame Towers. At a height of 620ft (190 metres), the Flame Towers is the tallest building complex in the country. The other two buildings house residential apartments and Class A commercial office spaces.
Absolute World Towers
WHERE Mississauga, Ontario
OPENING September, 2012
DISTINCT FEATURE Two residential condominium skyscrapers that are reminiscent of a sexy-looking female body
INFO Nicknamed the "Marilyn Monroe", the head-turning towers resembles a shapely female body due to their curvaceous design. The taller tower measures 589ft (179.5 metres) in height, while the other is 529ft (161 metres).
Photo courtesy of Hugo Draker at Flickr
China Central Television Headquarters
WHERE Beijing, China
OPENING May, 2012
DISTINCT FEATURE The city's residents think it looks like a pair of boxer shorts
INFO The design of the 768ft (234 metres) building is comprised of a continuous loop of six horizontal and vertical sections, which is meant to represent an ever-flowing stream of "qi" energy. However, it is more widely identified by the locals as the building that looks like "big boxer shorts", after being famously described as such by a Beijing taxi driver.
Photo courtesy of Pete Watters at Flickr
Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort
WHERE Huzhou, China
OPENING Oct, 2013
DISTINCT FEATURE A donut or horseshoe-like structure
INFO The newly opened Sheraton hotel was designed by renowned architect Yansong Ma who is also well know for his design of the Absolute World Towers seen above. The 27-floor hotel has been nicknamed the "Horseshoe Hotel" or "Donut Hotel" for its highly unusual exterior.
Clement Huang
