Not all buildings were created equal. Some look like they belong in a sci-fi movie, and others are dreamscapes. Architecture has always been about more than just creating shelter—it’s an art form, a way to reflect culture, and occasionally turn heads.
From ancient Roman apartments to post-war brutalist towers, the humble apartment block has evolved with human society’s changing needs and styles. But every now and then, a building pops up that disrupts the norm, redefining what we thought we knew about the apartment block.
These ten apartment blocks are so unique that they break the mold and push boundaries with bold aesthetics and gravity-defying designs:
10. Valley, Amsterdam
Imagine a mountain oasis amidst the concrete jungle of Amsterdam. Completed in 2021, Valley is a mixed-use building that houses office space, residential apartments, and commercial spaces such as retail, exhibition space, and bars and restaurants.
From the front, the building looks almost corporate, but its aesthetic changes completely as you walk around it. The facade looks almost like a rock that has exploded, revealing a jagged arrangement of lush greenery, vertical gardens, and balconies in its wake.
It is located in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, buzzing with business and activity. The Valley offers a breath of fresh air with its unconventional design and oasis feel.
9. The Wave, Vejle, Denmark
Designed by Henning Larsen Architects, The Wave in Vejle is as much a modernist sculpture as it is a residential apartment block. The design takes strong influence from organic shapes and forms, creating an undulating wave-like structure that washes through the landscape. Its wavey design was influenced by the fjord water that it sits on, each of which complements the other beautifully.
During the day, the wave reflects like a natural form in the water. By night, the multi-colored lighting illuminates the building to make it look like brightly colored mountains. It’s all a big tribute to nature and the perfect imperfections of its fjord surroundings.
8. The Aqua Tower, Chicago
While most Chicago skyscrapers soar into the sky with rigid forms and straight lines, the Aqua Tower breaks the city norm. Designed by Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects, it has received plenty of impressive awards since its completion in 2009.
Reaching 82 stories into the sky, the building is influenced by the wavy forms of water. Its undulating wave-like balconies give it a fluid structural appearance.
Situated in Chicago’s Lakeshore East neighborhood in the Loop, the unique silhouette stands out amongst the city’s high-rise forest. It’s home to condos, apartments, and a hotel and is surrounded by busy parks, restaurants, and cultural attractions.
7. The Interlace, Singapore
From the moment The Interlace appeared in the Singaporean skyline, it has defied the norms of residential buildings. But it’s unique design also defies gravity. Designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, this 1040-unit condo complex is made up of apartment blocks stacked on top of each other in abstract arrangements.
It’s the largest residential development in Singapore, with 31 apartment blocks, each six stories tall. They’re stacked in a way that makes some look like they are floating above others.
The star of this design is its integration with nature. Singapore is known for its manmade gardens and innovative green spaces, and this apartment block, with its sky gardens and public and private roof terraces, is no exception.
6. La Muralla Roja, Calpe, Spain
One look at La Muralla Roja in Calpe, and you might think you’re standing on the set of a city from The Game of Thrones. This postmodern marvel, designed by Ricardo Bofill in 1873, brings fantasy to life with its bold, intersecting geometric forms painted in vibrant reds, pinks, and oranges.
The name La Muralla Roja directly translates to ‘The Red Wall’, which makes sense considering its color and Arab, Mediterranean-inspired design elements. It was inspired by the Mediterranean tradition of the Casbah, which is a historical fortified quarter.
Other than being a fascinating place to live in, the unique structure has also attracted many photographers and filmmakers, who have used it as a background set.
5. Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna, Austria
The famous architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser was clearly opposed to straight lines and traditional architecture. Along with Joseph Krawina, he was the mastermind behind this colorful apartment block, which was completed in 1985. It has a whimsical design with uneven floors, a forest-covered roof, and a facade decorated with vibrant mosaics and irregularly shaped windows.
It’s considered an expressionist landmark in Vienna and stands in stark contrast to the classical architecture that dominates much of the city.
4. Bosco Verticale, Milan, Italy
Bosco Verticale, or the ‘Vertical Forest’, is just that. Designed by Stefano Boeri and completed in 2014, this vertical garden apartment block comprises two residential towers with over 900 trees and shrubs planted within them. It’s an ambitious example of metropolitan reforestation that aims to increase the biodiversity within this bustling urban city.
From a distance, Bosco Verticale looks like a vertical garden, and it is difficult to see the structure of the building hiding behind all the foliage. As you can imagine, the building sticks out amidst Milan’s historical and postmodernist buildings.
3. Kubuswoningen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Kubuswoningen takes the traditional colored houses of the Netherlands and turns them on its side – literally. These cube-shaped houses have been turning heads for 40 years. With their angular design, they are so abstract and unique that it’s hard to understand how they are livable from the outside.
While it looks like Dr. Seuss might have designed these, Piet Blom is the architect responsible for building Kubuswoningen in the 1980s. Designed to optimize space while fostering a community feel, the interiors are surprisingly functional, considering their slanted walls.
2. L’Arbre Blanc, Montpellier, France
L’Arbre Blanc is pretty much an adult version of a treehouse. Its name translates to ‘The White Tree’, which is what the design takes the form of. It’s a masterpiece of organic design that looks like a tree that has naturally sprouted from the ground in Montpellier.
Completed in 2019, the building has 17 stories and was designed to look like a modern tree with balconies extending from the trunk to resemble branches. From each of these ‘branches’, residents can experience near panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside.
1. Habitat 67, Montreal, Canada
Designed by Moshe Safdie, Habitat 67 was built in 1967 and was a major exhibition for the Montreal World Exposition. It was a landmark project that demonstrated a new vision for urban housing using prefabricated construction methods.
A true breakthrough of the 20th century, this massive conglomeration of buildings looks a bit like a messy yet organized city made from Lego. All in all, there are 15 different housing types available in the complex, each with a rooftop garden. It’s basically a community neighborhood all in one building, with play areas for kids, a swimming pool, and covered parking.