Inspired by natural formations, bubble architecture is bold, bulbous and utterly brilliant. Originating in the 1960s, it saw architects embrace organic shapes and free-form structures to create some of the craziest and most curvaceous buildings we've ever seen.
From authentic bubble homes to quirky creations inspired by these whimsical residences, these spherical structures from around the world will truly blow your mind.
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We know what you're thinking – how could this bubble-like object be a home. Well, bear with us, because this quirky Airbnb listing has to be one of the strangest in Ireland.
Known as The Golden Egg, the property is tucked away in County Mayo and from the rear, looks nothing like a house.
However, move around the side and its true nature reveals itself. While the back of the property is egg-like, the front entrance seems relatively normal, with a porch leading to the front door.
According to the Airbnb listing, The Golden Egg "blends conceptual art with the finer comforts of a fun night away". Inside, there's a small, open-plan living space, with a kitchenette, dining table, bed and private bathroom.
Rustic and cosy, the unusual tiny home features exposed timber walls and floors, as well as beams on the ceiling.
The furnishings are modern, too, while chicken-themed artwork adds to the home's charms. In fact, there are even chickens in a coop in the garden outside.
As beautiful as it is remarkable, this surreal property can be found in the heart of Euphoria Art Land, an arts and culture centre close to Limassol, Cyprus.
Designed to be a feast for the eyes and the soul, the centre is enclosed by nature and provides alternative accommodation for those seeking somewhere just a little bit different to spend their vacation.
The whimsical, colourful houses were each built from recyclable materials, following organic and bioclimatic architecture techniques. A different country inspired each of the three homes here; Ethiopia, India and Mexico.
They all have a dramatic, organic shape and are covered in intricate mosaic tiles. This particular colourful property was inspired by Indian art and culture and is known as The Blue House.
Despite the exteriors of the domes being bold and impactful, the interiors are subtle and beautifully designed, with vibrant furnishings and exquisite, handcrafted details.
Each home has a living space and at least one bedroom and bathroom. Tiled floors, decorative doors and large, circular windows add to the character of The Blue House.
We particularly love this stunning bedroom, with its built-in window seat and soaring ceiling.
You might say that this home goes against the grain. The hand-sculpted dome house is nestled in the town of Flaxton, in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia, and was designed and made by sculptor and owner, Cath Wild.
Cath was one of four Australians who won Airbnb's OMG! Fund prize and she used the cash injection to create this magical space. Today, it's one of the most unusual homes in Australia.
According to local newspaper Sunshine Valley Gazette, it took three years, 6,000 handmade bricks and three pairs of boots to complete the property, which is the world’s first council-approved aircrete dome.
Aircrete is a type of lightweight concrete that is also extremely strong and durable, thanks to a composition of cement, lime, water and pulverised fuel ash.
At 969 square feet (90sqm), the petite property is the biggest sculpture Cath has ever made and she admits to having got through the project using pure determination. Amazingly, she poured between 150 and 200 aircrete bricks every day, so it's no wonder it took such a long time to build.
The house is formed from four interconnected domes, the largest of which is 14.8 feet (4.5m) tall. Internal, doorless archways lead into each space, creating an expansive, seamless feeling. Inside, there's a lounge, kitchen, dining area, two bedrooms, a laundry and a bathroom.
Highlights of the home include its curving walls, circular windows, arched openings and quirky built-ins, as well as the bold furnishings that add pops of colour.
What's more, the pad is situated within 8.5 acres (3.4ha) of lush rainforest, complete with a private waterfall. If you love this dome, then you can book a stay via Airbnb.
While some dome homes are bold and stand out a mile, others are more subtle. If you look closely at this densely wooded area, you might just be able to spot a bright red ice dome, hidden among the trees.
Known as Igloo Kokolo, the funky tiny home is located on the shore of Lake Chapala in Tizapan El Alto, Mexico.
With its bold and colourful façade, organic shape and porthole windows, this is one seriously unique home.
Inside, the dome is compact but cool, with a soaring ceiling, exposed beams, pretty glass bottle decorations and unusual alcoves.
As for spaces, there are three bedrooms in total, as well as an exterior bathroom for alfresco showering.
Although we don't know how this property was built, it was likely crafted in a similar way to classic adobe homes, which can be found across Mexico.
Created by hand using a mix of readily available materials like soil, clay, water and sand, the residence is no doubt perfectly suited to the local environment, with thick but breathable walls.
This unusual little property is hidden away in a forest in Germaine, France, between Reims and Epernay.
Dating back to the 1950s, the structure was made using concrete and mesh wiring, allowing the builder to craft a truly organic shape and almost create a sculpture.
The result? A one-of-a-kind property that could never be replicated. This particular dome home is made up of various rotund elements, all connected internally. Therefore, the rooms each sit inside their own dome.
Room-wise, there's a lounge, a spacious circular kitchen, a dining zone, a bathroom and a bedroom, situated just off the main living space.
With tall ceilings, curving walls and large windows, the property is certainly unusual.
From the outside, the property looks almost like a mushroom, growing from the ground. It comes with an outdoor terrace and a barbecue zone for lucky Airbnb guests.
This organic-looking home is located in Ohakune, on the North Island of New Zealand, and appears to be at one with the earth on which it sits.
Aptly named Pumice Tiny House, the property replicates the shapes and textures of pumice, an extrusive volcanic rock.
The 484-square-foot (45sqm) home was hand-crafted using straw bales and lime plaster – very eco-friendly and sustainable building materials.
The owners, long-time friends Evan and Kevin, describe the project as “a labour of love” and they aimed to create a space for others to enjoy and make precious memories.
As for the interior, Pumice is incredibly stylish, with chic rooms and lovely individual details, including hand-sculpted surfaces, alcoves and seats. From the furniture to the internal doors, everything has been carefully bought or made to suit the space.
For example, the sliding bathroom door has a sloping top, allowing it to perfectly slot under the ceiling.
As for rooms, there’s an open-plan living area, with a lounge, dining space and kitchenette. There’s a full-size – and beautiful – bathroom with a walk-in shower and a bedroom with a queen-size bed.
There’s also a compact biofuel fire and a cooling overhead fan. However, both straw bale and lime have fantastic thermal properties, resulting in an extremely comfortable internal environment.
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 1976. Its distinctive shape was designed by William Nicholson and 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 (pictured here), with a purple dome added later, after Fang purchased the pad.
Taking a closer look at the exterior, the home is truly bonkers, with an asymmetrical, undulating façade and kooky cartoon characters and creatures decorating the lawn.
Inside, the home is just as unusual with soaring ceilings, hand-crafted windows, bespoke furnishings, neutral whitewashed walls and Jerusalem stone floor tiles.
The home's kitchen 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.
The lounge is also extremely characterful, with its sunken, circular couch and seemingly endless ceiling. Unsurprisingly, the home has divided opinions in Hillsborough, where at the time of its construction, it's purported that one resident founded an architectural review board to keep out experimental homes.
If any home epitomises the UFO aesthetic, it's this one in Sedona, Arizona. The ultra-quirky property looks like it has just touched down from outer space, with a clan of aliens setting up camp on Earth.
Described as an “icon” and “extreme dome home” by the owners, the property is formed from two large domes, measuring 32 feet (9.7m) in diameter and 32 feet high (9.7m), connected to a circle of smaller domes, totalling more than 2,000 square feet (186sqm).
From above, you can take in the truly mind-bending design of this one-of-a-kind home.
Designed to perfectly suit the heat of Arizona’s summers and its cold, sub-temperature winters, the dome home features eight-inch (20cm) thick walls.
The owners also state that their mission when designing the property was to offer guests the chance to experience "unique futuristic architecture”. As for the interior, it's light-filled and distinctive, with curving walls and ceilings, quirky built-ins and bespoke windows.
Suitable for up to eight guests, with two bedrooms (seven beds) and two bathrooms, the house also comes with a kitchenette, a 1,000-square-foot (93sqm) great room and an enclosed outdoor courtyard, equipped with a BBQ, firepit and seating.
If you fancy seeing this characterful home for yourself, then it's available to rent on Airbnb.
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 1990s, 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 (366sqm), the property boasts a 500-seat amphitheatre, 10 bedroom suites and a panoramic lounge, as well as gardens and exterior swimming pools.
Inside, the maze-like interior is as daring as the exterior. Angular architecture and bespoke built-in furnishings carry the home's spherical theme throughout the finishes, where you won't find a straight line in sight!
In 2017, Palais Bulles listed on Christie's International Realty with an asking price of £345 million ($420m), making it 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. Now, the future of this remarkable home is uncertain. Watch this space!
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