Other people are afraid of dangerous things, and these bizarre houses actually do seem to accomplish that – just think about waking up in your bed each morning. Some of them are constructed so bizarrely that engineers said they couldn’t be constructed, and others were constructed on the front of a thousand-foot cliff. Either way, the individuals who construct and inhabit these bizarre and risky houses obviously live for the thrill!
1. Drina River House, Serbia
Suspended in mid-air across the Drina River in Bajina Bašta, Serbia, the Drina River House is a marvel. Constructed in 1968 by two brothers, the house was at first swept away during floods but rebuilt year after year. The house caught global attention when it featured in the inaugural Drina Regatta in 1994, a yearly river festival with thousands of visitors. It is now one of the most photographed monuments in Serbia.
2. Elliðaey Island, Iceland
Betcha you’re an introvert. Think you’d love to live in the world’s most isolated house! It’s located on Elliðaey Island, just off Iceland’s southern shore. The small house was originally a hunting lodge. There’s also an old storage barn that biologists used. But here’s the twist—if you ever got injured, getting a doctor would be almost impossible!
3. Just Room Enough Island, New York, USA
Hidden in the Saint Lawrence River on the Canada-US border, Just Room Enough Island is the world’s smallest populated island. Measuring only 3,300 square feet, it just barely contains a home, a tree, and a small beach. Purchased originally by the Sizeland family in the 1950s as a private retreat, it soon gained fame and privacy became a memory.
4. Solvay Hut, Switzerland
High among the Swiss Alps, situated atop the Matterhorn, is a small climbers’ refuge—Solvay Hut. Constructed as a rest house for people fighting against severe weather conditions, it can accommodate as many as 10 individuals in case of need. It even has an emergency call line for rescue of climbers. A savior in the rugged alpine wilderness!
5. Meteora Monasteries, Greece
The Meteora Monasteries in the middle of Greece are an awe-inspiring view. Constructed on tall rock pillars during the 14th century, they were designed to safeguard monks from invading armies. They were only accessible by ropes initially, but luckily, nowadays, there are staircases cut into the rocks. Out of the initial 24 monasteries, there are only six that are still active, and each of them has fewer than 10 people living there.
6. Hanging Houses of Cuenca, Spain
7. Cliff House, Australia
In Victoria, Australia, the Cliff House is not for the faint of heart. This five-story residence is actually attached to the face of a sheer cliff, modeled after how barnacles attach themselves to a boat. And that’s not scary enough, the garage is on the roof, so your car will be at the top of this gravity-bending house!
8. WoZoCo Apartments, Netherlands
In Amsterdam, there are the WoZoCo Apartments, a daring architectural experiment. In order to meet city building codes, part of the apartment units actually jut out of the main building and seem to be suspended in mid-air! Although they are firmly attached, walking below them would make anyone a bit apprehensive.
9. Casa do Penedo, Portugal
Hiding in the north of Portugal, Casa do Penedo (The Stone House) appears to be out of a fairytale. Constructed between 1972 and 1974, the house was built from four colossal boulders. Once a holiday home, it is now a tourist destination and museum. Surprisingly, despite its proximity to a wind farm, it has no electricity, presenting the ultimate off-grid experience.
10. Katskhi Pillar, Georgia
The Katskhi Pillar in Georgia stands as a 130-foot-tall monolith of limestone upon which sits a small church. Constructed in the 9th or 10th century, it was previously occupied by hermits who wanted seclusion. Presently, it is occupied by a monk named Maksim Qavtaradze, who comes down only twice a week through a ladder to fetch provisions.
Leave a comment