Unusual buildings
This article presents a list of unusual buildings that have featured on Designing Buildings.
Shanghai's One City Nine Towns.
Spontaneous City at Cow Tower.
Sheep and Dog Buildings, Tirau
Kobe Port Tower, Japan
Teapot Dome Service Station, US
Odeillo solar furnace, France
Welbeck Street car park, London
Edificio Mirador, Madrid
Ray and Maria Stata Center, US
Device to Root Out Evil, Spain
House Attack, Vienna
La Hospederia del Errante, Chile
Big Duck, US
Apple Park, US
Gas Natural Headquarters, Barcelona
La Grande Arche, Paris
Drina river house, Serbia
Gate of Europe, Madrid
Phoenix International Media Center, Beijing
The Sharp Centre for Design, Toronto
Manchester Civil Justice Centre, UK
Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum
The Atomium, Brussels
Ministry of Transportation Building, Georgia
Calakmul Corporate Building, Mexico
Kunsthaus Graz, Austria
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Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.
Comments
Abu Dhabi's ALDAR HQ, Dubai's Twisting Building and Dubai Frame have to add