Wonder Egg, Japan
Located in Banna Park on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, the Wonder Egg serves as a lookout tower for birdwatchers.
Banna Park is a sanctuary for more than 2,500 species of bird, and the building is an example of mimetic architecture – built to resemble a giant bird’s hatched egg.
The lookout has an egg-shaped entrance and camouflage patterns painted onto its exterior shell, so as to remain non-invasive and serve as a hideout for those observing and tracking the migration of wild birds.
Visitors can climb to the top, open level of the broken egg which offers impressive views across the island.
See more unusual buildings here.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
Building Regulations and Building Safety Act
CIOB publishes free advice for non-domestic clients.
Building Safety Newsletter from MHCLG.
An extraordinary record of steel engineering worldwide.
Households living near new pylons to save on bills.
ECA warns growth must not outpace grid capacity or skills.
The role of the client and decision making
CIOB response to built environment professions call for evidence.
Construction's sustainability reporting revolution
Tracking upfront embodied carbon with digital tools.
ECA welcomes procurement reforms
Public spending must back British jobs and skills.
Campaigning for Edinburgh: the Cockburn Association 1875-2049
The role of the civic voice in protecting character. Book review.
CIOB photography competition is open for entries.
ECA Edmundson apprentice of the year award
Finalists announced.
Major new study exposes serious knowledge gaps.