The World’s 10 Craziest Futuristic Houses That Actually Exist
When it comes to residential design, the future is here. Futuristic houses, with their biomorphic curves, gravity-defying elements, sleek materials, and bold angles, look like something dreamed up by Hollywood or AI. But these futuristic houses are not renderings or sets from an upcoming sci-fi movie; they are real homes occupied by real—and very forward-thinking—owners. From a spectacular home in Russia by legendary architect Zaha Hadid, to a prefab pinwheel-inspired house in Italy, these architectural wonders are futuristic works of art. Preview the architecture of the future in these ten eye-catching homes that are way ahead of the curve.
Photo: David Franck1/10Dupli Casa, Ludwigsburg, Germany
Architecture firm J. Mayer H. found inspiration for Dupli Casa in the footprint of the existing family home on the side. The original footprint was expanded and rotated 225 degrees to create the new site plan. The three-level dwelling is dominated by curvaceous white surfaces, giving it a space-age feel. The ground level is home to the public spaces, while the upper and lower levels house the bedrooms and other private areas.
Photo: Iwan Baan2/10House on the Flight of Birds, St. Michael Island, Portugal
Set on St. Michael Island in the Azores region of Portugal, House on the Flight of Birds was designed to allow the owners to enjoy their surroundings, even during storms and high winds. Architect Bernardo Rodrigues incorporated a wall to block the winds and several covered patios and courtyards. The interior features a double-height living room, and the home’s two wings enclose the kitchen. The contoured roof deck offers panoramic views of the island’s north shore.
Photo: John Gollings3/10Croft House, Victoria, Australia
Croft House appears to emerge from the landscape of the south coast of Victoria, Australia like a silvery sand dune. Designed by architect James Stockwell, the crescent-shaped residence both embraces the natural environment and offers protection from the coastal winds. The striking exterior is clad in zinc, while the interior is lined with warm ash panels and compressed sand panels. Recesses form sheltered patios along the rear of the home, while the front curves around a garden.
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Photo: Courtesy of OKO Group4/10Capital Hill Residence, Moscow, Russia
The late Pritzker Prize–winning architect Zaha Hadid designed this spectacular home—her only private residential project built in her lifetime—on a hillside outside of Moscow. The house includes two main components, one merged with the slope of the landscape and the other suspended over 65 feet in the air. The upper level gives the owner breathtaking views of the forest and the sky and is connected via three concrete columns outfitted with a staircase and a glass elevator. The four-level home includes an indoor swimming pool, a library, and a double-height main entrance—all in Hadid’s signature organic-inspired style.
Photo: Ethan Pines5/10Green Greenberg Green House, Los Angeles, California
Architect Beth Holden of New Theme transformed a 1940s ranch into a contemporary family home in Los Angeles. The LEED silver–certified residence was designed around a large courtyard, which optimizes the views and allows for natural ventilation. Sliding glass walls allow both levels of the home to be open to the outside, and the roof was turned into a backyard and garden, complete with a canopy topped by a solar panel. Soft curves decorate the exterior, and the motif continues inside, particularly in the undulating staircase that flows between levels.
Photo: Jacopo Mascheroni6/10Pinwheel, Luino, Italy
Nestled in the hills near Lake Maggiore in Italy is Pinwheel, a prefabricated wood house by JM Architecture. The pentagon-shaped home was built in just six months and was designed as a one-floor pavilion with a small basement level. Fin-like shutters open perpendicular to the rounded edges of the residence, recalling the shape of a pinwheel. A circular skylight and a staircase are set at the center of the building, while the other living spaces are open around them.
Photo: Joe Fletcher7/10Shapeshifter, Reno, Nevada
San Francisco–based firm OPA created a one-of-a-kind residence in Reno, Nevada for two art collectors and dealers. The architects reshaped the site, which is set on a bluff in an already established neighborhood, and allowed the new terrain to inspire the form of the house. The faceted exterior is made of long zinc panels and expanses of glazing, giving it an angular appearance that seems to rise up from the earth.
Photo: David Frutos8/10Crossed House, Murcia, Spain
A home in Murcia, Spain appears to defy physics with its dramatic cantilevered form. Clavel Arquitectos designed the residence, known as Crossed House, as two stacked concrete-clad forms set at a 35-degree angle to each other. The lower level overlooks the gardens and pool, while the upper level is turned to offer views of the mountains. The second-story cantilevers out over 30 feet, providing shade to the pool area and lower façade.
Photo: John Gollings9/10Klein Bottle House, Melbourne, Australia
Architecture firm McBride Charles Ryan built this striking weekend home on a challenging site in the seaside town of Rye in Melbourne, Australia. The design was inspired by the mathematical principle of the Klein bottle and origami, visible in its unconventional shape and faceted exterior. The black and white house is built around a central courtyard, and a dramatic red staircase twists around it to connect the levels of the home. At the top of the stairs is the living and dining area, which overlooks the beautiful surroundings.
Photo: Studio Hans Koistinen10/10Wave House, Mikkeli, Finland
Sweeping curves define the façade of the Wave House, designed by Finnish architect Seppo Mäntylä for Polar Life Haus, a wood home manufacturer. The architect put a contemporary twist on the classic log cabin in the design, taking inspiration from boat and airplane designs. Set above a picturesque lake, the single-story home was built out of pine, glass, and steel and features stunning views from the cantilevered terrace and the fully glazed walls of the living room, primary bedroom, and sauna.
