Name : Chong Kit Yee

Id :0319748

Module : English 1

[Session] August, 2014

Question Number : 2

Unique Buildings

Unique. A word define as being the only one of its kind and unlike anything

else. To be a unique architect you have to think out of the box and design an

outstanding buildings which can catch people attention. For example, the cubic

houses in Netherland design by Piet Blom. The main idea behind this is to create a

forest of abstract trees as each cubes represents an abstract tree. In addition, I had

study two unique buildings which is The Basket Building in Ohio, United States and

Crooked House in Sopot, Poland. When I compare this two buildings the functions,

layout & structures and materials used were totally different.

First of all, the functions of the basket building is an office while crooked

house is a commercial buildings. The basket building is the headquarters for

Longaberger Company. The Longaberger Company is an American manufacturer

and distributor of handcrafted maple wood baskets and other home and lifestyle

products. On the other hand, crooked house which located at the heart of Tri-City is

a commercial buildings. In daytime, it is a combination of business world such as

beauty salons, medical, shops and business. While in the night, it suits all the

teenagers who like to go clubs or pubs.

The exterior of basket building is a handcrafted baskets manufacturer doubles

as an enormous replica of a woven basket neatly situated in a park-like environment,

making its resemblance to a picnic basket fit for a giant uncanny. According to

Laylin.T (2012), the building is 192ft. long by 126ft. wide at the bottom and spreads

to 208ft. long by 142ft. wide at the roofline. Moreover, the interior of basket building

has 7 floors and is 180,000 square foot. It also has a grand staircase, player piano

and marble floors. In my study, the basket building’s layout & structures is bigger

than the crooked house. The crazy outlines of crooked house make it look like a

cartoon fun house. As said by Blazenhoff.R (2012), the architects were inspired by

the fairy tale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. The crooked

house has 4 floors and just 43,000 square foot. The ground floor is for gastronomy,

shops and services. First and second floors are for offices, gastronomy and services.

While the third floor is for gastronomy and offices. Even though the basket building is

bigger than crooked house I still prefer the outstanding structures of crooked house.

To build this two buildings, the engineers used different materials to make

them firm and stable. For the basket building’s body, the engineers used up to 8000

tons of steel framed to create the look of basket. On top of the steel framed is

covered with Cherry Woodwork which was harvested from the Longaberger golf club

in Hanover. This wood is to make it more like a picnic basket. Furthermore, the

handle of the “basket” used 150 tons of steel framed and is with replica copper and

wood rivets. Replica copper and wood rivets is to heat up the handle and prevent ice

forming during winter. In contrast, the crooked house with crazy outlines is harder to

build. It used concave roofs, walls and windows. The most important materials is

architectural glass. It causes the reflection of a funhouse mirror await the gaping

mouths and camera flashes that pass by and through its doors every day.

After comparing these two buildings I would like to travel to Poland and have

a visit to the crooked house. The functions, layout & structures and materials used is

more attractive than the basket building. Besides, crooked house is more

entertaining, I can go shopping, hair-do or even medical check-up over there. I also

prefer the exterior design of the crooked house. It looks like a fun house popping out

from a children storybook.

References:

The Basket Building in Ohio (n.d.). Retrieved 28 September 2014, from

http://www.homedit.com/the-basket-building-in-ohio/

Author, Pinar (8 December 2012). Gigantic Picnic Basket Office Building. Retrieved 28

September 2014, from http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/longaberger-

company-home-office

Author, Laylin.T (12 November 2012). Longaberger’s Giant Basket Building is Made of Loacally

Sourced Ohio Wood. Retrieved 28 September 2014, from http://inhabitat.com/longabergers-

giant-basket-headquarters-is-made-with-locally-sourced-wood-in-ohio/

The Basket Building (n.d.). Retrieved 28 September 2014, from

http://www.architravel.com/architravel/building/the-basket-building/

Krzywy Domek (n.d.). Retrieved 28 September 2014, from http://krzywydomek.info/

Krzywy Domek – The Crooked House ( 31 October 2012) . Retrieved 28 September 2014,

from http://www.travelmint.com/destinations/krzywy-domek-the-crooked-house.asp

Author, Blazenhoff.R (5 July 2012). Krzywy Domek, Polan’s Crooked House. Retrieved from

28 September 2014, from http://laughingsquid.com/krzywy-domek-polands-crooked-

house/

The Basket Building (Ohio, United States)

Crooked House (Sopot, Poland)