This 29-ton granite ball spins around at the slightest touch thanks to a scientific phenomenon.

Inspired by a foil-wrapped potato, (seriously) the Markel Building has been deemed one of the 10 ugliest buildings in the world.

These aggressively sustainable art homes look like something out of 1970's science fiction.

In this tiny Iranian town playing on the roof isn't just encouraged, it's the only place to go.

First known as the "Sample House," this construction mash-up was meant to be a living catalogue of building styles.

Empty, but not abandoned, this cavernous Brooklyn loading dock was once considered the largest individual building in the world.

An uber-secure, windowless tower of doom in the center of Manhattan is an NSA spyscraper.

The oldest surviving wood-frame building in North America is still in the family.

One man's ambition created this psychedelic log home.

This World's Fair showpiece was built in Chicago, but shipped to Maine.

Marvel at this turn-of-the-century masterpiece that has been turned into a rather stately supermarket.

The oldest known university in the world is in Fez, Morocco.

Traditional 11th-century outdoor tannery.

Thousands of narrow alleyways in an ancient medieval city make up what's believed to be the world's largest car-free urban zone.

The other side is actually green.

The first car-centric shopping plaza in the U.S. brought a little bit of Spain to downtown Kansas City.

An "inside out" building in the historical center of Paris, featuring Europe’s largest modern art museum.

The Hudson River School comes alive at this palatial estate.

An abandoned dollhouse factory.

These slanted cubic abodes are a creative if odd solution to a zoning pickle.

This 90-year-old building is home to possibly the most New Englandy social club in existence.

The famed architect designed this Minnesota gas station of the future with a lookout tower.

This 1967 experiment in modular architecture was designed to be a new model for urban living.

A prime example of New Orleans' unique architecture these early 20th century homes were built to look like steamboats.