Krzywy Domek comes across as a drunk house or crooked house. And that is exactly what that name means in Polish.
But the name is nowhere as bizarre as the building itself that is bang in the middle of Sopot, a city in Poland.
The crooked house seems like an image distorted in Photoshop. The extraordinary sports’ irregular and curved lines leave people watching it a bit dizzy.
Built in 2004, the crooked house is viewed as a showpiece of the city. Appearing straight out of a fairy tale, the building was designed by Polish architects Szotynscy and Zaleski. They were inspired by the illustrations in children’s books by Jan Szancer.
The crooked house incorporates warped walls, windows framed with sandstone, curved stained glass, elevated stone decors, and a concave roof that is made with blue and green enameled shingles. The surreal building is straight out of a cartoon book.
The crooked house gives the impression of a resting dragon. An immensely popular tourist attraction, the building contains office space, shops, bars, and restaurants. It also has its Polish version of Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame. It has become the most sought-after tourist attraction in the city.
Locals joke that if you have been drinking too hard and pass the house, and it appears normal, it indicates that you have been drinking too hard.
First Experience Of The Crooked House
For first-time visitors, it is akin to visiting a fairyland. And the pictures of the house are nowhere as amazing as a firsthand visit to the crooked house. Krzywy Domek is not just another quaint attraction. It is as amazing from the inside as it is awesome from the inside. But the crazy and crooked nature of the house disappears once you are inside it.
It appears like a drunk person struggling to stay on their feet amid a row of perfectly sober persons. Given the fun appeal of the house, visitors find it strange that the design has not yet been copied by other architects and replicated it.
It just appears another normal house from the inside. There are regular shops and a coffee house inside. The only minus point, if it could be considered that, is the presence of two trees outside that restricts visitors from enjoying the full visual appeal of the house at a time.
Poland is an architectural marvel with diverse styles that reflect its cultural and historical milieu. Yet hidden within the tapestry of both modern and traditional designs is this structure that both metaphorically and literally bends architectural rules.
Story Behind The Crooked House
Some people also point out that the crooked house is a living embodiment of the nation’s resilience, the allure of the surreal, and immense creativity. The crooked house story begins in the early years of this century. A building relying solely on the fantastic and the whimsical began to come up in February 2003. It was the date that the first brick was laid by the two architects.
The architects were inspired by the charming illustration of Jan Szancer, a famous Polish Illustrator of children’s books. The renowned Polish children combined his work with the renowned child artist and illustrator and also the drawing of Per Dahlberg, the Swedish artist who happens to live in Sopot.
The visitors first got to enjoy a unique spatial experience when it first opened in 2004. The interior of the house also defies the norms of rectangular and square shapes of conventional architecture.
The panorama of twisted passages, arched ceilings, and asymmetrical windows gives a distorted perspective and an enjoyable illusion. Paired with its mix of unique illumination and eclectic establishments of cozy cafes, modern offices, and upscale boutiques, the interior is a riot of creativity and imagination.
The crooked house truly exemplifies that architecture is not merely about symmetrical bricks and mortar. It is also about telling storing and creating an experience.
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