TOP 10 FOLLY ARCHITECTURE

We have seen from my previous posts the Wackiest Construction Projects and the Wackiest Architecture Designs, but this - folly architecture - takes the cake. Folly means foolish but there are other synonyms - mad, stupid, idiotic, crazy, and silly. Perhaps they are reflections of the builders themselves. As they say, there's method in madness. Nonetheless the designs are indeed jaw-dropping, as you can see from the above picture (see No. 4)!

The Top 10 Pieces Of Folly Architecture (PHOTOS)
By Huffington Post.

Folly architecture, from the French word for 'foolish,' is eccentric and extravagant architecture with an appearance that far overshadows its purpose. Often, its appearance is its sole purpose. The architectural marvels below take many forms, made all around the world from the 19th century to the 90's. There are underground tunnels, an upside down church and a giant banana. But differences aside, they all will make your jaw drop, either from admiring their over-the-top appearance or from wondering who would possibly ever build these? Enjoy the world's best works of folly architecture.

1. The Dunmore Pineapple

The Dunmore Pineapple, built in 1761, is said to "rank as the most bizarre building in Scotland." The building, home to the Earls of Dunmore, contained a hothouse, used for, you guessed it, growing pineapples.

2. The Wonderful Barn

The aptly named Wonderful Barn is a corkscrew-shaped barn built on the edge of Castletown House Estate of the Conolly family in Ireland. It was constructed in 1743. The precise purpose for its bizarre shape is still uncertain, although many speculate it was simply to cover up the vista visible from the Castleton house's window.

3. Wainhouse Tower

At 275 feet, the Wainhouse Tower is the tallest folly in the world. It was designed in 1871 by Isaac Booth to serve as a chimney. Its impressive height serves to follow a new ordinance which ordered chimneys be high enough to carry the smoke out above the valleys where the factories were built. Although a much simpler chimney would have sufficed, Booth liked his chimneys pretty.

4. Device To Root Out Evil

This topsy-turvy church was built in 1997 by Dennis Oppenheim. At 25 feet and with a charming New England style, it was almost a perfect place of worship, except for that one upside-down thing. As Oppenheim said, "Turning something upside-down elicits a reversal of content and pointing a steeple into the ground directs it to hell as opposed to heaven." Yeah, that is kind of a deal breaker.

5. Temple Of Philosophy

This temple was built in 18th century France. It was purposefully left unfinished, to symbolize that knowledge would never be complete. In the same series, there's also a temple of modern virtues which was built to appear as if already in ruins.

6. Forgotten Folly

This tall tower, built in 1829 by William Bettison, was used to help him communicate with his servants. A servant would look out from the top of the tower, see his master approaching, and run down to ensure dinner was served right as Bettison walked in.

7. The Big Banana

This rather big banana was built in Coffs Harbor, Australia, in 1964. Built on a banana plantation, this Big Banana is home to many banana related stores, restaurants and a World of Bananas educational experience. Some say the experience of seeing it is so intense that it just might make you go...nuts.

8. The Williamson Tunnels

Source: Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre

This labyrinth of tunnels was built in the early 19th century by eccentric businessman Joseph Williamson in Liverpool. They make up the largest underground folly, but just how large no one knows for sure, since the full extent of the tunnels are blocked by rubble. Some of the larger tunnels are 70 feet by 20 feet and the smaller can be 4 by 6. Rumours circulate about why Williamson would build such thing, the most popular being that Williamson was part of an extremist religious sect and built the tunnels in case the world ended and he wanted a place to hang out with his friends afterward.

Video: A Brief History of the Williamson Tunnels

9. Ballandean Pyramid

This Australian Pyramid, built out of local granite on a vineyard, is 15 metres tall and cost approximately $102,000 to build. Rumour has it that the owner of the vineyard was asked by a neighbour what he was going to do with all of the rocks on the land; eight months and one dump truck later he had his own landmark. It is surrounded by an electric fence, so don't get any ideas.

10. The Forbidden Corner

Source: The Forbidden Corner

Built in the 1980's in North Yorkshire, England, this garden is filled with all kinds of follies arranged in a maze for visitors to venture through. There is no map, only a scavenger hunt-style checklist of items to be found.

Video: Amazing Forbidden Corner in the Yorkshire Dales UK

[Source: Huffington Post. Edited. Some images added.]