We take a peek at 10 buildings that have us pause and take a second, and sometimes third, look at their artistic facades.

Long gone are the days when skyscrapers, offices, hotels, and residences had to be plain and boring on the outside just to fit into the neighborhood. These days, architects are taking risks by thinking outside the basic square box and designing exteriors that are literally works of art. When that happens, these structures can change the neighborhood, and sometimes the skyline, making passersby stop and take notice. Take a peek at 10 buildings with unique facades that have us pause and take a second, and sometimes third, look.

Part retail, part residential, the VM Houses in Copenhagen were designed by JDS Architects in the shapes of a V and an M with balconies that jut out like bird beaks. Photo by Darren Bradley
It’s no surprise that Adjaye Associates won the competition to design the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. with its stunning, highly detailed bronze filigree exterior that wraps the building.
Photo by Nacasa & Partners Inc.
If only every bank looked as bright and colorful as the Sugamo Shinkin Bank Shimura Branch that was designed by emmanuelle moureaux architecture + design. A stack of rainbow layers extend out from the facade to welcome visitors into its equally colorful interior.
Photo by Hedrich Blessing
It’s hard not to stop and pause when the Aq...