Some buildings aren’t just made to house things; they’re built to actually look like things. Known as novelty, mimetic, or programmatic architecture, these quirky creations are all about turning heads and standing out, and are frequently built to mimic the item they’re advertising. From the Teapot Dome Service Station in Washington to the basket-shaped headquarters of The Longaberger Company in Ohio, we’ve rounded up 14 creative structures that blur the line between architecture and spectacle.
1. The Big Duck: Flanders, New York
Built in 1931 by duck farmer Martin Maurer to promote the sale of ducks and eggs, this ferrocement structure is a textbook example of mimetic architecture. Standing at 20 feet tall and 30 feet long, it was originally built in Riverhead, New York, as a form of roadside advertisement for passing drivers. Today, it still stands as a beloved roadside attraction.
2. Longaberger Basket: Newark, Ohio
Imagine driving past this giant basket! This seven-story office, complete with giant handles on top, was built in 1997 to serve as the headquarters of the Longaberger Company, which is known for its handcrafted baskets. Modeled after the company’s signature product (the Medium Market Basket), the building is celebrated for its programmatic architecture.
3. Teapot Dome Service Station: Zillah, Washington
This whimsical piece was built in 1922 as a way to sell gas to passing motorists in the state of Washington. Shaped like a giant teapot, it was created as a satirical response to the Teapot Dome political scandal before becoming a roadside attraction.
4. Kindergarten Wolfartsweier: Karlsruhe, Germany
This purrfectly cat-shaped preschool was designed by artist Tomi Ungerer and architect Ayla Suzan Yöndel in the late ’90s. Opened in 2001, the playful building features circular windows for eyes, a tail-shaped slide, and even a whiskered entrance.
5. The Tamale: Los Angeles, California
Built in the 1920s, this cylindrical building was designed to look a giant tamale wrapped in corn husks. Designed to lure in hungry customers as they drove through the city, the Tamale is still open today (though it’s no longer a restaurant).
6. Ben-Hur Delicious Drip Coffee: Los Angeles, California
Topped with a giant coffee pot, this larger-than-life cafe was built in the 1930s and served as both a diner and a marketing spectacle. Now we’re craving some of those homemade pies (were they really selling for just 15 cents?!).
7. Lucy the Elephant: Margate, New Jersey
Built in 1881, Lucy is a six-story elephant-shaped building originally built to attract real estate buyers to the Jersey Shore. Over the years, she’s served as a roadside hotel, tavern, and has now been revamped as a local museum and gift shop.
8. The Toed Inn: Los Angeles, California
This whimsical frog-shaped restaurant was originally located in Santa Monica Canyon but was damaged during the 1938 floods. In 1940, it was relocated to 12008 Wilshire Boulevard and reopened as a drive-in, serving up classic American fare.
9. The Coffee Pot: Bedford, Pennsylvania
Built in 1927, this giant coffee pot-shaped building originally operated as a lunch stand on the Lincoln Highway. Made of sheet metal over a wooden frame, it was designed to entice travelers with both its shape and the promise of a delicious cup of joe.
10. The Dog Bark Park Inn: Cottonwood, Idaho
This former bed and breakfast sits along Highway 95. Nicknamed “Sweet Willy,” the massive beagle-shaped structure opened in 2003 and was built by chainsaw artists Dennis and Frances Sullivan. And get this: Guests entered through the dog’s body and slept in its belly. The Sullivans retired in 2025; a gift shop adjacent to the bed and breakfast is now open to the public “on a sporadic basis or by appointment.”
11. The Big Chicken: Marietta, Georgia
Standing 56 feet tall, this towering chicken-shaped structure was originally built in 1963 as a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise store. Its giant beak and moving eyes made it a local landmark and directional reference point for drivers (“turn left at the Big Chicken”). After a major renovation in 2017, it still operates as a KFC today, where it continues to delight patrons.
12. The Sphinx: Los Angeles, California
Built in the 1920s, this unusual building served as the headquarters of the Sphinx Realty Company. Shaped like a stylized Egyptian sphinx head, it was designed to stand out in the rapidly-changing suburbs of early 20th-century L.A.
13. Haine’s Shoe House: Hallam, Pennsylvania
Built in 1948 by shoe salesman Mahlon Haines, this five-story house is shaped like a giant work boot. Originally built to promote his shoe business and to serve as a guesthouse for newlyweds and senior couples, it features a living room in the toe and bedrooms in the ankle. Today, the revamped building continues to charm visitors, and is even listed on Airbnb.
14. World’s Largest Catsup Bottle: Collinsville, Illinois
Though technically a water tower, this 170-foot-tall bottle of catsup (yes, with a “c”) was built in 1949 for the Brooks Tomato Products Company. Designed to resemble the company’s signature condiment bottle, it has since become a cherished symbol of vintage Americana. While it no longer holds ketchup or water, it can still be seen towering over Route 159 today.
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