Comments on: I'd like it in the form of a toad, please.

I'd like it in the form of a toad, please.

julen — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:29:55 -0800

Sometimes walls, windows, door and a roof just isn't enough. Why be boxed in by four walls when you can make your home or business look just like your favorite critter? Here's a collection of animal-shaped buildings from around the world, including the trailblazing Lucy the Elephant whose creator got a patent in the 1880s giving him exclusive rights to make animal-shaped buildings up until the turn of the century.

My favorite isn't included in that list: The Toed In (on Shorpy). There's lot more out there: The Duck House at the Shanghai Expo. A cat-shaped kindergarden and simpler cat-shaped buildings on Cat Island in Japan. A fabulous set of snake-shaped homes in Mexico. America has several pig stands and pig-shaped hot dog stands. Some pigstands serve people at the mouth of the pig. There is a bulldog cafe. Strange and Unusual Buildings offers up: a goose-shaped home & Mother Goose Cafe & a shark-fronted building. The Japanese Tsunami destroyed a crab-shaped public toilet. Belgium gives us a Trojan Horse-shaped B&B. There are buildings shaped like dinosaurs in CA, FL, and FL again. An Indian Fisheries building is shaped like a fish. An Octopus in China is a bit abstract. An ice cream-mongering owl includes a pun. If animals don't work for you, may I suggest buildings that look like the food they serve?

By: Blue_Villain

Blue_Villain — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:58:37 -0800

Soo... no pictures of the inside of said elephant, dog, alligator, cat, duck, whatever? FWIW, there's a strawberry (shaped building) that sells ice cream and milkshakes on the way to the beach in NC. It only stands out in my mind because this is area of the world is largely peach country. It's also a great piece of marketing because everybody I know is aware of said strawberry.

By: 256

256 — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:11:07 -0800

There's also the majestic (10 story!) Robarts Turkey at University of Toronto.

By: zamboni

zamboni — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:18:37 -0800

Big Things are a common tourist attraction in Australia. My favourite is The Big Merino.

By: Catch

Catch — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:44:02 -0800

Soo... no pictures of the inside of said elephant, dog, alligator, cat, duck, whatever? Well, here's the interior of the dog in Tirau. The place has gone nuts on corrugated iron 'sculpture' in the last ten years, every time I drive through there seems to be something new - a corrugated iron shepherd outside the church, Poppy's cafe has a corrugated-iron poppy, there's a teddy bear, teapot, giant sunflower and so on and on . It's a nice stroll on Streetview of a small town that was once on its knees, cheerfully embracing a (it has to be said, kind of tacky) craze and absolutely blooming with it. I'm fond of the place.

By: sonascope

sonascope — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:20:21 -0800

I live just south of an area older locals call "One Spot" because it was once graced by a house framed by a giant flat bifurcated dog. The dog is long gone, but you'll still hear about "One Spot," at least for now.

By: annsunny

annsunny — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:01:01 -0800

There's the sombrero-shaped restaurant in Tucumcari, NM. I'm not sure if it's still open.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:51:28 -0800

The Whale House in Santa Barbara apparently took crew of 20 workers three years to build. It's really hard to see from the road.

By: howfar

howfar — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:36:04 -0800

You know who else was fond of buildings shaped like animals?

By: Violet Hour

Violet Hour — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:55:19 -0800

My favorite isn't included in that list: The Toed In (on Shorpy). OH MY GOD. It's like a real Doc Hopper's.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 21:42:06 -0800

There's also the majestic (10 story!) Robarts Turkey at University of Toronto. Let's all agree not to tell Jenny.

By: pxe2000

pxe2000 — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 15:23:30 -0800

There's also the Hood Milk Bottle at the Children's Museum in Boston.

By: maiamaia

maiamaia — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 15:29:05 -0800

so, so cool and nice, despite being so dumb, because even:)