# Noneuclidian Building madness **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2019, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367 "2019-03-01T05:22:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/1 "2019-03-01T05:22:07Z")
On the way into town here is a new building that is seemingly designed to mess with your perception as you drive past it. 1. The road climbs a hill as you pass, but the building is built out onto a terrace so you approach it from below before pulling level with the front. 2. No face of the building is parallel to an adjacent street; they are all angled by maybe ten degrees. 3. The building is not rectangular; it’s on an odd lot, so it is a skewed trapezoid, with one narrow end, two long sides that diverge, and then a wide end. The ends aren’t parallel either. 4. It’s a tall two story building with a roofline that slopes down from the wide end to the narrow end in a single plane; it’s wedge shaped from top to bottom as well as from side to side. Because of this, the distance from the tops of the window frames to the roof increases along the length of the building. Because there isn’t a right angle to be found on the outside of the building, and because the road passes it at a tangent while also being on a slope, this building offends the mind at a profound level. It’s sinking into the ground at one corner! No, it’s rolling away from you as you pass it! No, it’s looming over the sidewalk! No, the building is straight but the windows are all crooked! As it was going up, when it was just a steel skeleton, I thought it was going to be a parking ramp because it looked like the floors were so far out of level. But no, it’s all level and plumb, you just can’t tell by looking. I’m sure it’s very nice inside, and the materials and landscaping are all very lovely, but by God I expect shoggoths to come pouring out of it every time I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/2 "2019-03-01T06:23:35Z")
Sounds fascinating. Can you post the address so we can look it up on Street View? ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/3 "2019-03-01T06:32:39Z")
My friends who have an (older slumping) house without any right angles call it “Cthulu house”. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/4 "2019-03-01T13:01:48Z")
Street View doesn’t really do it justice, but here’s the building under construction: [Google Maps](https://goo.gl/maps/3WJn6zdJvJt). If your brain assumes that the roof of a commercial building is flat, as they usually are, then the windows look like they are sloping downhill. ---
**Author:** ![Emergency911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@Emergency911](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emergency911)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/5 "2019-03-01T13:31:27Z")
If you make a right on Dubuque Rd, it turns into an empty lot with a for sale sign. Odd indeed! I know it’s just an older version of the map on that street, it was just funny to see. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/6 "2019-03-01T13:33:52Z")
The [M by Montcalm hotel in Shoreditch](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHpwpfD0JoU/VvZGZs8HHfI/AAAAAAAAL0I/ICIXCMJZXkELvqoE3iokk63Si03VsAfIw/s1600/M%2Bby%2BMontcalm%2BHotel%252C%2BShoreditch%252C%2BLondon.jpg), London, hurts my eyes to look at. It’s actually worse to see it in person. [Here’s another picture](https://www.mbymontcalm.co.uk/blog/travel-from-kings-cross-to-shoreditch/). ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/7 "2019-03-01T13:57:41Z")
> [@Emergency911](#): > > If you make a right on Dubuque Rd, it turns into an empty lot with a for sale sign. Odd indeed! I know it’s just an older version of the map on that street, it was just funny to see. Nah, that’s accurate. The whole thing only exists when viewed from certain angles. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/8 "2019-03-01T15:56:45Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The [M by Montcalm hotel in Shoreditch](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHpwpfD0JoU/VvZGZs8HHfI/AAAAAAAAL0I/ICIXCMJZXkELvqoE3iokk63Si03VsAfIw/s1600/M%2Bby%2BMontcalm%2BHotel%252C%2BShoreditch%252C%2BLondon.jpg), London, hurts my eyes to look at. It’s actually worse to see it in person. [Here’s another picture](https://www.mbymontcalm.co.uk/blog/travel-from-kings-cross-to-shoreditch/). There is a similar, but much smaller, parking garage in Pioneer Sq, Seattle: [http://www.viaducthistory.com/images/structures/SinkingShip.jpg](http://www.viaducthistory.com/images/structures/SinkingShip.jpg) https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211s3Qt9ZplV-mvjiIkuo58uRA%212m2%211d47.601747%212d-122.3337774%213f71.13%214f9.63%215f0.75 The “sinking ship” building. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/9 "2019-03-01T17:48:31Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > There is a similar, but much smaller, parking garage in Pioneer Sq, Seattle: > > [http://www.viaducthistory.com/images/structures/SinkingShip.jpg](http://www.viaducthistory.com/images/structures/SinkingShip.jpg) > > [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/@47.601747,-122.3337774,3a,75y,71.13h,96.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3Qt9ZplV-mvjiIkuo58uRA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) > > The “sinking ship” building. I really hope those two streets are going uphill… ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/10 "2019-03-01T17:53:07Z")
> [@brossa](#): > > Nah, that’s accurate. The whole thing only exists when viewed from certain angles. Is it a car dealership? For the [Sir Vival](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=447959)? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/11 "2019-03-01T18:30:06Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I really hope those two streets are going uphill… They are. I remember walking past that building and thinking about the interesting use of space. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/12 "2019-03-01T21:16:10Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I really hope those two streets are going uphill… It’s a parking garage with mandatory parking brake use! Chocks opptional 😃 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/13 "2019-03-01T23:55:29Z")
And then there’s [this one](http://www.nursingschoolhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Case-Western-Reserve-University.jpg). I’ve been inside, and it’s like having vertigo, but in different directions at once. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/14 "2019-03-02T06:03:07Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The [M by Montcalm hotel in Shoreditch](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHpwpfD0JoU/VvZGZs8HHfI/AAAAAAAAL0I/ICIXCMJZXkELvqoE3iokk63Si03VsAfIw/s1600/M%2Bby%2BMontcalm%2BHotel%252C%2BShoreditch%252C%2BLondon.jpg), London, hurts my eyes to look at. It’s actually worse to see it in person. [Here’s another picture](https://www.mbymontcalm.co.uk/blog/travel-from-kings-cross-to-shoreditch/). It reminds me of the Crimson Permanent Assurance… ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/15 "2019-03-02T06:33:07Z")
Here’s one that makes your eyes hurt. the [Ontario college of arts and design](https://www.google.com/search?q=ontario+college+of+art+and+design&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSgYmn6uLgAhUvsKQKHYcMDLQQ_AUIDigB&biw=1280&bih=913) It follows the rules of Euclidean geometry, so maybe it doesn’t count for this thread. But,damn, it’s weird. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/16 "2019-03-02T07:16:18Z")
It’s the choc-chip icecream bar that ate Ontario! Me, I’m a fan of [Storey Hall](http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/photography/City/slides/RMIT3.jpg) (also part of an educational institution) But damn, that link of **panache45** ’s is painful ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/17 "2019-03-02T13:09:20Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The [M by Montcalm hotel in Shoreditch](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHpwpfD0JoU/VvZGZs8HHfI/AAAAAAAAL0I/ICIXCMJZXkELvqoE3iokk63Si03VsAfIw/s1600/M%2Bby%2BMontcalm%2BHotel%252C%2BShoreditch%252C%2BLondon.jpg), London, hurts my eyes to look at. It’s actually worse to see it in person. [Here’s another picture](https://www.mbymontcalm.co.uk/blog/travel-from-kings-cross-to-shoreditch/). I walk past that bugger whenever I’m working in London. Bloody awful it is. Trying far too hard to be clever. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/18 "2019-03-02T18:07:54Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Here’s one that makes your eyes hurt. > the [Ontario college of arts and design](https://www.google.com/search?q=ontario+college+of+art+and+design&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSgYmn6uLgAhUvsKQKHYcMDLQQ_AUIDigB&biw=1280&bih=913) > > It follows the rules of Euclidean geometry, so maybe it doesn’t count for this thread. > But,damn, it’s weird. Ah yes. The Tabletop. 🙂 Ever since they built it, I’ve wanted to put a vast papier-maché teapot and cups on top. A few kilometres north, I used to work across the street from [this](https://bharchitects.com/en/project/rom-crystal/). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/19 "2019-03-02T18:28:36Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Me, I’m a fan of [Storey Hall](http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/photography/City/slides/RMIT3.jpg) (also part of an educational institution) Nothing to see there. Just a rendering error. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367/20 "2019-03-03T06:40:23Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And then there’s [this one](http://www.nursingschoolhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Case-Western-Reserve-University.jpg). I’ve been inside, and it’s like having vertigo, but in different directions at once. That HAS to be a Gehry… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noneuclidian-building-madness/830367.md?page=2)