The Crooked House

The Crooked House, Sopot

Unlike animals and all wildlife I feel awaken by winter. Finally after autumn-ish christmas, and snowless New Year's, temperature dropped closer to zero than ever before (this winter :) The snow didn't melt for a week now, and I feel inspired :) (just hoping quietly that for couple more of weeks of winter, it would be truly great:).

Panorama of inside of the Crooked House

So my inspiration took me to Sopot, to admire one of the most popular buildings of modern architecture. This piece of architecture is called "Krzywy Domek", which translate to "The Crooked House". I think that this building is one of the most recognizable landmark of Sopot (right after the Pier). Mostly because, you just can't pass by this building without noticing it.

The Crooked House at Night

So to give you the background of its origins: the project was inspired by children book illustrations (no surprise there :) of Jan Marcin Szancer, and Per Dahlberg - swedish artist, who lived in Sopot, among other cities. The project was created in 2001 by local architects - Szotyńscy.
The building was completed in 2004.

The Wall of Fame

If you look closely at the front of the building you might notice little stones attached to wall. If you know your stars, you might notice that they form constellations (I am not constellation expert, but I found  Great Bear on the left side of the entry).

The Crooked House inside

I know that the building is called "The Crooked House", but if it was up to me I would call it smiling house, or cheerful house. When I look at this building I feel that it is genuinely happy.

Even the gate is smiling :)

The building itself is quite long. I even feel like it wasn't that long when they first made it. Inside you will find coffee shops, restaurants and - at higher levels - clubs. But further down the building you can find a little shopping centre.

The "other" entrance to The Crooked House

In 2008 "Village of Joy" announced our beloved Crooked House to be no. 1 of Strange Buildings of the World list. However same year the list was reviewed, and shortlisted. The Crooked House was placed at no. 4 of Top 10 Strangest Buildings in the World. Tough luck. Despite all that we love you Crooked House and are happy you enrich Sopot streets.