1. Name : Chong Kit Yee
Id :0319748
Module : English 1
[Session] August, 2014
Question Number : 2

2. Unique Buildings
Unique. A word define as being the only one of its kind and unlike anything
else. To be a unique architect you have to think out of the box and design an
outstanding buildings which can catch people attention. For example, the cubic
houses in Netherland design by Piet Blom. The main idea behind this is to create a
forest of abstract trees as each cubes represents an abstract tree. In addition, I had
study two unique buildings which is The Basket Building in Ohio, United States and
Crooked House in Sopot, Poland. When I compare this two buildings the functions,
layout & structures and materials used were totally different.
First of all, the functions of the basket building is an office while crooked
house is a commercial buildings. The basket building is the headquarters for
Longaberger Company. The Longaberger Company is an American manufacturer
and distributor of handcrafted maple wood baskets and other home and lifestyle
products. On the other hand, crooked house which located at the heart of Tri-City is
a commercial buildings. In daytime, it is a combination of business world such as
beauty salons, medical, shops and business. While in the night, it suits all the
teenagers who like to go clubs or pubs.
The exterior of basket building is a handcrafted baskets manufacturer doubles
as an enormous replica of a woven basket neatly situated in a park-like environment,
making its resemblance to a picnic basket fit for a giant uncanny. According to
Laylin.T (2012), the building is 192ft. long by 126ft. wide at the bottom and spreads
to 208ft. long by 142ft. wide at the roofline. Moreover, the interior of basket building
has 7 floors and is 180,000 square foot. It also has a grand staircase, player piano
and marble floors. In my study, the basket building’s layout & structures is bigger

3. than the crooked house. The crazy outlines of crooked house make it look like a
cartoon fun house. As said by Blazenhoff.R (2012), the architects were inspired by
the fairy tale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. The crooked
house has 4 floors and just 43,000 square foot. The ground floor is for gastronomy,
shops and services. First and second floors are for offices, gastronomy and services.
While the third floor is for gastronomy and offices. Even though the basket building is
bigger than crooked house I still prefer the outstanding structures of crooked house.
To build this two buildings, the engineers used different materials to make
them firm and stable. For the basket building’s body, the engineers used up to 8000
tons of steel framed to create the look of basket. On top of the steel framed is
covered with Cherry Woodwork which was harvested from the Longaberger golf club
in Hanover. This wood is to make it more like a picnic basket. Furthermore, the
handle of the “basket” used 150 tons of steel framed and is with replica copper and
wood rivets. Replica copper and wood rivets is to heat up the handle and prevent ice
forming during winter. In contrast, the crooked house with crazy outlines is harder to
build. It used concave roofs, walls and windows. The most important materials is
architectural glass. It causes the reflection of a funhouse mirror await the gaping
mouths and camera flashes that pass by and through its doors every day.
After comparing these two buildings I would like to travel to Poland and have
a visit to the crooked house. The functions, layout & structures and materials used is
more attractive than the basket building. Besides, crooked house is more
entertaining, I can go shopping, hair-do or even medical check-up over there. I also
prefer the exterior design of the crooked house. It looks like a fun house popping out
from a children storybook.

4. References:
The Basket Building in Ohio (n.d.). Retrieved 28 September 2014, from
http://www.homedit.com/the-basket-building-in-ohio/
Author, Pinar (8 December 2012). Gigantic Picnic Basket Office Building. Retrieved 28
September 2014, from http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/longaberger-company-
home-office
Author, Laylin.T (12 November 2012). Longaberger’s Giant Basket Building is Made of Loacally
Sourced Ohio Wood. Retrieved 28 September 2014, from http://inhabitat.com/longabergers-giant-
basket-headquarters-is-made-with-locally-sourced-wood-in-ohio/
The Basket Building (n.d.). Retrieved 28 September 2014, from
http://www.architravel.com/architravel/building/the-basket-building/
Krzywy Domek (n.d.). Retrieved 28 September 2014, from http://krzywydomek.info/
Krzywy Domek – The Crooked House ( 31 October 2012) . Retrieved 28 September 2014,
from http://www.travelmint.com/destinations/krzywy-domek-the-crooked-house.asp
Author, Blazenhoff.R (5 July 2012). Krzywy Domek, Polan’s Crooked House. Retrieved from
28 September 2014, from http://laughingsquid.com/krzywy-domek-polands-crooked-house/

5. The Basket Building (Ohio, United States)
Crooked House (Sopot, Poland)