18 Places with Unique Layouts (19 photos)

A selection of cities and regions from around the world where the harmony of lines and shapes creates amazing urban masterpieces.





A bird's eye view opens up a whole new perspective on cities, allowing you to see their unique urban planning in all its glory. From the narrow canals of Venice to the circular gardens of Brøndby, each city holds within itself a unique architectural idea and historical features that shape its appearance.

1. Venice



Venice is known for its unique urban planning, based on a network of canals that replace streets. The city is built on 118 islands connected by bridges, and is one of the most unusual examples of water architecture in the world.

2. Durrat Al Bahrain





This man-made archipelago in Bahrain is made up of crescent-shaped and fish-shaped islands. The project is focused on luxury real estate, entertainment facilities and resorts, making it an example of modern floating urbanism concepts.

3. Plaza del Ejecutivo, Mexico City



This is a business district in Mexico City with modern skyscrapers and office buildings. It uses the principles of compact urbanism, integrating commerce, work and housing in one space, which helps reduce transportation costs and improve the environment.

4. Runaway Bay, Queensland



A resort town on the coast of Australia with a developed tourist infrastructure. It is built around beaches and water sports, with much attention paid to the preservation of the environment and the harmonious combination of nature and infrastructure.

5. Elche, Alicante



This Spanish city is famous for its palm groves, which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Elche's central area is characterized by a grid layout, typical of many Spanish cities, which makes navigation easy. However, what makes Elche unique is that the urban spaces are seamlessly intertwined with natural elements, creating the feeling of a green oasis in the urban environment.

6. Pantin-Parisiens Cemetery, Paris



This is one of the largest cemeteries in Paris, located in the north-eastern part of the city. It is organized as a large park with clear paths, making it not only a burial site but also an important green space in the urban environment.

7. Palmanova, Udine



A star-shaped fortified town designed in the 16th century, Palmanova is a perfect example of Renaissance urbanism with a radial layout, with all streets converging on a central square, which ensured effective defense.

8. Sun Lakes, Arizona



This community is largely for older people. The urban planning is focused on the convenience of living and active lifestyle for the older generation, with attention to greenery and space for leisure, including golf courses, clubs and recreation areas.

9. Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai



This is one of the fastest growing residential areas of Dubai, designed as a gated community with a high level of security and developed infrastructure. Oriented towards families, with a large number of parks and recreational areas.

10. Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo



One of the most important port cities in Africa, Pointe-Noire is known for its industrial and logistics infrastructure. The city is planned as a transportation and economic hub with developed port infrastructure and connections to the interior of the country.

11. Casablanca



The streets of Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, especially in its central part, are interesting for their characteristic grid layout, which resembles a honeycomb. This type of street was designed during the colonial era, when the city was rapidly developing and expanding. The clear geometric structure of the streets helps to rationalize traffic and use space efficiently.

12. Brøndby Garden City, Copenhagen



This area is known for its unique circular housing estates. It is an interesting experiment in urban planning, with individual residential lots arranged in concentric circles. Each circle consists of private homes with garden plots, and this layout creates a special sense of community and privacy for its residents.

The concentric structure is not only visually unusual, but also functional: it helps create quiet, friendly neighborhoods with minimal car traffic in the center.

13. Stuyvesant Town, New York



A large Manhattan apartment complex designed as affordable housing for the middle class. The complex is designed as a "park city", with wide green areas that provide residents with space to relax in an urban environment.

14. La Plata, Buenos Aires



This Argentine city has a grid plan, organized around major parks and plazas. It was designed in the 19th century as an ideal city, with straight streets and symmetrical buildings.

15. Carnaxide, Lisbon



This Lisbon suburb is characterized by a combination of residential areas with office and retail spaces, creating a balance between work and personal life. Much attention is paid to transport accessibility and integration with natural areas.

16. Sułoszowa, Krakow



A village with an unusually long and narrow layout, consisting of a single street with houses along it. It is a unique form of linear settlement that reflects the historical tradition of rural settlement planning in Poland.

17. Sapporo, Hokkaido



The capital city of the northern island of Hokkaido in Japan, Sapporo is characterized by straight and wide streets, which is rare in Japanese cities. The urban planning was developed with the harsh winter conditions in mind, including a system of underground passages.

18. Arvaikheer, Mongolia



Arvaikheer, the capital of the Överkhangai aimag in Mongolia, is located on the border with the Gobi, one of the most famous deserts in the world. This gives the city a unique feature - it is located at the junction of the steppe expanses and the harsh desert landscapes.