10 sinister buildings and structures that exude mysticism (17 photos)

Looking at these structures and buildings, it seems that each of them would be ideal for a whole crowd of ghosts to live in or would become the perfect headquarters for a team of supervillains.





But in reality, their creation was mainly for peaceful and useful practical purposes. It's just that due to their functionality or the architects' decision, they turned out exactly like this - fascinating, frightening, somewhere gothic, but attractive.

1. WWII German Lookout Tower, Guernsey, Channel Islands



This seven-storey lookout tower was built by German prisoners of war. The tower is one of a series of Nazi fortifications built and used by German forces from 1942 to 1945 as part of their sea defence system during their occupation of Guernsey during World War II.

Up to 70,000 forced labourers were brought to the island from Europe and used to build most of the fortifications between 1941 and 1943.

2. Kalyazin Radio Astronomy Observatory, Kalyazin, Tver Oblast





Kalyazin Radio Astronomy Observatory (abbreviated KRAO; previously known as the Center for Deep Space Communications of the Special Design Bureau of the MEI "Kalyazin"). Located near the city of Kalyazin, Tver Oblast.



The construction of the observatory began in 1974, and the facility was put into operation in 1992. The list of main areas of activity includes pulsar physics and pulsar astrometry, the study of galactic and extragalactic objects, the search for space debris, and the reception of information from spacecraft from deep space.

3. Battersea Power Station, Battersea, South London



This is a disused coal-fired power station on the south bank of the River Thames in Battersea, South London. The complex consists of two separate power units, built in two stages as separate buildings.

Battersea A Power Station was built in the 1930s, and Battersea B Power Station was built to the east 20 years later. They are built in the same architectural style.

The station is the largest brick building in Europe and has an unusual interior and decor. The height of the chimneys is 109 meters.



The station ceased operation in 1983, but over the past 50 years it has become one of the capital's most famous landmarks and has been included in the list of buildings of special architectural and historical significance. The building has been used for album covers by various bands, including Pink Floyd (Animals), and during the filming of various films, including Children of Men and The Dark Knight. In 2022, a shopping mall was opened in the former power station.

4. Qatar Towers, Lusail, Qatar



The luxury hotel opened in 2022, when Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup. The towers cover a total of approximately 300,000 square meters, featuring entertainment and recreational centers, specialty boutiques, cinemas, and restaurants. The building is divided between two hotel brands, Fairmont and Raffles.



5. Headquarters of the French Communist Party, Paris, France



Located at 2 Place Colonel Fabien in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. The chief architect was Oscar Niemeyer, who had previously designed many buildings for the new capital of Brazil.

The building was designed in 1966 and construction began in 1968. The building was inaugurated in 1971. The dome, which houses the National Party Council, is said by the architect to represent the belly of a pregnant woman. In 2007, the building was designated a historical monument.

6. Umeda Sky Building, Osaka, Japan



A twin-tower mixed-use skyscraper in Osaka, Japan. Situated on the outskirts of the Umeda business district in Kita-ku, the impressive high-rise is also known as Umeda New Town.



The building consists of two 40-story towers that are connected by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th floor. The total height of the towers is 170 meters, including the spires - 190 meters. The observatory windows and the open area offer beautiful views of the city. The basement contains a restaurant floor that replicates the city of the early Showa period, while offices occupy most of the other floors. The building is the twelfth tallest in the city and one of the most famous.

7. Kaliningrad House of Soviets, built on the ruins of Königsberg Castle



The House of Soviets is an unfinished building in the center of Kaliningrad. Construction of the 21-story, 50-meter-long building began in 1970. City residents often called it the "buried robot" because its appearance resembled the head of a giant robot buried in the ground up to its shoulders. Conceived as the central administrative building of the region, it was built on the site of the 13th-century Königsberg Castle.

The facility became one of the symbols and the main long-term construction project of the city. The square in front of the building was planned to be improved - to equip it with fountains, flower beds and even an open-air concert hall.

The construction of the building was never completed, and it stood empty throughout its existence. Demolition of the structure began in 2023. The building was completely demolished in August 2024.

8. Telemax Telecommunications Tower in Hanover, Germany



Designed by Hans W. Böckler. Height 282 meters. The tower is the fifth tallest telecommunications tower in Germany.

There is no observation deck on Telemax. The building is interesting due to its geometry. In 1997, Böckler received the Art of Reinforcement of Concrete Award for the truss design of the tower.

9. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu, Oñate, Basque Country, Spain



The Basilica of Our Lady of Arantzazu is a Franciscan sanctuary located in Oñate, Basque Country, Spain. The sanctuary is highly valued among Gipuzkoans, as the Virgin of Arantzazu is the sanctuary's namesake and the patroness of the province.

The building is somewhat mystical, with a tangible aura. But the place itself is distinguished by the silence and peaceful atmosphere of the Aizkorri mountain range, as well as good road infrastructure. Therefore, it is often visited by both local and foreign tourists.



The sanctuary is located on the site where the Virgin of Arantzazu supposedly appeared to the shepherd Rodrigo de Balanzategui in 1468.

10. Al-Tijaria (Cobra Tower), Sharq, Kuwait



Skyscraper in Sharq, Kuwait. The tower has a two-degree slope between floors. Its height is 218 meters. Construction began in 2005 and was completed in 2009.



The basis for the creation of a unique architectural project was a regular spiral. The skyscraper houses a huge number of shops and catering establishments, and part of the building was allocated for offices.

Al-Tijaria is one of the most interesting tourist places in Kuwait.