10 Real-Life Buildings That Are Not What They Seem to Be (12 photos)

8 March 2025
2

Back in the 20th century, the construction of public and even industrial buildings was entrusted to progressive architects with an unconventional vision of what hospitals, prisons, or government buildings should look like.





1. Justice Centre Leoben, Austria



What it looks like: the headquarters of Google or Apple.

What it really is: a prison.

2. Müllverbrennungsanlage Spittelau, Vienna, Austria





What it seems to be: a museum of modern art.

What it really is: a waste incineration plant.

3. TheKrane, Copenhagen, Denmark



What it looks like: a crane in the port.

What it really is: a hotel.

4. Parroquia Santa Monica, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Spain



What it looks like: an opera or an original supermarket building.

What it really is: a parish church.

5. P-Arken, Gothenburg, Sweden



What it looks like: a barge.

What it really is: a car park.

6. Comisaría de Mollet, Barcelona



What it looks like: a school.

What it really is: a police station.

7. Uredd, Norway



What it looks like: a mini-hotel.

What it really is: a public toilet.

8. MSP building, Edinburgh, Scotland



What it looks like: an art school building.

What it actually is: Part of the Scottish Parliament building.

9. Storstrøm Prison, Denmark



What it actually looks like: A university building.

What it actually is: Another prison.

10. Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos, Spain



What it looks like: a shopping mall.

What it really is: a hospital.

Bonus: Osaka Stadium, Japan



Closed in 1998, the baseball stadium was converted into a residential area for two years. While still looking like a real stadium from the outside, the building was demolished in 2000. What a pity!

+4
2 comments
Мефедрол
Мефедрол
8 March 2025
0
У них тюрьми лучше виглядят чем у нас отели
GreenFriend
11 March 2025
1 488 comments
+2
М-м-м-м... Підарський діалект і прямо на прев'ю
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