Buildings that look like they're watching you

Homes with character – literally!

Architecture is often expressive and bursting with character, but some buildings take this to far greater heights. From the purposely silly to the utterly adorable and the accidentally hilarious, these properties from around the world all boast funny faces – think grinning smiles, googly eyes and even crazy haircuts.

Read on to see 25 charming buildings that are brimming with personality...

Cabin quintuplets, Norway

Humans tend to perceive faces in inanimate objects due to a cognitive phenomenon called facial pareidolia. It's a hangover survival instinct from our earliest ancestors where the brain seeks familiar patterns, like faces, in random arrangements to quickly tell a friend from a foe.

We think this row of cute cabins is akin to a gaggle of ducks cosied up on the water's edge, peering down at their reflections. Found somewhere in Norway, their uniform red timber, a central set of eyes and a neat white beak make them appear ready to take the icy plunge side by side.

Startled blast furnace, Shropshire, UK

This Victorian-era blast furnace in Shropshire, England, looks like it's been taken by surprise by its neighbour. Its elongated leaded window eyes, circular vent nose and gapping arched mouth can't help but make us chuckle, topped off by the pointy pitched roof hat and raised right arm chimney.

David Alais from the University of Sydney, told The Guardian: “We are such a sophisticated social species, and... faces are detected incredibly fast. The brain seems to do this using a kind of template-matching procedure. So if it sees an object that appears to have two eyes above a nose above a mouth, then it goes, 'Oh I'm seeing a face'. It’s a bit fast and loose, and sometimes it makes mistakes, so something that resembles a face will often trigger this template match”.

Cheeky wink chalet, Wales, UK

Don't look now, but this cheeky Welsh chalet seems to have taken a liking to you. Just check out those 'winking' windows and lopsided smirk created by plastic waste piping. The orange-stained cladding also suggests too much fake tan.

Harvard Lampoon Building, Massachusetts, USA

The Harvard Lampoon Building – also known as the Lampoon Castle – can be found in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Designed by Edmund M Wheelwright and opened in 1909, it's listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.

Home to The Harvard Lampoon publication, the mock Flemish castle is further famed for its characterful appearance when viewed straight on. Its domed metal helmet, two diamond eyes and a lantern nose are completed by a colourful sideways bowtie door.

Sleepy face hotel, Râşnov, Romania

If you've ever been to Cuibul de Lemn, a hotel in Râşnov, Romania, then you might recognise this quirky little building. With its sharp, sloping roof and 3D windows that are perfectly placed to be eyes and a nose, the holiday home is as charming as it is unusual. The base of the building even looks like a flat mouth.

Shocked castle, Iceland

Over on the southwest coast of Iceland, you'll find this traditional timber castle. The property's roofline and symmetrical windows create a shocked, open-mouthed face, making the property even more striking.

House with hair, Lower Austria

Located in Lower Austria, this white house features a small but very distinctive face. Thanks to its jagged roofline that resembles spiky hair, its two square eyes and its bright red nose, the property is like a cross between a snowman and an animated movie character. 

Smiling house, Belarus

This chipper guy can be found in the Eastern European country of Belarus. Two square eye windows are positioned above a big red smile, creating the ultimate happy face. We're sure this property cheers up anyone who walks by it.

Rosy cheeked house, Japan

Found somewhere in Japan, this adorable building is home to both a restaurant and private apartments. Yet that clearly isn't why it's of interest. With its rosy cheeks, prominent eyebrows and wide mouth, the property looks to be embarrassed by its own cuteness.

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Fish face house, Pennsylvania, USA

Located close to Erie in Pennsylvania, this quirky American home has been likened to a fish, with bulging eyes, a pointed nose and a gaping, toothless mouth. 

Sad face house, Heidelberg, Germany

The arched opening at the base of this unusual property looks like a downturned mouth. Pair that with a prominent, nose-like embellishment and two porthole windows that are akin to eyes, the house appears to have a sad expression. If you want to see it for yourself, then head to the Heidelberg-Südstadt district of Heidelberg in Germany.

'Hitler House', Swansea, UK

Probably one of the most recognisable face houses in the world, this end-of-terrace property went viral in 2016, when someone spotted that its exterior looks like German dictator, Adolf Hitler. Its slanted roofline and prominent door lintel definitely bear a resemblance to Hitler's side-parting and moustache, don't you think? 

Located in Swansea, Wales, the property hit the headlines again when it went on the rental market for just £85 ($108) per week. Rather unsurprisingly, the Hitler House has been dubbed one of the ugliest in the world.

Owl face building, Berlin, Germany

Residents of Berlin, Germany, will no doubt recognise this apartment building. Known as Kreuzberg Tower and Wings, the structure was designed by American architect John Hejduk and was completed in 1988, shortly before the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Considered an iconic work of 20th-century architecture, many have spotted that its two identical side wings look awfully like simplified faces – we think they bear a resemblance to owls. What do you think?

Cartoon face shop, Kyoto, Japan

While some buildings have accidental faces, it's pretty clear this store in Kyoto, Japan, was purposefully designed to resemble a cartoon figure – and we're here for it! With big, bulging eyes, a sharp nose and a large, round mouth, we have no doubt the shop is pretty enticing to passers-by.

Big teeth house, location unknown

We don't know whereabouts this house is situated, but we do know that it has an amazing, characterful face on its exterior. Thanks to a pair of large windows and perfectly placed hedges positioned below, it looks just like a goofy (but friendly) face with a set of large teeth. 

Shocked house, Provence, France

With its rustic stone façade, this pretty property in Gordes, in the Provence region of France, would be a dream home for many. Yet if you head around the side, you might just see a face appear, thanks to its large dual windows, prominent chimney and arched opening that looks just like a gawping mouth.

Glum face ruins, Skiathos, Greece

Another historic building with an accidental face is this ruined property in the Kastro area of Skiathos, Greece. Thanks to erosion, the building's windows and doorway have exaggerated the face, while its rotund roof looks like a bald head.

Cool face house, Penghu, Taiwan

How about this cool character? The rather simplistic house is situated in Penghu, Taiwan, and thanks to its bottom vent and two high windows, it appears to have a bemused face. It looks almost like a spy or a cool, relaxed character, don't you think?

Surprised face house, Cyprus

This traditional stone house in Cyprus has a somewhat geeky face imprinted on its façade. It has a small mouth, a tiny nose, two eyes and even a pair of glasses, thanks to curving plaster mantels. 

House with a tongue, unknown location

We're not exactly sure where this pretty house is located, but we love its exterior. With its hair-like roof, two eye-like windows and flower box that resembles a tongue, it looks a little like a panting dog or an emoji with its tongue sticking out.

Smiley face turret, Switzerland

This property lies somewhere in Switzerland and thanks to its turret, with pretty oval windows and decorative details that are akin to a mouth and eyebrows, it looks just like a friendly, childish face beaming down at the street below.

Goofy twin houses, Tokyo, Japan

If you happen to be strolling around Tokyo, Japan, then keep your eyes peeled for this pair of goofy homes. With their bulging, googly eyes – which are actually lights – and gaping mouths, the properties are just a little bit silly.

Three-eyed house, Saxony, Germany

This historic building in the town of Görlitz in Saxony, Germany, appears to have three eyes on its roof. As if watching from afar, the eyes no doubt appear to follow anyone who walks by. Creepy!

Scary robot face, Tokyo, Japan

The Chikara Meshi diner in Tokyo, Japan, has a rather unusual façade. While some face houses are definitely lucky accidents, this one is man-made. With a pair of eyes, a long, thin nose and a toothy mouth that is the window of the restaurant, the building likely attracts plenty of attention.

Shy face house, Catalonia, Spain

Shy and sweet in equal measure, this tiny timber house in Catalonia, Spain, has such an endearing little face.

Formed thanks to three narrow slits in the wood, that are positioned exactly where eyes and a nose (or mouth) would be, it's a characterful building that we can't help but love.

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