These 16 Apartment Buildings Are The Coolest In The World
Apartment living doesn’t have to be boring. Around the world, architects have pushed boundaries to create residential buildings that amaze, inspire, and redefine what’s possible.
From twisting towers to floating structures, these incredible buildings combine artistic vision with practical living spaces. Ready to see some jaw-dropping places people actually call home?
1. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
You’ve probably seen photos of the massive ‘boat’ perched atop three skyscrapers. What many don’t realize is that beyond the famous infinity pool, this complex houses luxury apartments where residents enjoy 5-star amenities and breathtaking city views.
Living here means having a casino, museum, and shopping mall right at your doorstep. The building’s unique silhouette has become Singapore’s most recognizable landmark since its completion in 2010.
2. Habitat 67, Montreal
Resembling a child’s building blocks stacked haphazardly, this architectural marvel was actually created for the 1967 World Expo as a vision of the future. Each concrete ‘box’ is someone’s home, with 146 residences created from 354 identical prefabricated modules.
The genius lies in how each apartment gets plenty of light, privacy, and garden space despite the dense arrangement. Fifty years after construction, it remains one of the most coveted addresses in Montreal.
3. Aqua Tower, Chicago
From a distance, the rippling balconies of this 82-story skyscraper mimic the fluid movement of water. Designed by Jeanne Gang, it was the tallest woman-designed building in the world when completed in 2009.
Beyond being pretty, those undulating terraces serve a purpose – they break up wind currents around the building and provide shade. Residents enjoy floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Lake Michigan, plus an 80,000 square foot outdoor recreation deck.
4. Dancing House, Prague
Nicknamed ‘Fred and Ginger’ after the famous dancing duo, this building appears to sway as if caught mid-dance. The deconstructivist design features two towers – one straight glass cylinder and one curved structure – that seem to embrace each other.
While primarily office space, the top floor houses an exclusive apartment with a 360-degree view of Prague. Former Czech president Václav Havel once lived nearby and supported the controversial project that now ranks among the city’s most photographed buildings.
5. VM Houses, Copenhagen
Looking at these buildings from above, you’d see they form the letters V and M. But the real innovation is inside, where architects Bjarke Ingels and Julien De Smedt created 76 different apartment layouts, so almost no two homes are alike!
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows bring in tons of natural light. The triangular balconies jut out like shards of glass, giving residents private outdoor space while creating the building’s distinctive spiky appearance that has transformed the Ørestad neighborhood.
6. Interlace, Singapore
Picture 31 apartment blocks stacked on top of each other like giant Jenga pieces. This horizontal skyscraper breaks all the rules of typical vertical tower living, creating a village-like atmosphere with multiple shared green spaces.
The blocks are arranged in hexagonal patterns around eight courtyards, each with different themes. Living here means enjoying cascading gardens, swimming pools, and tennis courts spread throughout the complex, plus the satisfaction of residing in a World Building of the Year winner.
7. Bosco Verticale, Milan
Ever wanted to live in a forest without leaving the city? These twin towers are covered with more than 900 trees and 20,000 plants – the equivalent of 2 acres of woodland growing vertically! The greenery isn’t just for show; it filters pollution, regulates temperature, and creates habitats for birds and insects.
Residents enjoy private forest gardens on their balconies while helping fight climate change. The pioneering project has inspired similar vertical forests worldwide and won numerous awards for sustainable urban living.
8. Via 57 West, New York City
Imagine a traditional Manhattan skyscraper that someone pinched and pulled into a twisted pyramid shape. That’s the magic of Via 57 West, created by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels to combine European courtyard living with American high-rise density.
The building slopes dramatically from 450 feet at its highest point down to street level, creating a sail-like silhouette on the Hudson River waterfront. Inside, 709 apartments wrap around a central courtyard garden that brings unexpected greenery and openness to urban living.
9. Parkrand, Amsterdam
Five giant blocks appear to float in midair, creating dramatic open spaces beneath this Dutch apartment complex. The massive rectangular volumes are supported by slender columns, making the heavy structure seem almost weightless.
Between the blocks, residents share collective spaces with soaring ceilings and huge windows overlooking Eendrachtspark. The building’s clever design maximizes both privacy and community, giving each apartment excellent views while creating protected social areas that blend indoor comfort with outdoor connection.
10. Absolute World Towers, Mississauga
Known locally as the ‘Marilyn Monroe Towers’ for their curvaceous figures, these twisting skyscrapers rotate 1-8 degrees per floor, creating a sensuous, organic shape unlike typical boxy high-rises. The continuous balconies wrap completely around each floor, giving every apartment panoramic views.
Winning an international design competition, the Chinese-Canadian project brought architectural excitement to Toronto’s suburban neighbor. Residents enjoy not just stunning views but also bragging rights for living in one of Canada’s most recognizable residential landmarks.
11. Mountain Dwellings, Copenhagen
A parking garage topped with apartments might sound boring, but not when the apartments cascade down the structure like houses on a hillside! Each home has a garden terrace on the roof of the apartment below, creating an artificial mountain in flat Denmark.
The facade features a perforated aluminum map of Mount Everest that glows at night. Residents park directly outside their homes despite living up to ten stories high, combining suburban convenience with urban density in a brilliantly innovative solution.
12. Reflections at Keppel Bay, Singapore
Six curved glass towers rise dramatically between the sea and Mount Faber, connected by aerial bridges and surrounded by lower villa apartments. Designed by master architect Daniel Libeskind, the complex creates an undulating skyline reminiscent of Singapore’s wave-lapped shores.
The reflective facades mirror both sky and water, constantly changing with weather conditions. Residents enjoy waterfront living with marina access, multiple swimming pools, and lush gardens winding between the buildings in this resort-like community.
13. Linked Hybrid, Beijing
Eight towers connected by sky bridges create a ‘city within a city’ where residents can walk a complete loop 18 stories above ground! The bridges house swimming pools, fitness rooms, cafes, and galleries, encouraging community interaction high above Beijing’s busy streets.
The complex uses geothermal wells for heating and cooling, making it environmentally friendly despite its massive size. Over 750 apartments surround a huge central courtyard with reflecting ponds, creating an urban oasis that contrasts with the surrounding dense city.
14. Spittelau Viaducts Housing, Vienna
When life gives you old railway viaducts, make apartments! This ingenious project transformed abandoned brick arches into affordable housing by building modern structures that incorporate the historic infrastructure.
The apartments feature dramatic curved walls where they meet the viaduct. Residents enjoy living in a piece of Vienna’s industrial heritage while benefiting from thoroughly modern amenities and energy-efficient design. The project shows how creative thinking can turn urban challenges into unique living opportunities.
15. Waldspirale, Darmstadt
Imagine a building with no straight lines, where trees grow on the roof and gold onion domes pop up unexpectedly. This ‘forest spiral’ designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser features 105 apartments wrapped around a courtyard in a continuous, undulating form.
True to the artist’s philosophy that straight lines are ‘godless,’ no two windows are the same, and columns are deliberately misaligned. The colorful facade is painted in earth tones that change as the building spirals upward, topped with a wild rooftop garden and playground.
16. 8 House, Copenhagen
Shaped like a giant figure-8 when viewed from above, this building combines apartments, offices, and retail spaces in one continuous loop. A sloping pathway winds from ground level all the way to the 10th floor, allowing residents to ride bikes right to their front doors!
The innovative bow-tie shape creates two interior courtyards with distinct characters – one intimate and calm, the other open and sunny. Apartments range from townhouses at ground level to penthouses with rooftop gardens, creating a diverse community within a single structure.
