5 of Ohio's most unique homes, from a mushroom in Cincinnati to Carlisle's UFO house
From pet zebras to irreverent highway signs, Ohio is nothing if not quirky.
And Ohio's homes are no different. The Buckeye State has its fair share of out-of-this world private residences, including a UFO house, a stationary ship and one with mushroom roofs. Take a look at this wacky collection of homes in the list below.
5 of the weirdest and most unique Ohio houses
We've heard of houseboats and shipping container homes. There's even a glass house in Illinois. But Ohio's strangest abodes offer memorably unique twists on what some people call home sweet home.
1. Cincinnati's Mushroom House
This peculiar abode situated in Cincinnati's Hyde Park neighborhood is the work of architect Terry Brown. The home features a fantastical cedar-shingled exterior, a glass room that nearly floats next to the main structure and a bright orange spiral suitcase leading to the front entrance.
“That was his architecture studio,” Paul Lashua, a friend of Brown's told Ohio Magazine. “It was just a small bungalow house to begin with.”
“It was really experiential and experimental architecture at the same time,” Lashua added. “He was looking at using materials in a way that they might not be typically used, either as a material itself or in combination with other materials. I think that’s why it takes on such a sculptural flavor.”
The Mushroom House was made with help from a team of metalworkers, glass artists and Brown's University of Cincinnati architecture students. Following Brown’s death in 2010, Lashua and others continue to care for the private property.
Location: 3331 Erie Ave., Cincinnati
2. Futuro House in Carlisle
Constructed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in 1968 as a portable ski chalet, the spherical Futuro design looks out of this world.
The extraterrestrial home in Carlisle consists of what looks to be two flying saucers joined by a tubular walkway.
“(Suuronen) always said it was based on the number pi — the design was mathematical rather than prompted by spaceships and flying saucers,” Simon Robson, owner of the website thefuturohouse.com, told Ohio Magazine.
About 80 to 100 of the 26-foot-wide, 14-foot-tall, prefabricated homes were manufactured worldwide, Robson added. While some fell into disrepair and others made their way into museums, this Ohio home remains a private residence.
Location: 9473 OH-123, Carlisle
3. The Flintstones House in Painesville
This 3,600-square-foot home situated in Painesville resembles something straight out of Bedrock, hence its nickname as the Flintstones House. Built in the 1970s by artist Wayne Trapp, the 5-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home was constructed using concrete and foam. It hit the market last year for $400,000.
The live-in sculpture was commissioned by a family looking for a playful, organic space for their eight children, the home's realtor Jacqueline Ward told News 5 Cleveland. Ward also pointed out that the sellers as well as Trapp both hated the Flintstones House moniker.
In true Flintstones fashion, the house has virtually no corners. Instead, there are several sculpted nooks as well as an in-ground grotto tub in the primary bedroom and ball pit in the children’s play space.
Fun fact: the home was featured on an episode of MTV's Extreme Cribs in 2011.
Location: 7245 Cascade Road, Painesville
4. Pyramid Sculpture Park Home in Hamilton
In 1987, Miami University alum Harry T. Wilks purchased land to build his Pyramid House before expanding to what is now Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, a three-hundred-acre nonprofit park featuring over 70 outdoor sculptures.
Wilks wanted his private home to be underground with a pyramid roof as its main source of light. He wanted a lake, a pool, a wood-burning fireplace and a living room fountain. Using money earned mostly by playing the stock market, he made his dream come true. Pyramid House was completed in 1992.
"We haven't had a crack in it yet," he told the Enquirer in 2014.
The house is open daily from noon to 5 p.m. for those visiting the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum.
Location: 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton
5. Put-in-Bay's Benson Ford Shiphouse
What once was a cargo ship used by Ford Motor Company in the 1920s is now a vacation home for Jerry and Bryan Kasper of Kasper Auto Group in Put-in-Bay.
In its past life, the ship transported iron ore and related materials across the Great Lakes for more than 50 years. Then, it was sold to Frank J. Sullivan of Sullivan Marine in Cleveland, Ohio, who took the ship's forecastle deck and converted it into a summer home in 1986. The 7,000 square-foot, four-story structure features walnut-paneled staterooms, dining room, galley and passenger lounge – all designed for Henry Ford's pleasure for his business on the ship.
In 1999, the Benson Ford Shiphouse was sold to its current owners Jerry and Bryan Kasper, who occasionally host tours of the home.
Location: 1191 Ashburn Ave., Put-In-Bay
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 5 of the strangest Ohio homes, from a UFO house to a cliffside ship
