16 houses built in seemingly impossible locations

Lydia WarrenJul 25, 2020, 00:14 IST

Meteora has a view of the town below.Shutterstock

From remote private islands to hilltops that seem impossible to access, homes can be found in extreme locations around the globe.
A monastery on a Bhutan rock face houses monks, some of whom don't traverse down the valley for years.
Workers of a Chinese mall live in homes on the roof.

Everyone needs some form of shelter, but not everyone is happy with urban or even suburban lifestyles. Some prefer to live as far away from other people as possible.

In the most extreme cases, that means going where no dwellers have gone before.

Chris Weller contributed to a previous version of this article.

Near the Serbian town of Bajina Basta, a house has stood on top of a rock in the middle of the River Drina for 50 years.

The house teeters on a rock. Marko Djurica/Reuters

An island known as "Just Room Enough Island" is one of the famous Thousand Islands that straddle the US-Canada border in the Saint Lawrence River.

That's one way to get away from the neighbors. Barker Jarvis/Shutterstock

In Warsaw, a micro-home called the Keret House is squeezed between two other buildings.

A passerby takes a photo of the Keret House. Kacper Pempel/Reuters

Coober Pedy is an opal mining town in Australia where 80% of people have moved underground to escape the scorching 120-degree heat.

Inside one of the underground homes. Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

In Northern England, tree houses have historically served as a form of protest. For over four years, residents fought to prevent the historic Nine Ladies site in Stanton Lees from getting quarried for gritstone.

Treehouses in Stanton Lees, England. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty

In Northern England, tree houses have historically served as a form of protest. For over four years, residents fought to prevent the historic Nine Ladies site in Stanton Lees from getting quarried for gritstone.

When he was 26, software developer Joel Allen built his own version of a treehouse in Whistler, Canada. Its design is a little more polished than your average treehouse.

Allen's treehouse. Joel Allen

When he was 26, software developer Joel Allen built his own version of a treehouse in Whistler, Canada. Its design is a little more polished than your average treehouse.

In China's Guangdong province, two houses built in 2011 sit directly atop a factory building.

The homes look precariously placed. Reuters

In 2013, 25 luxury houses were built illegally on top of a local shopping mall in Hengyang, Hunan province.

Rooftop homes. Reuters

The Paro Taktsang Monastery is tucked away on a rock face in Bhutan's Paro Valley. The complex has been around since the 17th century.

Paro Taktsang Monastery is a sacred site. Traveller. P/Shutterstock

Even further removed is the complex of monasteries known as Meteora in Greece. They sit atop sandstone pillars.

Meteora has a view of the town below. Shutterstock

Humans have been seeking out remote locations for centuries. Approximately 300 years ago, Iceland's Elliðaey Island was home to five families who hosted passing puffin hunters.

The island has extreme cliffs. Chulanga/Shutterstock

Humans have been seeking out remote locations for centuries. Approximately 300 years ago, Iceland's Elliðaey Island was home to five families who hosted passing puffin hunters.

Some people prefer to create their own sanctuaries, like the Skysphere in New Zealand.

The Skysphere. Courtesy of Jono Williams

The Lagangarbh Hut is the only building to be found near the mountain Buachaille Etive Mòr in the Scottish Highlands.

The Lagangarbh Hut. Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

This tiny house is on Fordypningsrommet Fleinvær, an island off Norway, and gives visitors incredible views of the Northern Lights.

The Arctic Hideaway. Courtesy Dave Cornthwaite

Then there are the houses that become impossible-looking because of their surroundings. In China, so-called "nail houses" emerge when development continues around a house after its owners refuse to leave.

A "nail house." China Stringer Network/Reuters

Then there are the houses that become impossible-looking because of their surroundings. In China, so-called "nail houses" emerge when development continues around a house after its owners refuse to leave.

Similarly, in Turkey, the "Lone House" belonged to a family who fought to keep it from getting demolished.

The Lone House. Murad Sezer/Reuters

Interior designers reveal 17 trends they wish would disappear

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

16 houses built in seemingly impossible locations

Near the Serbian town of Bajina Basta, a house has stood on top of a rock in the middle of the River Drina for 50 years.

An island known as "Just Room Enough Island" is one of the famous Thousand Islands that straddle the US-Canada border in the Saint Lawrence River.

In Warsaw, a micro-home called the Keret House is squeezed between two other buildings.

Coober Pedy is an opal mining town in Australia where 80% of people have moved underground to escape the scorching 120-degree heat.

In Northern England, tree houses have historically served as a form of protest. For over four years, residents fought to prevent the historic Nine Ladies site in Stanton Lees from getting quarried for gritstone.

When he was 26, software developer Joel Allen built his own version of a treehouse in Whistler, Canada. Its design is a little more polished than your average treehouse.

In China's Guangdong province, two houses built in 2011 sit directly atop a factory building.

In 2013, 25 luxury houses were built illegally on top of a local shopping mall in Hengyang, Hunan province.

The Paro Taktsang Monastery is tucked away on a rock face in Bhutan's Paro Valley. The complex has been around since the 17th century.

Even further removed is the complex of monasteries known as Meteora in Greece. They sit atop sandstone pillars.

Humans have been seeking out remote locations for centuries. Approximately 300 years ago, Iceland's Elliðaey Island was home to five families who hosted passing puffin hunters.

Some people prefer to create their own sanctuaries, like the Skysphere in New Zealand.

The Lagangarbh Hut is the only building to be found near the mountain Buachaille Etive Mòr in the Scottish Highlands.

This tiny house is on Fordypningsrommet Fleinvær, an island off Norway, and gives visitors incredible views of the Northern Lights.

Then there are the houses that become impossible-looking because of their surroundings. In China, so-called "nail houses" emerge when development continues around a house after its owners refuse to leave.

Similarly, in Turkey, the "Lone House" belonged to a family who fought to keep it from getting demolished.