What better way to immerse yourself in an artist’s work than to walk into a space that has been altered in amazing and unexpected ways? Installation art transforms galleries and other spaces from blank canvases to full-scale, interactive and often surreal environments. These 15 installations range from pristine spaces obliterated by children armed with colorful stickers to complex matrices of metal hangers that jangle with the movement of forty finches.

Suspended Bouncy Balls by Nike Savvas

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Thousands of balls seemed to hover in midair for the eye-popping installation ‘Atomic: Full of Love, Full of Wonder’ by artist Nike Savvas at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Melbourne. Not only did the installation create a disorienting field of color, but air movement from a fan caused the balls to gently bounce and sway.

From Here to Ear by Celeste Boursier-Mougenot

(images via: lost at e minor)

Hundreds of interconnected metal hangers provided an unusual perch for 40 finches in an installation called From Here to Ear (v.13) by artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art in 2011. The installation was one of sound as well as visuals, as the movements of the birds caused the hangers to clink together.

Analog Interactive Installation by Karina Smigla-Bobinski

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A giant helium-filled bubble covered in dozens of charcoal nubs was bounced and flung around a white gallery space to create abstract markings on the walls and ceiling in ‘ADA – Analog Interactive Installation’, a sculpture by artist Karina Smigla-Bobinski. Eventually, after the participation of hundreds of visitors, the sculpture deflated and the walls were left nearly solid black.

Thousands of Flowers in a Mental Health Center

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A deteriorating mental health center in Massachusetts was a worn and rather sad place after 90 years of service to the local community. As the building was set to be demolished, artist Anna Schuleit set out to memorialize the building with “a respectful infusion of hope”. The resulting installation, called Bloom, filled the center with nearly 28,000 potted flowers. The public was invited for a four-day viewing. Read an interview with the artist at This is Colossal.

Bouncing Tennis Balls by Ana Soler

(images via: collabcubed)

At first, these images appear to be multiple exposure photographs in which the motion of a ball has been captured in its arcs across gallery surfaces. But it’s actual an installation, with hundreds of tennis balls hanging from strings to effectively capture a sense of movement. The work, by Spanish artist Ana Soler, was displayed at the Mustang Art Gallery in Alicante, Spain.

Cause & Effect by Do Ho Suh

(images via: the stranger)

Amazingly precise spirals in varying shades of orange and red create a fiery-looking vortex at Western Washington University. Look closer and you’ll see that the installation, by Korean artist Do Ho Suh, is actual made up of thousands of tiny men. Says the artist, “The work is an attempt to decipher the boundaries between a single identity and a larger group, and how the two conditions coexist.”

Massimal by Design Office Takebayashi Scroggin

(images via: design boom)

The ghost of some kind of massive animal lurks in a warehouse in this installation by New York Design Office Takebayashi Scroggin, created for the 2011 Beau Arts Festival. Entitled “massimal”, which the firm describes as “design objects that serve as prototypes to examine how physical form can engage the public realm,” the work is made of 20,000 white zip ties.

Suspended Dandelions by Regine Ramseier

(images via: lustik)

Two thousand dandelions were painstakingly plucked, sprayed with adhesive and loaded into a custom-made wooden transporter so they could be brought to a gallery and hung from the ceiling in a surreal installation by Regine Ramseier. The work was created as part of ArToll Summer Lab 2011.

Field of Steel by Zadok Ben David

(images via: collabcubed)

An artificial meadow covers the floor of Artclub 1563 in Seoul, South Korea in this art installation by Zadok Ben David. The work, entitled ‘Blackfield’, changes as you walk from one side of the room to the other. 12,000 botanical specimens modeled on textbook illustrations were cut from steel and imbedded in a layer of sand. All black on one side, the tiny plants are revealed in full color from the alternative perspective.

Melting Woman by A.F. Vandervorst

(images via: af vandervorst)

A woman melted before viewers’ eyes at the Arnhem Mode Biennale in 2011. The installation, by artist A.F. Vandervorst, was comprised of a wax sculpture imbedded with wicks that slowly eroded the woman’s body, drastically altering the shape of the work within hours.

The Obliteration Room by Yayoi Kusama

(images via: queensland gallery of modern art)

A pristine room, with every surface painted a stark shade of white, was completely covered in a chaotic jumble of colored stickers for Yayoi Kusama’s installation, The Obliteration Room. Constructed at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, the installation gave the room over to thousands of sticker-armed children over a period of two weeks. By the end of the installation, the white surfaces were barely visible.

Post-It Structures by Yo Shimada

(images via: design boom)

Entire architectural structures were built from nothing more than 30,000 brightly colored post-it notes in an installation called ‘Post-It Structures’ by Yo Shimada of Tato Architects. Installed at the Artzone Gallery in Kyoto, Japan, the structures were created by sticking the notes to each other so that they created cell-like shapes.

Forever Bicycles by Ai Weiwei

(images via: inhabitat)

1,200 bicycles were welded together into a gigantic, glittering cavern by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. ‘Forever Bicycles’ was located at the center of the show ‘Absent’ at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, the title of the exhibit referring to the dissident artist’s political detention.

Plexus 5 by Gabriel Dawe

(images via: gabriel dawe)

It looks like an optical illusion – a rainbow created by light and water, perhaps. But Plexus 5 is actually an installation of colored strings, attached to the walls and floor of the Pump Project Art Complex in Austin, Texas. Artist Gabriel Dawe is known for his often-complex string art installations.

Field Guide Butterflies by Eiji Watanabe

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Thousands of butterflies were freed from the pages of field guides and ‘let loose’ on gallery surfaces in ‘A Butterfly’s Eye View’ by artist Eiji Watanabe. The insects were carefully cut from the books and pinned to the walls and ceilings, with the cast-off books left, like cocoons, on tables within each room.

Once built purely for practicality in the face of some of the world’s most extreme climactic conditions, desert architecture has evolved into a modern art form, not just in stunning rammed-earth-meets-glass-and-steel visuals but in cutting edge energy efficiency. These 12 modern desert homes stand out for innovative passive cooling systems, dynamic shapes and often a sense of minimalism that reflects the simplicity of the sand that surrounds them.

Modern Underground Home in the High Desert

(images via: rick joy)

From a distance, at a certain angle, architect Rick Joy’s desert creation looks like any other low-lying home. But up close, the home is revealed to be a hidden hideaway, set into the ground. Made with rammed earth, concrete and a rusted core-ten steel roof, this home offers minimalist multi-level living that takes advantage of cooler air closer to the surface of the landscape.

Cool & Green Double-Roofed Desert Home

(images via: lloyd russell)

This genius idea for an energy-saving home uses a metal canopy over the roof to encourage air flow, eliminating the need for air conditioning. Architect Lloyd Russell used recycled and reclaimed materials in this shaded design, which also has full-height sliding walls and windows to engage the wild natural surroundings rather than shutting them out, as is so common in hot climates.

Modular Home Concept for Desert Nomads

(images via: archdaily)

Rustic and unassuming outside, this modular home concept designed by Ordos for nomads living in the harsh desert environments of Inner Mongolia has a roomy, modern interior. Ordos imagines the inhabitants of this unusual building living a modern version of the nomadic lifestyle via transportation and information, residing within a protective shell that shelters them from the extremes of both winter and summer weather.

Metal-Clad Desert Home Atop a Mesa

(images via: steven holl)

Looking nearly as solid as the mesa upon which it stands, this stunning metal-clad home by architect Steven Holl was “imagined as the tip of an iceberg with a much larger mass below”. Though it does not actually extend underground, it looks as if it could, seemingly rooted in the sand. The home was constructed off-site using 3D digital modeling and prefabrication techniques.

Tent-Like Open-Air Home

(images via: design boom)

Constructed almost entirely of scrap, waste and local materials, this open-air home designed by Simon de Aguero for the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture features a core structure made of rammed earth and a stretched vinyl shade acting as a roof.

Underground Stunner in Rural Greece

(images via: deca)

Barely visible above the bluffs in the arid desert climate of rural Greece, this rectangular underground home nestled in the valley between two hillsides takes advantage of cross-winds as well as the cooling effects of a green roof. Half-buried, the residence – designed by Deca – is open and airy, inspired by the simple white color palette of classical Greek architecture even when it doesn’t borrow busy details like columns.

Rustic Modern with Earth, Wood & Steel

(images via: pique architecture)

Varying volumes make this desert home by Pique visually engaging, especially with surface textures that include the requisite desert building material rammed earth as well as intentionally rusted metal and warm honeyed wood. All of these elements play off each other to present a cohesive whole that is simultaneously organic and geometric.

Desert Dome in a Dormant Volcano

(images via: redfin listing)

Perched atop a dormant volcanic dome like a crown – or perhaps a wayward UFO – this unusual home between Las Vegas and Los Angeles is still up for sale after a long time on the market. Though it looks like solid concrete from afar, it’s actually wood covered in a thin layer of plaster. The driveway that spirals from a shallow lake at the base of the volcano to the home at its pinnacle gives the property an even more dramatic appearance.

Neutral and Modern in the Arizona Desert

(images via: chen + suchart studio)

In the urban desert of Tempe, Arizona, the Sosnowski Residence by Chen + Suchart Studio combines earthy and industrial elements with a glass-and-metal rectangular volume stacked atop a rammed earth base. This neutral lower level makes the upper floor, with its bold black frame and steel-paneled ceilings, seem to float above the sand.

Lefevre House: Where Peruvian Desert Meets Ocean

(images via: archdaily)

There are few home sites more dramatic than the rocky cliffs of the Lefevre House, which acts as a conceptual bridge between the desert and the sea. Located in Punta Misterio, Peru, the home’s roof is an extension of the sand while a glass volume juts out of the cliff, providing incredible views of the crashing waves below.

Desert Wing House by Brent Kendle

(images via: cuded)

With its angled roof, made with copper mined locally in the Arizona desert, the Desert Wing House by Brent Kendle is dramatic and dynamic, seemingly ready to fly off into the sky at any moment. The solid rammed earth and concrete walls were designed to keep out the desert sun while walls of glass focus the views on nature rather than neighbors.

Geltaftan System by Nader Khalili

(images via: weburbanist)

Taking a cue from ancient architecture that used local raw materials to create custom solutions for particular climates, architect Nader Khalili developed the Geltaftan System, building strong structures of mud bricks that are then fired for an entire day at 1,000 degrees Celsius – just like pottery. These ‘ceramic houses’ are permanent, water-resistant and earthquake-resistant with a finished result that blends seamlessly into the dunes of the surrounding landscape.

When the Desert Takes Over: Homes Swallowed by Sand

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For all the beautiful buildings that are thoughtfully designed to withstand the hot and dry desert climate, over time, nature does tend to take back over – as evidenced by these four structures, which have been swallowed by sand over decades or even centuries. (Clockwise from top left:) In Talakad, India, just a few tall temples are still visible while over 30 lurk in the sand below; Mauritania is getting buried under the Saharan sand as dunes shift 2 to 3 miles per year, necessitating snow plows to move it all; desertification in the Sahel has caused sand to blow into the grasslands, and an abandoned early 20th century mining town in Namibia has been entirely invaded by sand. (See more at WebEcoist)

(images via: divenorway, hyperfish, vigidal and sanjuan)

Like trains, ships once played a much larger part in the worldwide economy than they do now.  Their reach has been significantly reduced with the advent of quicker and more efficient modes of transport.  As a result, there are amazing shipwrecks and abandoned ships, boats and docks and other vehicles around the world, along with the shipyards where they were stored and the boat docks where they once loaded and unloaded.

(images via: Container Shipping, Ben Cooper and Michael Alan)

Because of the vast numbers of ships and boats that were abandoned in the late 19th century, many were repurposed into shops, homes, and restaurants.  Some were dismantled and the wood was used for other construction purposes.  But many simply rotted and rusted away, and some are still floating in harbors, ship yards and boat graveyards, waiting for their eventual fate.

(images via: Opacity)

The Staten Island Boat Graveyard is well-known to almost every kid who grew up in the area.  Many old boats, ships and other less-than-seaworthy vessels have come here to die.  They are used for scrap, sunken into the water, or simply left to decay and sink on their own.  The Boat Graveyard has become a popular visiting spot for photographers and boat enthusiasts.  Photographers delight in the unique shots and boat enthusiasts love seeing these relics up close.

(images via: SF Genealogy, Kumasawa and Ariel)

One of the most bizarre instances of boat abandonment is that of the city of San Francisco.  During the late 19th century, the Gold Rush brought untold numbers of people to California.  Because many of them arrived by boat, Yerba Buena Cove was clogged with vessels.  While the boats’ owners left to seek their fortunes in the hills, the boats themselves were forgotten – often still containing belongings and supplies.  The city expanded rapidly, eventually encompassing Yerba Buena Cove.  Buildings were built further and further out, and over time Yerba Buena Cove was ordered to be filled in with sand.  The hulking masses of ships that remained were often incorporated into new buildings, but many were simply built over.  Over the last hundred plus years, construction and natural disasters have revealed these buried boats beneath the city.

(images via: Forgotten NY)

Continuing a long tradition of sea-related legends, NYC residents often spoke of the Yellow Submarine of Coney Island.  The story sounds like an urban legend: an ordinary man set out on a wacky quest to retrieve the riches of a famous shipwreck, the Andrea Doria, and built a homemade submarine to do it.  But this was no urban legend.  The Andrea Doria went down in 1956, laden with materials that could be sold for millions of dollars.  Ship fitter Jerry Bianco decided to go after them and raise the old ship to the surface.  He sold stock in his newly-formed corporation to raise money for the expedition.  With these funds, he built his own submarine (yellow, because the paint was cheap) and prepared to launch it in 1970.  Unfortunately, the sub never fulfilled its destiny; it failed to launch and Bianco’s supporters lost interest.  In 1981, it got loose and drifted away.  While it was assumed to be an urban legend for quite a while, some brave boat explorers have found and examined the Yellow Submarine of Coney Island Creek.

(images via: Magic River WV)

The locations associated with commercial boats have suffered with the decrease of water transport’s popularity.  The coal industry once relied heavily on boats to take the cargo to where it needed to be.  But when trains were found to be cheaper, faster, and more versatile, the boats that carried the coal and the docks and machinery used to load them fell into disuse.  These pictures from the Monongahela River between West Virginia and Pittsburgh show some of the mammoth relics that still dot the landscape of coal country.

(images via: Infiltration)

Even when you’re lucky enough to see a historical abandoned boat or ship, it’s almost never possible (or advisable) to explore inside. The crew of urban exploration zine Infiltration did just that near Lake Ontario. La Grande Hermine, the large wooden ship resting in an artificial cove, proved to be too tempting to resist, so they paddled out to it and hopped aboard. These pictures show an interior that is beautiful, if only a little spooky.

Across most of the developed world, railroad was once king. The installation of train tracks across America was a momentous occasion that made wide commercial trade possible from one coast to the other. Today, railroads have fallen from their previous glory days. They’re still used, but not anywhere near as much as they were once. As a result, it’s not difficult to find the ruins of our former railroad culture scattered all across the country, including trains lines, tunnels and even entire stations.

(images via Derek Farr and Mr. Myron Watkins)

Few places embody the remnants of the industrial age like Detroit. The city that was once the automotive manufacturing capital of America is today filled with all kinds of abandonments. One of the most impressive is the Michigan Central Train Station. This massive station was built in 1913 in a somewhat remote part of the city. Developers counted on commercial interests moving toward the station and making it into a centrally-located building. Due to many unfortunate circumstances, this never happened. The building was abandoned in 1988, but it was open to visitors for most of the 1990s. After extensive vandalism, the station was closed up and is now patrolled.

(images via: Brian894X4)

The Vance Creek Bridge in Washington state was built in 1929. It was once part of the Simpson Timber Company Railroad, and it still holds the distinction of being the highest railroad bridge in America. Although many former railroad bridges were converted to transport cars and trucks, the Vance Creek Bridge has remained a railroad bridge. It is now completely abandoned and closed to explorers.

(images via: K. Barhow and Cincinnati Transit)

Among the most infamous abandoned train lines is the Cincinnati Rapid Transit subway system. This system was supposed to connect suburban dwellers to the heart of the city. Construction began in 1920, but the entire project was abandoned in 1925 when funds ran dry. Many attempts were subsequently made to revive the project, but none have been successful. A few remnants of the never-completed subway system can still be seen, such as the above portal near Central Parkway and I-75.

(images via: Sandy Lydon and Wikipedia)

The Ocean Shore Railroad is another rail project that never really got off the ground. It was begun in 1905 as a way to connect Santa Cruz and San Francisco along the coast. After the 1906 earthquake, the construction was significantly delayed. Portions of the line did operate at one time, but the overall railroad line was scrapped in 1921. Several attempts were also made to resurrect this defunct line, but none gained the ground they needed. Remnants of the tracks can still be seen in places, and several of the stations have been transformed into offices and homes.

(images via: Mooreta)

Among South American travelers, the small town of Uyuni, Bolivia is a must-visit spot. Besides being home to the world’s largest salt flats, the town boasts an impressive train graveyard. What was once meant to be a major railroad junction is now the final resting place for these massive machines and a surprise tourist attraction.

Guest Article contributed by Nelson Doyle

Design takes on a whole new meaning when it involves the exorbitant piles of cash the rich and powerful are willing to invest in their luxuries. From the Playboy bunny pond to gigantic shark tanks, here are some of the most extraordinary architectural creations that come from well-paid imaginations and deliver marvelous mind-blowing pools that most of us would happily belly-flop for.

(images via: ervega and economicrefugee)

The world’s most arguably most amazing swimming pool is also the world’s largest swimming pool and artificial lagoon according to the Guinness World Records. Located in the resort of San Alfonso del Mar in Chile, this pool actually dwarfs many natural lakes that attract visitors throughout the world. It contains a breathtaking 66 million gallons of water and blankets eight hectares of earth. This artificial lagoon and swimming pool is 1km in length and measures 100 feet deep (35 meters) in depth, while remaining as transparent as fine crystal from top to bottom.

(images via: roadsidepictures, bourgeoisbee and dasroofless)

The Golden Nugget Las Vegas mega-casino spent $20 million to create an unforgettable oceanic experience for its hotel and casino guests. The casino’s crown jewel is an enormous 200-thousand gallon shark tank that is entirely surround by an impressive swimming pool and cabanas. To really get up close and personal with the sharks circling the tank, then take a wet and wild ride down the 3-story waterslide ending in the refreshing crystal clear waters in the pool beneath.

(images via: leeodden, silentz and markj)

The brilliant architecture of the infinity swimming pool that is found in the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, exceed expectations and beauty. The Playboy Publishing empire entrenched at its very core in beauty and tasteful elegance through and through now takes a delicious dip into luxury swimming pools. No Playboy pool can be complete without its reknowned Playboy Bunny wearing a bowtie!

(images via: piera peruvian, paynomind and dawn orchid)

One of the most exclusive invites is to the Hefner mansion for one of the amazing parties and a dip in the grotto-styled swimming pool. Its hidden alcoves are infamous, and you can be sure some babies to the stars have been made in the infamous dive.

(images via: amyjosmile, baliwww, xo and casa)

Soak up the blazing hot sun in the sweet salty ocean air laying out on the handsomely hardwood deck encroaching up to the Begawan Giri Hotel’s infinity swimming pool. Experience oneness with nature in a swimming pool that seems to fade into the tropical forest treetops of Bali, Indonesia. The lush emerald green and pearl white beaches of Bali only eclipse the aquamarine water that compliments the sheer beauty of this pool.

(image via: wavejourney)

This has to be the world’s safest places to take a relaxing swim. Located in the prestigious Hotel de Rome of Berlin, this swimming pool is a slice of elegance. It is fit for both the financial guru and the eternally paranoid, as the pool and spa is located in a former bank vault. The building in which the hotel resides was once the Deutsche Transfer Bank.

(images via: bgwilson, oisinlunny and dan hardwick)

At the grand boutique Al Qasr hotel, one can expect nothing less than the best from this Dubai treasure house. The name itself means The Palace in Arabic, and the pool is no exception. It is a magnicifent, sparkling blue gem surrounded by beautiful Arabian architecture that will certainly make you feel like a sultan while taking a dip.

(images via: leungbird and klausselke)

Le Meridien Hurghada located in Egypt truly has something to boast about at the Le Meridien Hurghada resort. The Makadi Bay is the crowning jewel of Egypt when it came to building this beautiful sprinkling swimming pool that snakes through narrow canals and widens into shallow and deep bays.

(image via: coolpicking)

The future of swimming and sunning luxuries of the rich and famous: a Waterworld-concept swimming pool and hotel that would be craved directly in a quarry mine in Songjiang, China. The hotel plans to build luxury rooms beneath the water level and incorporate a huge waterfall, extreme sports recreation center and an underwater restaurant and specialty cafes.