A remarkable new building hovers over the surface of the Randselva River in Jevnaker, Norway, connecting two forested riverbanks as part of the Kistefos Museum, Northern Europe’s largest sculpture park. Appropriately called “The Twist,” the new gallery space by architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) achieves a beautiful curving form using nothing but straight lines.

This “art bridge” allows visitors to enjoy large outdoor works spread throughout the park on either side of the river as well as the historic Kistefos Wood Pulp Mill, a reclaimed factory onsite. The 1,400-square-meter building provides space for an information center, museum shop, triple-height gallery space, smaller gallery spaces and an outdoor terrace.

As visitors pass through the curving structure, the rotation of the glass changes the quality of light. The wide, naturally lit gallery on the north side offers panoramic views of the landscape, and the tall, dark gallery on the south end allows for more control with artificial lighting. A glass stairway leads down to the museum’s lower level on the north embankment.

“A simple twist in the building’s volume allows the bridge to lift from the lower, forested riverbank in the south up to the hillside area in the north. As a continuous path in the landscape, both sides of the building serve as the main entrance. from the south entry, visitors cross a 16m aluminum-clad steel bridge to reach the double-height space with a clear view to the north end, similarly linked with a 9m pedestrian bridge.”

“The double-curve geometry of the museum is comprised of straight 40cm wide aluminum panels arranged like a stack of books, shifted every so slightly in a fanning motion. The same principle is used inside with white painted 8cm wide fir slats cladding the floor, wall and ceiling as one uniform backdrop for Kistefos’ short-term Norwegian and international exhibitions. From either direction, visitors experience the twisted gallery as though walking through a camera shutter.”

Bridges, buildings, staircases and pavilions twist and turn around themselves, forming into neat knots or chaotic tangles in these 13 wildly weaving creations. There’s often a method to this madness, however, with the knots creating strategic nooks, pathways or climbable structures, taking inspiration from sailor’s ropes, woven palm fronds and pretzels.

Sous Le Ciel by Leandro Erlich at Le Bon Marché, Paris

Paris’ Le Bon Marché is tied up in knots with a new twisted staircase installation by Argentine artist Leandro Erlich entitled ‘Sous le Ciel.’ For the fourth year in a row, the store invited a contemporary artist to transform its stunning 19th century interiors, and this new iteration follows works by Ai Weiwei, Edoardo Tresoldi and Chiharu Shiota. Named for an Edith Piaf song, the pretzel-like sculpture makes it appear as if the staircase is twisted and knotted around itself.

Gangneung Resort Hotel by Planning Korea

Designed for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea but never built, this pretzel-shaped resort hotelby Planning Korea offers 946 rooms in a dramatic abstracted artificial ‘landscape’ with both mountain and marine activities for guests. The shape takes inspiration from the anatomy of plankton, and there’s a giant swimming pool suspended in a mid-level ‘belt’ connecting either end of the structure.

Lucky Knot Pedestrian Bridge in Changsha, China by Next Architects

A new landmark for the Chinese mega city Changsha, the Lucky Knot pedestrian bridge stands out both for its bold red color and its mobius-inspired shape. The bridge represents a collaboration between Next Architect’s Dutch and Chinese teams of designers, with the Dutch expertise in infrastructure and water management and the Chinese designers’ understanding of the local context. The bridge connects to multiple structures and levels of the landscape at various heights, “literally and metaphorically knotting all those routes together.”

Twisted Heartland 66 Mixed-Use Development in Wuhan, China by Aedas

Containing a shopping mall, office tower and serviced apartment, the design for Heartland 66 by Aedas “adopts a concept of ‘infinity loop’ as an association with the Chinese art of knot tie,” say the architects. “The concept of infinity loops and knots, developed by Aedas’ Executive Directors Christine Lam and David Clayton, is transformed into actual retail circulation which appears as the visual feature uniting the three uses. The infinite knot is presented in the circulation and roof form, connecting the anchors and destinations with seamless flowing arcades.”

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Tied Up In Knots 13 Truly Twisted Towers Buildings Staircases

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, an organization responsible for world records in architecture, has announced its definitive list of the world’s highest twisting skyscrapers (either completed or under construction), many of which are truly stunning. The CTBUH “defines a ‘twisting’ building as one that progressively rotates its floor plates or its façade as it gains height. Usually, but not always, each plate is shaped similarly in plan and is turned on a shared axis a consistent number of degrees from the floor below.”

The Diamond Tower (above) being built in Dubai is perhaps the most impressive such spiral structure, its rotating floors extending out from a central spire and adding a dynamic visual layer. It is the second-tallest in the list.

At 2073 feet, the Shanghai Tower by Gensler is the tallest to date (also the second-tallest tower in the world aside from its twist).  The CTBUH reports that these approach to tall architecture is trending around the world. While any single reason would be speculative, one can assume that the variation from floor to floor is part of the appeal, both for internal occupants and in terms of the dynamic profiles this variety entails.

The third-tallest is the Cayan Tower in Dubai by SOM. “A stunning variety of textures, view angles, and ripple effects results from these manipulations, making these ‘twisters’ some of the world’s most iconic buildings – and in many cases, aerodynamic and energy-efficient. In this study, we rank the world’s 28 tallest twisting towers (either completed or under construction as of July 2016) and display selected variations on the theme.”

This is what creative design is all about: taking a familiar typology and turning (or twisting) it around … not merely to show off something new and unique, but to critically respond and adapt to conditions of site and context.

BIG is a Danish firm with a sizable vision for this new 500-foot structure, in collaboration with local architect James Cheng, which will be the fourth largest skyscraper in Vancouver when completed.

Set atop a mixed-use podium, the main tower portion seems to have a sizable section carved out of it, a physical void placed in visual deference to adjacent thoroughfares, sunlight access and lines of sight, while creating the effect of near structural impossibility from key angles of view.

The plinth portion below carefully considers the needs of pedestrians and feel of the building on the street, while the form and outline of the building above is planned with careful respect for the surrounding skyline.

“The Beach and Howe tower is a contemporary descendant of the Flatiron Building in New York City – reclaiming the lost spaces for living as the tower escapes the noise and traffic at its base,” says Bjarke Ingels, founding partner of BIG. “In the tradition of Flatiron, Beach and Howe’s architecture is not the result of formal excess or architectural idiosyncrasies, but rather a child of its circumstances: the trisected site and the concerns for neighboring buildings and park spaces.”

Amusement parks are like playgrounds for the entire family. While in operation, the amusement park procures smiles from wide eyed children, adventurous teenagers and nostalgic adults alike. However, should an amusement park close and become abandoned, the atmosphere takes on an entirely different vibe. Creepy and delightfully twisted, these vast steel wastelands draw out curious photographers by day and kids looking for a cheap thrill by night. Below are photographed explorations of six of the most haunting abandoned amusement parks.

Rocky Point, Rhode Island USA

(images via opacity, brown, ranax, n8wood, grayfamilia)

Hailing all the way back to the 1840’s, Rocky Point amusement park was once one of America’s premier parks. It’s most famous rides included the classic “Corkscrew Loop Coaster,” and the now common “Log Flume” water ride.  The park was closed and abandoned in 1995 due to financial difficulties. The story of Rocky Point is quite famous, being the subject of a documentary entitled, “You Must Be At Least This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park.” Sadly, the park is frequently hit with vandalism, the worst of which being a fire started in the main building. It is a shame, as Rocky Point is truly a small piece of American history.

Pripyat Park, Ukraine

(images via robotfotomat, n00, pedromouraphinheiro, brilliantchang)

Titled “Prypjat Vergnügungspark,” this amusement park was never actually opened! The park was completed and scheduled for a grand opening just a few short weeks before the disaster at Chernobyl in 1986. The park has been left abandoned ever since the evacuations. The gloomy atmosphere of the park reminds us of the horror that was Chernobyl and serves as an eerie anomaly of chance.

Okpo Land Park, Southern Korea

(images via darkroastedblend)

This amusement park, located in Okpo City, South Korea, has been closed since 1999. The park was shut down because of two fatalities resulting from unsafe equiptment. The abandoned park can be seen sitting upon a ridge at the edge of town, and can be seen by boats approaching from the harbor. Quite an ominous landmark, one is left to wonder why the city allows an abandoned park to consume so much useful land! Despite is gloomy history, it appears as though it still poses quite a saftey hazard for photographers.

Idora Park, Ohio USA

(images via illicitohio, n07, shellytichy)

Formerly known as “Youngstowns Million Dollar Playground,” Idora Park hearkens back to 1899. From 1900 til the mid 1980’s the park slowly expanded, taking rides from other amusement parks that couldnt afford to keep thier doors open. The park was famous for the famous “Wildcat Coaster,” Jack-Rabbit Coaster,” and for its “Kiddieland” area which included a giant swimming pool. On April 26, 1984 a devastating fire consumed the park, burning down many of it’s rides and offices. This disaster brought about the end of historic Idora Park.

Glen Echo Park, Maryland USA

(images via januaryman, talkingphotography, documentone, wiki)

Glen Echo Amusement Park first opened in 1891 in D.C, Maryland. It wasn’t long before Glen Echo became an area hot-spot, attracting visitors from miles around. In 1961 the park was integrated, allowing both blacks and whites in for the popular rides and attractions. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the park closed it’s doors. In 1968, the park saw it’s last open season. Today, one can visit the empty bumper car ride, the decrepit swimming pool, and take a spin on the restored carousel (which bears shocking resemblance to the original!)

Spreepark, Berlin

(images via terrastories, landschaftsparks, panoramio, n07)

Wandering through Treptow Park in Köpenick, Berlin, you might just stumble upon the captivating abandoned Spreepark. The park was opened to the public in 1989 and remained open until 2000. In 2001 however, the park found itself in debt of 11 million euros, and had to close. The owner of the park, Norbert Witte is said to have fled to Peru with his is associates.

Wandering through the park, (which is technically illegal), you will encounter headless dinosaurs, a rusted ferris wheel, a peeling viking ship ride, a rickidy coaster, and much more abandoned amusement equiptment. The site is enough to make an urban style photographer run out of camera memory!