Buildings Shaped Like What They Sell

Buildings Shaped Like What They Sell

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When Long Island, New York's bird-shaped Big Duck store was built in 1931 to sell ducks and duck eggs, it sparked the architectural term "duck," used to describe buildings designed to look like what they sell. Though the Long Island landmark no longer doles out the birds, there are plenty of other establishments keeping the tradition alive. Check out our favorite buildings that look like their offerings.
The Longaberger Company, Newark, Ohio

Anyone who's visited The Longaberger Company's headquarters knows there's no confusion over what they produce. Their seven-story offices are designed to look like a giant woven basket—specifically, their hand-crafted Longaberger Medium Market Basket…just 160 times larger. And no details were spared: It features two gold leaf–painted tags (725 lbs each) and is topped off with heated basket handles to prevent icing. Photo: courtesy of Iris H. Hung/flickr
Twistee Treat Ice Cream, Nationwide

Founded in 1983, this chain of ice cream shops looks the part with its soft serve–inspired architecture. In addition to the obvious treat, their cone-shaped buildings, which are made of fiberglass and are 20 feet high by 20 feet wide, dish out banana splits, malts, sundaes and slushes. Photo: courtesy of Twistee Treat USA, LLC
The Hood Milk Bottle, Boston

Now part of the Boston Children's Museum, the giant Hood Milk Bottle has been around since 1934. Built by Arthur Ganger as a place to sell his homemade ice cream, it stood on Route 44 in Taunton, Massachusetts, until it was abandoned in 1967. Hood dairy operators later rescued the dilapidated building, refurbished it and donated it to the Boston Children's Museum, where it serves as a snack bar and ice cream stand. It stands 40 feet tall, weighs 15,000 lbs and could hold 58,620 gallons of milk. Photo: courtesy of Kristin/flickr
Happy Meal McDonald's, Dallas

Called "the happiest McDonald's in the world," by The Travel Channel, this Dallas fast-food franchise looks the part. Located at Montfort Drive and LBJ Freeway, the building provides a preview of what's inside with its enormous Happy Meal box exterior and gigantic french fries, Big Mac and Coca-Cola statues. But don't think the design is too low-brow: The interior boasts Austrian crystal chandeliers, Ralph Lauren wallpaper and granite floors. Photo: courtesy of McDonald’s ®
The Big Apple, Ontario, Canada

In the mood for a freshly baked apple pie? You will be if you're driving on Cramahe Township's Highway 401 and pass The Big Apple. At the giant (35-foot) apple you'll find The Big Apple Restaurant, as well as The Pie Factory Bakery, where you can watch desserts being made. To work off your sweets, take a climb to the top of the landmark and enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding towns as well as Lake Ontario. Photo: courtesy of Colin Jagoe/flickr
The Big Chicken, Marietta, Georgia

When greasy spoon Johnny Reb's needed a quick fix for dwindling business, owner Tubby Davis turned to Hubert Puckett to design and build a 56-foot sheet metal chicken structure with rotating eyes, a beak that opens and closes, and a head comb that sways in the wind. The giant bird became iconic, with locals using it as a landmark when giving directions. Kentucky Fried Chicken took over the joint in 1974, and after repairs in the 1990s the famous chicken is still standing. Photo: courtesy of J immy Emerson
Capitol Records Building, Hollywood, California

A Los Angeles landmark with a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, the Capitol Records Building was constructed in 1956 near the corner of Hollywood and Vine and has seen its fair share of legendary musicians—in fact, Frank Sinatra inaugurated the building's Studio A when he recorded his album Tone Poems of Color. So it's fitting (and, as it turns out, a coincidence!) that the round building structure resembles a stack of LPs sitting on a record player—there's even a needle sticking out of the top. Photo: courtesy of Harvey McCool/flickr
Orange Julep, Montréal, Canada

Shaped like an enormous orange (three stories high and 40 feet in diameter, to be exact), the Orange Julep in Montréal cranks out citrus-flavored treats, including its namesake (a sweet and frothy concoction with a well-guarded secret recipe) as well as hot dogs, hamburgers and fries. Photo: courtesy of Steve Brandon/flickr
University of Iowa Art and Art History Building, Iowa City, Iowa

In a case of life—well, architecture—imitating art, in 2006 the University of Iowa opened an Art and Art History Building that's shaped like a guitar. A recipient of a national honor award from the American Institute of Architects, the Steven Holl–designed building based on Pablo Picasso's 1912 sculpture "Guitar" is made of weathered steel and glass, and is the perfect place to inspire aspiring musicians. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Jorgensen/The University of Iowa