Comrade

Big Wind

Worlds most powerful fire truck

Two jet engines mounted on a Soviet T-34 tank, shooting 220 gallons of water per second directly out of the jet exhausts

A one off vehicle produced in Hungary during the 1990s. This monster fire truck came as a result of the countries significant Soviet military surplus and a problem with oil well fires

This extreme fire truck gained international attention when it was airlifted to Kuwait during the Gulf War to help put out hundreds of oil fires

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Playpen Sofas (1970s)

Midcentury furniture trend

Massive modular couches that could be arranged into conversation pits

The playpen sofa faded out of mainstream production, and today are rare pieces fetching thousands on the resale market

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Monument of Soviet Soldier
Nova Odesa, Ukraine

Built: 1975
Sculptors: Yuriy Makushyn, Inna Makushyna

Stainless steel monument

Built atop an artificial hill constructed using hundreds of mass graves from the region

Commemorates the 1944 Soviet offensive that crossed the Bug River and liberated Odessa

Sculpted by a husband/wife artist duo

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Belambra Club
Anglet, France

Built: 1970
Architects: A. Gresy, R. Hébrard, & J. Percillier.

Ship shaped brutalist resort in the south of France

Originally established as the flagship location of the Village Vacances Famille (VVF), a government agency that provided affordable vacations to French families

The complex was then known as VVF Residence and had a beach hostel vibe. In 2008, the property was sold off and privatized. The new owners (Belambra Clubs) undertook millions in renovations while shifting the hotel towards an upscale luxury experience

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Sheats-Goldstein Residence
Los Angeles, California

Built: 1961-1963
Architect: John Lautner

Icon of California modernism

Cave like dwelling built on the side of a cliff

Full glass walls offer panoramic views of Los Angeles

Coffered ceilings add a brutalist touch

Infinity pool and tennis court

Below the main residence is a full entertainment area that functions as a nightclub

Filming location for The Big Lebowski (1998), Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle (2003), and many more

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Sheats-Goldstein Residence
Los Angeles, California

Built: 1961-1963
Architect: John Lautner

Icon of California modernism

Cave like dwelling built on the side of a cliff

Full glass walls offer panoramic views of Los Angeles

Coffered ceilings add a brutalist touch

Infinity pool and tennis court

Below the main residence is a full entertainment area that functions as a nightclub

Filming location for The Big Lebowski (1998), Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle (2003), and many more

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Sheats-Goldstein Residence
Los Angeles, California

Built: 1961-1963
Architect: John Lautner

Icon of California modernism

Cave like dwelling built on the side of a cliff

Full glass walls offer panoramic views of Los Angeles

Coffered ceilings add a brutalist touch

Infinity pool and tennis court

Below the main residence is a full entertainment area that functions as a nightclub

Filming location for The Big Lebowski (1998), Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle (2003), and many more

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Sheats-Goldstein Residence
Los Angeles, California

Built: 1961-1963
Architect: John Lautner

Icon of California modernism

Cave like dwelling built on the side of a cliff

Full glass walls offer panoramic views of Los Angeles

Coffered ceilings add a brutalist touch

Infinity pool and tennis court

Below the main residence is a full entertainment area that functions as a nightclub

Filming location for The Big Lebowski (1998), Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle (2003), and many more

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Sheats-Goldstein Residence
Los Angeles, California

Built: 1961-1963
Architect: John Lautner

Icon of California modernism

Cave like dwelling built on the side of a cliff

Full glass walls offer panoramic views of Los Angeles

Coff

Andreoli Atom Crop Sprayer

Specialty farm equipment built by the Italian machinery maker Anderoli

Designed for use in vineyards and fruit orchards

Super low profile meant to navigate steep terrain and tight farm rows

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Peace Monument
Nukriani, Georgia

Built: 1970s
Sculptor: Manjaparashvili Nugzar

A hidden angel floating in the mountains of Georgia

Peace monument symbolizing the mother of soldiers

The monument is unfortunately in disrepair today

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Peace Monument
Nukriani, Georgia

Built: 1970s
Sculptor: Manjaparashvili Nugzar

A hidden angel floating in the mountains of Georgia

Peace monument symbolizing the mother of soldiers

The monument is unfortunately in disrepair today

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Photo: Ilya Spec

Built: 1970s
Sculptor: Manjaparashvili Nugzar

A hidden angel floating in the mountains of Georgia

Peace monument symbolizing the mother of soldiers

The monument is unfortunately in disrepair today

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Peace Monument
Nukriani, Georgia

Built: 1970s
Sculptor: Manjaparashvili Nugzar

A hidden angel floating in the mountains of Georgia

Peace monument symbolizing the mother of soldiers

The monument is unfortunately in disrepair today

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Photo: Ilya Spec

Peace Monument
Nukriani, Georgia

Built: 1970s
Sculptor: Manjaparashvili Nugzar

A hidden angel floating in the mountains of Georgia

Peace monument symbolizing the mother of soldiers

The monument is unfortunately in disrepair today

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Photo: Ilya Spec

Peace Monument
Nukriani, Georgia

Built: 1970s
Sculptor: Manjaparashvili Nugzar

A hidden angel floating in the mountains of Georgia

Peace monument symbolizing the mother of soldiers

The monument is unfortunately in disrepair today

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Peace Monument
Nukriani, Georgia

Built: 1970s
Sculptor: Manjaparashvili Nugzar

A hidden angel floating in the mountains of Georgia

Peace monument symbolizing the mother of soldiers

The monument is unfortunately in disrepair today

//

Peace Monument
Nukriani, Georgia

Built: 1970s
Sculptor: Manjaparashvili Nugzar

A hidden angel floating in the mountains of Georgia

Peace monument symbolizing the mother of soldiers

The monument is unfortunately in disrepair today

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Photo: Ilya Spec

Peace Monument
Nukriani, Georgia

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Photo: Ilya Spec

Giant Objects of Route 66

The cradle of novelty roadside architecture

Before the advent of the interstate system, there was Route 66. This two lane highway connected Chicago and Los Angeles on a slow winding journey through the main streets of small town America

Before chain restaurants or travel stops, giant objects were a viable strategy to capture spontaneous road trip tourism. When larger and faster interstate highways were built beginning in the 1950s, the slower Route 66 was bypassed. The towns along the route declined along with their novelty architecture

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Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park
Chelsea, Oklahoma

World’s Largest Catsup Bottle
Collinsville, Illinois

World’s Largest Rocking Chair
Casey, Illinois

The Big Texan Steak Ranch
Amarillo, Texas

The Big Texan Steak Ranch
Amarillo, Texas

Chicken Boy
Los Angeles, California

Chicken Boy
Los Angeles, California

Gemini Giant
Wilmington, Illinois

Gemini Giant
Wilmington, Illinois

American Giants Museum
Atlanta, Illinois

Blue Whale
Catoosa, Oklahoma

Blue Whale
Catoosa, Oklahoma

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch
Oro Grande, California

Gigantus Headicus
Kingman, Arizona

Photo by u/DesertBlooms

Pops Restaurant
Arcadia, Oklahoma

Pops Restaurant
Arcadia, Oklahoma

Brenton House
Boulder, Colorado

Built: 1969-1971
Architect: Charles Haertling

Space age mushroom home

Constructed using sprayed polyurethane foam over a steel frame

Local architect Charles Haertling designed dozens of buildings in the Denver region, while the Brenton House was arguably his most famous

Prominently featured in Woody Allen’s 1973 sci-film Sleepers

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House on the Rock
Spring Green, Wisconsin

Built: 1948 - 1989
Architect: Alex Jordan Jr

Bizarre modernist labyrinth set on top of a rock pillar in rural Wisconsin

Inside this hidden home are dozens of bizarre rooms and liminal spaces, including the worlds largest indoor carousel and a cantilevered hallway hanging off a cliff

The project began in the 1940s by a shadowy figure named Alex Jordan Jr. An eccentric collector and reclusive millionaire, Jordan began work on the house in the 1940s. Local interest took off and unannounced visitors began to appear at his front door. Slightly irritated, Jordan began charging 50 cents to tour the home in hopes it would deter most people away. The exact opposite happened and Jordan soon discovered he had a viable tourist attraction that could be used to fund further expansion of the house. Jordan worked on the house for more than 40 years until his death in 1989. Today it remains open to the public as a tourist experience House on the Rock, Wisconsin

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