USA: The Striking Building Shaped Like a Giant Picnic Basket

One of the most impressive and peculiar buildings in the world is located in the USA. This seven-story building is shaped like an enormous picnic basket, serving as an extraordinary example of innovative architecture. Situated in Newark, Ohio, it served as the headquarters of the Longaberger Company, which specialized in handmade wooden baskets. Completed in 1997 at a cost of approximately $30 million, the idea for this eccentric design came from the company’s founder, Dave Longaberger, who wanted to transform the company’s offices into an exact replica of a basket. Specifically, the building resembles the company’s popular ‘medium market basket,’ but 160 times larger. Tragically, two years later, the founder passed away. Beyond just offices, the building includes meeting rooms, underground parking, a gym, medical facilities, a cafeteria, and a restaurant. Notably, the massive handles on top of the building, weighing 150 tons, are heated during winter to melt snow. By the end of 2000, the company employed over 8,000 people with revenues reaching $1 billion. However, sales plummeted shortly after, leading to significant financial issues. On the brink of bankruptcy, the company was forced to put the building up for sale in 2015. Despite its iconic status among locals, it was abandoned in 2016. In December 2017, the unique building was purchased by Steve Coon, a programmer from Ohio, and his partner Bobby George from Cleveland for $1.2 million plus $800,000 in owed taxes, far below its original asking price of $75 million. Unfortunately, plans to convert it into a luxury hotel were derailed by the pandemic. Efforts continue to preserve the structure as part of the National Register of Historic Places. As of today, the building remains unused but continues to draw attention due to its distinctive design.