AJORBAHMAN'S COLLECTION

11/4/13

Most Unusual Weddings

1. The couple who decided to get married with no clothes in front of 250 guests

Ellie Barton and Phil Hendicott decided to spend their wedding in their birthday suits. The pair of exhibitionist Aussies exchanged vows in front of 250 guests wearing nothing more than their wedding rings - and a bouquet of strategically-placed roses. Mrs. Ellie Hendicott wore a white, painted on "dress." The only thing she really wore besides the bouquet was a long white wedding veil. Phil Hendicott wore nothing but a black top hat to cover his manhood. The wedding ceremony was conducted in the morning, live on FM radio to hundreds of thousands of Australians.

2. The couple who got married on a Bung-jump platform – and obviously jumped after saying yes

Jeroen and Sandra Kippers of Brussels, Belgium, were lifted on a platform by crane up 160 feet in the air for their wedding ceremony. They were joined by the officiant and about 20 guests. Another platform held the musicians. After the vows, they made it official by bungee-jumping over the side! The company behind the nutty nuptials – Marriage In The Sky – have been inundated with requests from couples desperate to fling themselves off the end of the aisle.
But the ultimate thrill-seekers' wedding doesn't have to end there – once the wedding party have all been lowered back to earth, guests can head skywards again – for a floating reception. Wedding guests are wowed with a three-course wedding breakfast – all while strapped in to the dining chairs. The cost for such a spectacular ceremony? Around £25,000.

3. The Chinese bride who wore a 200m-long dress to set a World record

The bride from Guangzhou, China, set the world's longest bridal train record at 219 yards. The Chinese bride accented her gown with a train that was over 600 ft long and weighed over 220 lbs. Xie Qiyun had this photos taken in front of a hotel in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province on her special day. According to Guinness, the longest wedding dress train measured 1362 m [4468 ft 5.94 in] and was created by Andreas Evstratiou in Paphos, Cyprus, in February 2007.

4. The couple who got married at T.J. Maxx

Who doesn't get excited about the prospect of bagging a bargain? Bride Lisa Satayut decided to combine that feeling with her excitement over bagging her beau. Explaining that T.J. Maxx is her “happy place,” Satayut married Drew Ellis in the size 8 shoe aisle of a T.J. Maxx store in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The bride — a self-proclaimed “'Maxxinista” — wore a strapless white chiffon gown, with long black gloves and bright green gladiator-style sandals. A widened aisle, vine-covered arch and white chairs with red bows highlighted the traditional ceremony that included string music, display-dodging cameramen — and curious shoppers who stopped bargain hunting long enough to watch.

5. The groom who decorated his wedding with 99,999 roses to surprise his bride

Groom Xiao Wang spent a year's salary on buying 99,999 red roses for his bride, Xiao Liu, for their wedding conducted in Chongqing, central China, where the number 999 is considered to be a good luck omen. The couple, both 24 years old, needed 30 cars to take the flowers to the service. They advertised on the internet for car owners and for helpers to stick the flowers on the vehicles. The flowers themselves were flown in from the other side of the country. 'I remembered that Liu loved these special roses and the idea just grew and grew. It was worth it all just to see the look on her face when she saw the cars,' said groom Wang. Liu who met Wang while they were at University together added, 'I mentioned a year ago I would like a romantic wedding; I can't believe he remembered, but it was amazing.' The groom also donated 20% of the cost of the roses to charity to get even more good luck.

6. The woman who married her dead fiancé in the morgue

A heartbroken mother decided to "marry" her murdered fiancé in a hospital morgue. Irish father-of-two Kevin Lavelle, 29, was viciously battered with an iron bar in a gruesome gang attack while working away from home to raise money for his wedding to fiancée Michelle Thomas. The caring dad was attacked by nine louts and beaten to death as he returned to his lodgings in Banbury, Oxfordshire. But even death could not keep him and Michelle apart.
Despite her unbearable pain, Michelle organised a "wedding" in the morgue of Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, where Kevin lay dead. The touching ceremony - witnessed by close family and friends - was conducted by the hospital's Catholic priest who administered the last rites to Kevin. In front of an open coffin, the priest blessed the wedding rings that Michelle had bought specially for the service. Their two children, James, now five, and Megan, now four, went to their daddy's funeral wearing the clothes they would have worn to their parents' wedding. The priest asked Michelle if she would have taken Kevin to be her "lawful wedded husband" and she replied "I do." Kevin's dad Paddy placed a ring on Michelle's finger and a ring was placed on Kevin's finger as he lay in the coffin.

7. The couple who got married inside a shark tank

April Pignataro and Michael Curry of New York City got married in June 2010. The bride wore a white wetsuit and the groom wore a traditional black wetsuit as they climbed inside a 120,000 gallon shark tank to take their vows at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, N.Y. Both are experienced divers and were protected by a cage as sand sharks, nurse sharks, eels and a giant grouper circled around. They wore scuba gear and mikes that broadcasted their words to each other, as well as to friends and family. They said their “I dos” over a radio transmitter with an officiant who did not get in the tank.

8. The Russian couple who decided to get married while bicycling

A couple of bicycle lovers decided to tie the knot in a very unusual but healthy way: by riding bicycles all over the city, accompanied of course by their cyclist guests.

9. The bride who had 110 bridesmaids and set a World Record

Did you know that there's a Guinness World Record for the most bridesmaids in a wedding? One bride from Proctorville, Ohio, broke the record with more than 100 bridesmaids at her June 11, 2010 wedding. Jill Stapleton, who owns Jill's Tumble World, a dance school, asked her students -- all 110 of them -- to be her bridesmaids and walk down the aisle at her wedding. The bride asked each girl to choose her own dress for the wedding in either purple or teal, the school's colors. In lieu of bridesmaid bouquets, each bridesmaid carried a single rose. The previous record for the most bridesmaids in a wedding was 90.

Colossal Architectural Blunders

1. Navy Barracks Look Like Swastika (Still!)

2013 picture of buildings

The Naval Amphibious base compound in Coronado, CA was built in the 1960s to house young sailors. It consists of 4 L-shaped buildings centered around a hub. Cut to 2007, where a diligent Google Earth surfer “discovered” that the building's configuration resembled a giant Nazi Swastika. The architect John Mock defended his design, saying the Swastika wasn't intentional and that the building even won an award. Because of the uproar, however, the Navy apologized and said they would spend up to $600,000 on “landscaping and architectural modifications”. But, a recent visit to the site in Google Earth reveals the design is still there, lending credence to a conspiracy theory that it was indeed purposeful. Other “evidence” is detailed in an article in the Daily Kos, which points out that any building would not only have above-view blueprints, but also a miniature model made. Any person, especially one in the US military would notice the Swastika resemblance immediately. Another fun fact: the buildings are built at the intersection of Tulagi and Bougainville, two streets named after World War II battles. Innocent mistake, or deep conspiracy? Tell us what you think in the comments!

2. The Standard Oil Building's Expensive Marble Flaw

Vintage postcard of the original design

It seemed like an elegant and unique idea at the time. The Standard Oil Building in downtown Chicago was briefly its tallest building when it was completed in 1974 (the Sears Tower took the mantel the following year). The architects decided it would be a great idea to cover the building in Italian Carrara Marble. But the marble proved to be too fragile - during construction on December 25 1973, a slab fell off and landed on a nearby building. Later, in 1985, cracks and bowing were discovered on many of the marble slabs. In 1990, the marble was replaced for an estimated $80 million dollars. (The building is now known as the Aon Center.)

3. Las Vegas Vdara Hotel “Death Ray”

The Vdara Hotel in Las Vegas is a hotspot... literally. The glass crescent-shaped building with a pool is fairly unremarkable by Vegas standards. But combined with the glaring hot sun and lack of other obstructions, the curvature turned out to serve as a giant magnifying glass of sorts, creating what MGM Resorts (the building's owners) like to call a “solar convergence” but employees have nicknamed the “death ray”. The building made news when a visitor complained he had been burned, his hair singed, and his plastic bag melted from this “ray”. A similar problem occurred when Frank Geary's Disney Hall opened in Downtown Los Angeles; its swirling metallic frame was eventually sandblasted to deal with the intense glare that local residents complained was heating up their condos by 15 degrees. (As of now, no word about a fix for the Vdara - maybe it's a tourist attraction.)

4. “Ghost Mall” in China Has No Stores

It was supposed to be a shopper's paradise, but instead it's a dead zone. Noodle billionaire Alex Hu Guirong had a vision of creating a mall to rival The Mall of America in his home town of Dongguan, China: he called it the South China Mall. As far as size and scope, it is impressive: 7 million square feet (more than twice that of the MOA) and buildings designed after famous landmarks in Venice, Paris, Rome, and Egypt. But they forgot to consider an important factor: namely, location, location, location. It is not near any major transit hub or airport - one reporter said it took 2 1/2 hours to get there from just 6 miles away. Add to that, the city itself is home to low-wage-earning factory workers who don't have extra money for fancy shops. Speaking of fancy shops, that's the third problem: there are none. In spite of adding a “New” to the name in a failed relaunch in 2007 (it opened in 2005) the New South China Mall is still 97 vacant in 2013.

5. Frank Lloyd Wright's Demolished Larkin Administration Building

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most famous names in architecture, but he's also famous for his shoddy work (as well as being a huge jerk). He may have built many iconic buildings including Fallingwater in 1935, considered one of America's best, but many of his buildings are plagued with design flaws. One of the most notorious was the Larkin Administration Building, designed and built for the Larkin Soap company in Buffalo, NY in 1906. The building itself was innovative in a lot of ways, using natural sunlight, its own “air conditioning”, and included the first hanging bathroom stalls. But, like many of Wright's structures, form took precedent over function. All of its interior light came from the skylight 76-feet above the main floor, which was supposed to be a communal working area, with tiny offices pushed off to the side. There were reports of leaky roofs, dark workspaces, and lack of privacy. Many praised the design, but some felt it was monstrous and bleak, especially from the outside. Hard times fell on the company during the Great Depression, and eventually folded in 1945. Because of its unusual design and high upkeep costs, it sat vacant for 5 years, with nobody ponying up to foot the bill. Finally, in 1950 it was ordered demolished by the City, a process which took 2 years because of its density. Some consider the destruction of the building to be “blunder” as to its historical significance, others say the building should have never constructed in such a extravagant fashion. Either way, it is a huge fail.

6. Seoul Building Design Looks Like Collapsing World Trade Center

This reminds me of something...

Was it an inadvertent blunder, or an insensitive gesture? Regardless, the design of this South Korean building caught international flak when its design was revealed in 2011. According to the building's Dutch architects, the area is supposed to represent a “pixelated cloud” which would have a wellness center, swimming pool, and cafe. But to many people, especially those in the US, the building's structure reminded them of the exploding Twin Towers of September 11. The architects issued an apology and there was rumor of a redesign, but as of now there is no official word.

7. The Leaning Tower of Pisa - History's Most Beautiful Goof

We conclude this list with a nod to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a failure that turned out to also make it famous. Construction of the Tower began on August 9, 1173, led by architect Bonnano Pisano started off smoothly. But a few years later, when building the third tier, the tower began to tilt, due to its clay foundation. Construction was stopped off and on for literally hundreds of years. But something must have intrigued the Pisans, for they continued to build in spite of the flaw. It was finally completed in 199 years later in 1372 by a relative of Pisano. Surviving wars and gently defying gravity, the Tower still stands - or leans - as a beautiful testament to human ingenuity in spite of setbacks.

Amazing Constructions Built on Rooftops

1. Fallen Star (California)

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When it comes to public art, few schools do it as well as the University of California, San Diego. Maybe I'm biased because I went there, but UCSD's Stuart Collection, which dots the entire campus, is seriously top-notch. The latest addition is "Fallen Star" by South Korean artist Do Ho Suh. And yes, it's a house hanging off the edge of a seven-story building.

"Fallen Star" took a team of engineers and other experts several years to plan and construct. Suh based the look of the fully furnished house on the architecture he saw in New England. It's even beautifully landscaped. Though the up-tilted floor and seemingly precipitous overhang might deter the faint of heart, it's totally safe.

2. Private Temple over residential block (China)

A privately-built illegal temple-like structure is seen on the top of a 20-storey residential block in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen August 22, 2013. A police spokesman said that the elaborate temple-like structure is built illegally on the roof. The temple on top of the building in Shenzhen's Nanshan district is believed to have been there for at least three years, local media reported. The temple and the inaccessible rooftop had caused concerns over safety issues among some residents. But despite complaints from neighbours, the temple only came into the spotlight after a wealthy physician in Beijing was given 15 days to tear down his illegal villa and garden built atop a 26-story apartment block.

3. Mountain Villa on building rooftop (China)

Zhang Biqing, a successful Chinese businessman from Beijing, has spent the last six years building a realistic-looking two-story mountain villa atop a high apartment building right in China's capital city. Zhang Biqing, a former government adviser turned successful entrepreneur, thought when he decided to build his dream mountain villa at the top of a 26-floor apartment building in Beijing's upscale Park View estate.

But yhe faux-rock villa complete with trees, patios and karaoke studio will soon be torn down after a demolition order was issued by the city's urban-management department.

During the six years it took to complete, residents complained about the infernal construction noise, but after seeing the enormity of the complex covering the entire top of their building, they began to worry about structural damage. The mountain in which Biqing's villa appears to be carved may be fake, but the materials used to make it are reportedly pretty heavy as well, and threaten to weaken the residential building's resistance. It turns out the whole rooftop project is illegal, as Zhang never received the necessary planning permission for his extreme dwelling, yet no one ever bothered him about it until Chinese newspapers recently covered the topic sparking public outrage.

4. Rooftop soccer at Shibuya Station (Japan)

More than just a destination or a name on the map, each neighborhood in Tokyo functions almost like a self-contain miniature city, with its own business district, shopping arcade, and residential quarter. And generally, huddled in the center of all the hustling and bustling activities is a transportation hub, like Shibuya Station. Exist as part of the Tokyu Department Store, it boasts 8 rail and metro lines, including 3 privately operated railways, the N'EX express train to Narita Airport and a newly built terminal station from famed architect Tadao Ando.

Just beyond the maddening horde and the human scramble, however, is a quieter, joyful existent. High above the Shibuya Station, or more accurately right above it, is the adidas FUTSAL PARK.

Constructed in 2001 as an introduction to 2002 FIFA World Cup (hosted by Japan and South Korea), the adidas FUTSAL PARK promotes a miniature version of soccer, futsal, on a 14,000 square-foot pitch and commands a breathtaking 270-degree view of Shibuya. Inspired by a former playground on site before the construction of the transportation complex, the FUTSAL PARK hosts nightly tournaments among adults, professional game viewing venues, and J-Frontage, futsal school for toddlers and children. It' s almost a marvel of urban planning, to maximize usage of spaces not generally associated with activities such as futsal.

5. Rooftop 'Villas' on top of Shopping Mall (China)

Can't find enough space in the big city to build yet another office tower? Here's an idea: Build a complex on top of a shopping mall. That was the answer for the developers of Jiutian International Square, an eight-story shopping mall in the Chinese city of Zhuzhou. They built four villas -- complete with gardens -- on the roof of the shopping mall. But instead of looking for four rich families seeking single-family homes in the middle of the city, they plan to use the mansions to house the mall's 160 real-estate management employees.

Unlike the previous constructions in this list, the villas have proper permits, were built to code and already have electricity and water installed. The employees housed there will get panoramic views and the chance to work in one of the most original office buildings in the city.

6. Rooftop Lake (England)

This lake on the Selfridges roof garden opened for the first time since World War II. The lake is located in London and dyed green and serves cocktails. In order to give the Selfridges a boating license, there were miles of steel used to reinforce the roof so that it would hold the lake.

After the devastating bombing of the department store in 1940 owner H.Gordon Selfridge vowed never to open the gardens again. In the 1920s and 1930s the roof, with its spectacular views across London, was a place popular for strolling after a shopping trip and was often used for fashion shows.

7. Runaway on top of Manhattan building (New York)

A helicopter landing on a New York rooftop is a common enough site, but why is there a WWI-era warplane perched on a tiny rooftop runway in Lower Manhattan?

Rooftops on large buildings are typically overcrowded with functional necessities like water tanks and air-conditioning equipment, so when the William Kaufman Organization built an office tower at 77 Water Street back in 1970, they perched atop it something a little more whimsical and aesthetically pleasing.

Onlookers in other buildings higher than the 26-story office tower are distracted from the necessary machinery by a runway with functioning lights, on top of which is perched a bi-plane.

The result is magical, even if the plane itself is merely a non-functioning replica of the original.

8. Didden Village on the roof of private residence (Netherlands)

Most topping up on rooftops is done for two reasons: a need for additional space and the desire to live or work high above the city rooftops, closer to heaven than to other people. Dutch architecture firm designed an extension for the Didden family on top of an existing monumental house and atelier. The attic storey of the house below is extended by a sky-blue parapet. Behind it two gables of the same colour can be seen. It creates a crown on top of the monument. The extension is an example of the growing trend to exploit the urban roofscape for new living and working spaces.

Unlike many similar projects, the Didden Village does not simply offer its owners additional living and sleeping space. It actually functions like a real small village, with alleys and courtyards equipped with benches, tables and a pool. Shoulder high parapets create the necessary air of privacy.

9. Houses on top of a factory (China)

These houses are seen on the rooftop of a factory building in Dongguan, Guangdong province. They were completed in 2011. According to local media, the government said the size of the houses was not in line with the original design submitted, thus the construction should be deemed illegal.

10. Upside-Down House on top of Slovakia Headquarters (Slovakia)

The Slovakia-based headquarters of Strabag is an energy-efficient building - with an upside down house smashed into its side! The European construction company hired artist Erwin Wurm to add his signature work "House Attack" to the outside of their building. Designed by MHM Architects, SKC Bratislava is modern office building that takes advantage of geothermal heating and cooling and is filled with art. The horizontal tower is clad in green low-e glass and it provides office space for 530 people in Slovakia's capital, Bratislava.