12+ Cities That Have Crazy Shapes

Architects can really do wonders and plan a city design in a way so it can actually resemble a beautiful piece of art. Looking down from a bird’s perspective, some places have such distinctive and special patterns, they make satellite images incredibly eye-catching.

Here is a list of cities with unique designs that shine a light on the ingenuity of city planning.

1. Manhattan, New York City, United States

Manhattan’s street plan was made by a group of 3 people back in 1807. The land frame was designed to be convenient for building and housing in the city. Later, the city was reconstructed and Manhattan got its distinctive strict straight streets, housing blocks, and right-angled buildings.

2. Palmanova, Italy

Palmanova was constructed at the end of the sixteenth century in the late Renaissance period. It has the very unique shape of a star and was built on the idea that it would eventually become a utopian city.

3. Venice, Italy

Venice was built on a group of 118 small islands that are connected by more than 400 bridges. Throughout history, this city that has many canals was known to be a center of commerce.

4. Buenos Aires, Argentina

The city was designed in a colonial style and has narrow streets that form a grid pattern. Buenos Aires was founded in 1536.

5. Fort Lauderdale, United States

It is also known as the “Venice of America” since it has many waterways across the town. The city was constructed in 1838, and its name comes from the many forts that were built during that period.

6. Mexico City, Mexico

The city has a distinctive design and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is believed to have been founded in 1325 or 1327. Since it’s very old, the architecture represents a sort of a mix of Aztec culture, the Colonial Spanish Era, and European styles, like Renaissance or Baroque.

7. Valparaíso, Chile

Val Paraiso has a natural setting that resembles an amphitheater. Some intriguing early modern foundations from the industrial period have been preserved here.

8. London, United Kingdom

The River Thames divides London into north and south districts. There is a concentric ring pattern design that is specific to this city, as it shows its historical phases.

9. Canberra, Australia

The center of the Australian capital lies on 2 perpendicular axes and it’s based on the urban plan known as the “Y plan” since its districts are placed in the shape of the letter Y.

10. El Salvador, Chile

This town is located in the middle of the Atacama Desert and has a very distinctive shape — one that resembles a Roman helmet.

11. Washington D.C., United States

The interesting streetscape of the city is a mix of circles, square patterns, triangular and trapezoidal lots, and parks. The design is influenced by Baroque landscape architecture.

12. Amsterdam, Netherlands

The capital of the Netherlands is another distinctive city that is located on numerous canals, which is why it’s named “Venice of the North.” It is also known for its narrow-built houses and artistic architecture.

13. San Francisco, United States

The block-like pattern of San Francisco is this way for a reason. The initial plan was to accommodate the people who were starting to populate the area during the Gold Rush.

Bonus: Can you recognize these cities?

The plan for this city included the design of one that would look like a bird or a plane.

The grid-like patterns of this city make it one of the most recognizable ones in Europe.

This city with a block-like design has interesting architecture, ranging from a Renaissance style to Baroque.

The first layout of this city was based on the Navigli system, which was used for navigating on canals that are now covered and not visible.

The center of this European capital was renovated during the nineteenth century. The city, later on, became known for its wide avenues, parks, and fountains.

Did you recognize some of these cities? What city do you think has the most interesting shape?