Marina City, Chicago

Architect Bertrand Goldberg, clearly a fan of curves over corners, brought his artistic flair to life in these quirky residential towers. Some folks say they resemble corncobs, but Goldberg, with his artistic flair, fancied them as sunflowers—each apartment's curved balcony resembling a petal. This design gave the rigid International Style a run for its money, challenging the high-rise norm that dominated architectural trends in the 1950s.

In an era when many urban workers were flocking to the suburbs, Goldberg and his client, the Building Service Employees International Union, had a hunch. They believed that city-dwellers, especially singles and the childless, still wanted proximity to their workplaces in the Loop. Their gamble paid off handsomely, and this complex became a trailblazer for similar projects sprouting up around the Loop. Plus, it spent plenty of time in the Windy City limelight as one of the most snapped buildings.

To make urban living in a previously railroad-centric area appealing, Goldberg thought outside the box. He threw in shops, a restaurant, a health center, a pool, a skating rink, an exhibition space, a theater, a marina, a bowling alley, and even an office tower. It was marketed as a "city within a city", offering "24-hour urban living", slyly contrasting suburban life, where commuters only used their homes for snoozing.

Built between 1964 and 1968, these towers still house condominiums with spectacular views (although their unique shape poses some interior decorating puzzles). Oh, and don't forget about the first 19 stories of each tower—the open spiral parking garages. The complex also houses six restaurants, as well as the House of Blues, Hotel Chicago, a sprawling bowling alley, and even its own marina. It's like a sunflower in the middle of the urban jungle!