Quirky Buildings

Trying to imagine the architect’s sense of humor when designing some of the odd buildings throughout our area makes me laugh. I visualize his or her facial expression while showing off the drafts to their customers. Is the customer smiling, choking, rolling on the floor laughing? Is it a joke? Promotion gag? Marketing ploy? How does the general contractor react when trying to figure out the blueprints? I’m guessing there was plenty of head-scratching going on. But, whatever the original reasoning behind the creation of these unique, one of a kind buildings, I’m glad of it! They make me happy, and leave a smile on my face whenever I drive by. Although, as is the case with my favorite quirky building pictured here, they can make me extremely sad as well. This one’s slated for the bulldozer, the wrecking ball, destruction. In its place will be a shiny, bland, generic office building. There will be nothing in its design to bring a smile, let alone, a memory.

The first time I drove past the building pictured here, I did a double-take. I was in traffic, trying not to rear-end someone, and glancing to my right as I went by. I returned a few weeks later, noticed a for sale sign on the property, and started visualizing what I could do with this adorable space if I bought it. I dubbed it the “Flying Nun Building” after the Flying Nun TV sitcom from the late 1960s starring Sally Fields. The building roofline reminded me of Sally Field’s hat in the TV show. I imagined a drive-through soup cafe, or tiny gift shop. Daydreams to brighten a dreary, bypass-the-freeway commute home from work.

Well, my daydreams were just that. The property of this one-time gas station, later turned flower shop, has been sold. I’m sure one of these days as I bypass the freeway again, I’ll find a vacant lot and construction trailer, in preparation of the new office building. But, rather than being sad, I’ll force myself to smile at the memory of my Flying Nun Building, and in honor of whoever came up with that quirky design years ago. ~SueBee