"Nail House"

The intersection of politics and architecture has given us some fascinating case studies in China. These buildings are known as "nail houses", as they symbolize a stubborn nail in an otherwise clean plank of wood. They are a product of land owners holding their own, capitalizing on Chinese private property legislation. I do not know enough about the legal aspect of it so I won't take a political side on the issue, I just appreciate the oddity and uniqueness of nail houses.

These structures are right in the middle of construction projects. In most cases, they are super small plots of land entirely surrounded by a large construction site, for a highway or mall as an example. The owners are seeking compensation for their land, and often times they will add a few more floors onto their buildings, because typically the more floors on the existing structure, the more money they will receive. If anything, you have to appreciate the commitment of these land owners. Imagine trying to access the building in the first image. You would need a helicopter or crane.