Once described by the Encyclopaedia Britannica as 'the most modern home built in the world', the Chemosphere was initially considered to be impossible to build, perched as it is atop a five-foot-wide concrete column nearly 30 feet tall.

Also known as the Malin Residence, the home was designed by architect John Lautner in 1960 for Leonard Malin. The young aerospace engineer already owned the plot and reportedly had a budget of £24,000 ($30k) – around £250,000 ($315k) in today's money.

The now iconic Los Angeles house has survived multiple earthquakes thanks to an ingenious spherical concrete pedestal at the base.

28 famous homes that stand as architectural masterpieces