A Revenge of the Llamas Quiz: Crazy Constructions

Answer: A la Ronde

A la Ronde was built by eccentric spinster cousins, Mary and Jane Parminter, after they returned from a tour of Europe, as a reminder of their trip and to house their extensive collection of souvenirs and it has a Byzantine influence thought to have been inspired by the Basilica of San Vitale at Ravenna.

Inside is a central octagon from which eight doors lead to a series of interconnecting rooms, and it was once possible to make a complete circuit of these rooms without entering the octagon itself.

The Parminters were determined to keep A la Ronde in female hands and Mary's will specified that it should only pass to unmarried female relatives but it was eventually transferred to the Reverend Oswald Reichel, a brother of one of the former occupants.

The house was purchased by the National Trust in 1991.

Vulpine submitted this question and very interesting information.

Answer: Executive Wing

The Executive Wing is The Beehive and houses the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers. It was designed by Sir Basil Spence in 1964 and was completed in 1979. Parliament House is where the nuts and bolts of government are conducted where bills and legislation are enacted. It was destroyed in 1907 so a new one was built having been designed by John Campbell and Claude Paton. The Parliamentary Library is just that and Bowen House houses the offices for Members of Parliament and other staff.

Although Exit10 didn't see it, she did manage to visit New Zealand once.

Answer: Picnic basket - office building

The Longerberger Basket Company has its offices in this seven storey version of a picnic basket in Newark, Ohio. It is 160 times longer, wider and taller than their Medium Market Basket and houses 500 employees.

Newark, Ohio is located in the middle of Ohio so it only stands to reason that FT member maninmidohio submitted this question. :)

Answer: He created a complex of underground rooms and tunnels.

Nobody knows why but the Duke (1800-1879) commissioned a great suite of underground rooms in which he spent most of his time. These included the Great Hall (measuring 160 feet by 63 feet); a kitchen, dining room, billiard room and several libraries. All of the rooms were painted pink.

There was also a small railway and several tunnels of up to a mile in length at least one of which was reputed to be big enough to take a horse and carriage.

Glendathecat gets around. That's all I can say.

Answer: Paris

The plan was eventually abandoned, but not until after a major part of what is now downtown Detroit was laid out in this manner, two 'wheels' being Campus Martius and Grand Circus Park.

FT member pizzaiola says, 'Come visit Detroit you guys, we're nice and the city is actually pretty cool!'

Answer: Triangle

Completed in 1596, it was the lodge, or folly, belonging to Rushton Hall. At this time the Hall was the home of the Tresham family.

The base of the building is an equilateral triangle. There are three floors with three windows to each floor. On the top of each wall are three gables.

The windows contain triangles, crosses and trefoils and around the building are numbers, Latin inscriptions and sculptures which represent biblical themes, Bible verses and the families of Tresham and his wife, Meriel Throckmorton.

Inside the building are three hexagonal rooms, each with three triangular rooms leading off them.

Answer: Danish

Construction commenced in March 1959 and was eventually completed in 1972. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973 and was paid for by the good citizens of New South Wales via the Opera House Lottery. Designer Jorn Utzon was involved in disputes over rising costs and undetermined timelines and so resigned from the project. He returned to Denmark in 1966 and passed away in December 2008.

Exit10 has stood on the steps and it is a truly awesome building.

Answer: Beagle

Dog Bark Park is home to the World's Biggest Beagle named Toby. He is 12' high and guests can climb up the stairs to stay whilst meals can be taken in Sweet Willy the Dog Bark Park Inn.

Glendathecat submitted this question but I guess ya really gotta go there to appreciate it.

Answer: Inaugural General Assembly of the World Toilet Association

The Inaugural General Assembly of the World Toilet Association (you're going well if you can get your mouth around that) built a house that contains a bathroom at the centre of the house and has four swish toilets and handy gadgets for conserving water.

The house is named "Haewoojae" which translates to "a place of sanctuary where one can solve one's worries".

Only Exit10 could find a question like this.

Answer: Pineapple

The Dunmore Pineapple, often described as Scotland's most bizarre building, was actually a birthday present for his wife Susan. Her reaction is not recorded but who could blame her for preferring clothes or a fondue.

Glendathecat gleaned this piece of trivia whilst taking his llama on an extended holiday.