Hyderabad’s quirky Fish Building has made waves internationally after being featured on lists of the world’s strangest buildings.
The four-storey structure, officially the headquarters of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), stands out as a prime example of mimetic or novelty architecture. Shaped like a giant fish, it features a shimmering metallic exterior, sweeping fins, scale-like windows, and two large circular blue-tinted windows that mimic eyes. A slightly opened mouth serves as part of the entrance, while the entire building appears to swim in mid-air, elevated on pillars along the PV Narasimha Rao Expressway in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Completed and opened in April 2012, the design draws inspiration from Frank Gehry’s iconic fish sculpture in Barcelona (1992), though it takes a far more literal approach. Spanning about 1,920 square metres, the building houses offices dedicated to India’s fisheries sector—making its form a bold, thematic statement.
At night, blue spotlights illuminate the structure, enhancing the illusion of a massive aquatic creature gliding through the cityscape. This lighting, combined with its glassy eyes, has turned it into a striking landmark visible from afar.
While praised by some as a creative symbol of its purpose and a point of local pride, the building has faced criticism in architectural circles for its straightforward, almost cartoonish literalism—often labeled as one of the boldest (or crudest) examples of form-follows-function gone extreme. Detractors call it novelty over substance, yet it undeniably draws attention and curiosity.
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Recent inclusions in global compilations of the “weirdest” or “strangest” buildings have renewed viral interest, with social media posts and articles highlighting Hyderabad’s contribution to unconventional architecture. From local selfies to international headlines, the Fish Building continues to swim against the tide of typical designs, proving that sometimes the most memorable structures are the ones that make you do a double-take.