The Skinniest House Built Out Of Spite

Measuring just seven feet wide, the Hollensbury Spite House in Virginia was built in 1830 specifically to block noisy horse-drawn carriages from using a narrow alleyway.

The homeowner grew tired of people loitering in the alley next to his property, so he constructed this tiny building to fill the space entirely. Its walls still bear the deep gouges from wagon wheel hubs that tried to squeeze through before the structure was completed. Today, it remains a famous tourist attraction and a functional home. It serves as a perfect example of how architectural design can be used as a blunt tool for settling neighborhood disputes.