Now, I’ve roamed a fair bit in my time—walking the streets of the world, and lately, through the alleys of Google Street View with a cup of coffee and suspicious curiosity. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: not every house with curtains has a kitchen behind it.
We live in a world where even buildings lie. Whole brick facades that promise warmth and neighbors and bad plumbing are nothing but stage props for the city’s great masquerade. A man could knock on the door and expect a smile, only to be greeted by a hollow echo and the hum of server fans. These days, even architecture has a poker face.
So here is a twist, I work in many of them. My company services data centers. There are many data center behind innocent looking buildings. So I am used to them, and as someone with cop eyes, I am always looking for something that is out of place. Like a building with no parking, huge air conditioning equipment, massive power infrastructure and strange noises. But who knows may be it isn’t a DC, may be is the operation center for Men in Black. You never know.
They tell us it’s all for the greater good—preserving history, keeping up appearances, cooling down servers. But if a building’s only job is to fool you, then maybe it’s not the building that’s fake—it’s the world around it. Still, I reckon I’d rather be lied to by a pretty wall than told the truth by an ugly one. So next time you pass by a window that never blinks, tip your hat and smile. After all, even fake buildings deserve a little hospitality and they are growing like mushrooms in your town.
And if the door ever opens? Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Let’s take a look at some of the world’s most famous examples—and why they exist.
Paris: The City of Hidden Facades
Paris may be the capital of romance and beauty, but it’s also the capital of deception—at least architecturally.
One example is a building in the Batignolles neighborhood that looks like any other Haussmann-style apartment complex. But this one? It’s a data center. The windows are fake. The front is just a disguise. Behind it: rows of servers pumping out heat, which is why the roof is covered in air conditioning units (a rare sight in Paris).
Another famous fake building sits along the Rue La Fayette. From the street, it looks like a perfectly Parisian apartment complex, but it’s just a ventilation shaft for the underground RER train system. The doors don’t open, and the building is essentially hollow—just a facade designed to blend in with its historic neighbors.
Why go through so much trouble?
You can thank Baron Haussmann, the 19th-century planner who reshaped Paris with uniform, elegant boulevards and buildings. Today, 60% of Paris is made up of Haussmann-style buildings. To preserve the city’s aesthetic, authorities often keep the historic fronts—even if what’s behind them is gutted, repurposed, or entirely fabricated.
Other Notable Fake Buildings Around the World
1. 23-24 Leinster Gardens – London, UK
This Victorian-era row of houses in Bayswater is hiding… absolutely nothing. Behind the ornate façade are no rooms at all. It’s a wall, built to conceal a gap in the row where a tunnel for the London Underground’s early steam trains needed ventilation. The illusion was so convincing that scammers once sold fake tickets to a charity ball at the address.
2. 58 Joralemon Street – Brooklyn, New York
This brownstone in Brooklyn Heights looks like any upscale home, but it’s actually an access point and emergency exit for the NYC subway. Windows are blacked out and the inside is filled with stairways, fans, and ventilation shafts. Owned by the MTA, it was converted in the early 20th century.
3. The Chicago Loop “Facade Houses” – Chicago, USA
In the heart of Chicago, some buildings appear historical but are actually façades left intact after the rest was demolished. Sometimes this is done for architectural preservation, sometimes to comply with zoning or historical preservation laws while building new high-rises behind them.
4. The “Fake” White House – Shanghai, China
One of the stranger fake buildings is a replica of the White House in Shanghai. Used for wedding photography, events, and corporate functions, it’s not a secret building—it’s just fake in the sense that it looks like something it isn’t.
5. The CIA’s “Fake Suburb” – Virginia, USA
In Langley, Virginia, there’s a training facility with a fake town. It has houses, a barber shop, a bank, and other buildings that are fully functional inside—but not open to the public. It’s a simulated environment for CIA operatives to train in urban settings.
Why Build Fake Buildings?
The reasons vary:
- Aesthetic Preservation: To keep historic charm while allowing modern infrastructure.
- Security: To obscure sensitive data centers or transport systems from public knowledge or threats.
- Urban Camouflage: To minimize neighborhood disruption or public backlash.
- Technical Limitations: When demolishing or relocating vital infrastructure isn’t an option.
- Regulatory Compliance: In some cities, historical buildings can’t be torn down—only repurposed.
The Great Debate: Charm or Deception?
Preserving facades while gutting the interior—or fabricating entire buildings to hide industrial functions—is a controversial practice. Some view it as a clever compromise between modernity and history. Others see it as architectural dishonesty or even aesthetic betrayal.
Whatever your take, one thing is clear: cities are full of secrets, and the next time you walk past that strangely quiet building… take a closer look.
It might just be fake.
Have you spotted a fake building in your city? Let me know and I’ll add it to the list!
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