There’s a building in Ohio that looks like a picnic basket 

Nestled in the heart of Ohio, USA, stands a towering structure that has been turning heads since its creation. It is fondly called the Big Basket building. It is a larger-than-life replica of a picnic basket that has left visitors in awe. It was built by the Longaberger Company, a maple wood basket and lifestyle product manufacturer, in 1997. This unique and fascinating building has become an iconic landmark in Ohio.  

The basket-shaped building in Ohio 
The Big Basket building, true to its name, is a magnificent architectural wonder built to serve as the headquarters of the Longaberger Company. It was designed to resemble the company's best-selling product, the Medium Market Basket. The building is one of the most notable examples of novelty architecture. The journey to bring this incredible vision to life began in 1995 and was completed by 1997. However, the American architectural firms NBBJ and Korda Nemeth Engineering had to overcome a few challenges in designing the building that satisfied the company's founder, Dave Longaberger. After proposing several designs that did not quite hit the mark, Mr. Longaberger finally pointed to one of the baskets and said, “Build exactly like that” and they sure did! 

The design 
The architects have used several dimensions of panels to give the illusion of horizontal and vertical weave patterns of an original basket. If you look at the building, you will also find handles attached to it like they are to an actual wood basket. These handles weigh 75 tons each and are made of copper and wooden rivets. The attention to detail is commendable! The building has an outwardly tapering exterior to make it look like an exact replica of a basket. That is why the area of the seventh floor is 5,000 sq. ft. more than the first floor! It also has a 700-pound gold label plate with the company name engraved on the north and south faces of the basket. How much do you think was the cost of building this mammoth basket? Over 30 million USD! It indeed is one pricey basket. 

The closing and reopening of the Big Basket building 
Unfortunately, the owner of the Longaberger Company, Dave Longaberger, died in 1999. Post his death, the company started seeing substantial losses, ultimately leading to bankruptcy. The building closed its doors in 2016 and the company shut down in 2018. But people were not ready to see the iconic building crumble away. The locals demanded preservation of the building to the local authority. It was opened up for a one-day tour in 2020, and guess what? Over 600 people lined up to tour the place! Although it was a one-day event, do not let your hopes die because the building plans to open its doors again, but this time as a hotel! In 2017, the Coon Restoration and Sealants company from Ohio purchased the building. The hotel transformation is underway, but the new owners have assured the locals that the basket structure will not be altered. So, if you ever find yourself in Ohio, take a peek at this basket-inspired gem!