Inspired by the news about the man in China who built a two-story fortress/mountain structure on the top of an apartment building, we’ve rounded up other buildings in NYC that have structures on top too. They’re not as immense, but full of New York City-quirk.

1. Suburban Spreads on the Upper West Side

It’s apparently possible to love the urbanity of New York City and still get the suburban American dream. There are two suburban houses atop this pre-war (~1910) apartment building at the corner of 97th and Broadway, one with a chimney. A bird’s eye view from Bing maps shows that there are even front yards!

Here’s an alternative view from Google Earth: where you can see a backyard on one of the units:

Here are the two units from the side, where you can see the pattern on the apartments has been nicely continued onto the suburban house:

2. Lighthouse on top of Building

The building at 945 Summit Avenue in the Bronx was once the headquarters of H.W. Wilson, a publishing company, known for its Readers Guide to Periodical Literature. The lighthouse was part of the company logo, symbolizing the mission of H.W. Wilson: “To give guidance to those seeking their way through the maze of books and periodicals, without which they would be lost.” It’s now the headquarters of Tuck-it-Away storage. More about this building here.

3. Beach House in the East Village

This Hamptons-esque beach house was first spotted by Scouting NY on the corner of 1st Avenue and 1st Street. We spy some moss growing on it since Scout first posted about it in 2009.

4. Mansard Roof Ski Chalet

This adorable addition, dubbed the ski chalet by ScoutingNY is located between 77th and 78th Street, in the middle of the block between Broadway and Amsterdam. Here are some close-ups from the ground:

5. Wood Cottage in the East Village

Photos by Brian Orce

A reader of ScoutingNY spotted this wooden house on top of the Kiehl’s Store on 13th Street and 3rd Avenue. Here are a few close-ups:

6. Geometric Upper West Side Find

Untapped reader Matt Brothers submitted a house he found on top of an apartment building. This one’s on 85th and Columbus Avenue, also on the Upper West Side. Here’s a 45-degree satellite view on Google Maps:

7. The Lodge at Gallow Green

The Lodge is the a wintertime conversion of rooftop bar Gallow Green into a veritable cabin in the woods. Since this is the McKittrick Hotel of Sleep No More fame we’re talking about, expect nothing less than an all-out theatrical experience. This is a cabin that will take you, mind and body, out of New York City and straight to the wintry, Scottish woodlands. See more photos here.

8. Murray Hill Grecian House Atop Building

This cute little Murray Hill addition was sent to us by way of Untapped Cities reader @happytalist and we were able to speak to the owner about it. She tells that it was already in existence when she bought the property and as far as she knows it was built together with the building in 1923. When she purchased it, it hadn’t been on the market for 45 years and she was attracted to its “huge terrace, Empire [State Building view]” and because “it looks like a cottage house in the city.”

9. Bucolic Cottage with Porch and Meadow

In Greenwich Village, the developer of this apartment building lives at the top and after visiting Elk, Pennsylvania, wanted to bring a little of that bucolic charm back to his urban home. A porch was in order, as well as a green meadow.

As The New York Times described in 2006, “The porch is basically a glorified bulkhead over a hole punched in the ceiling of the family’s loft to make way for a nautical stairway that rises to a landing with a galley-like kitchenette, with two paned windows and a door that opens to the roof.” Read more about this rooftop extension here.

Have you seen any others in NYC? Get in touch with the author @untappedmich.