Italian artist Vacon Sartirani specializes in all things wormy, sluggy, and grotesque, often interjecting his writhing creatures into more recognizable pop images. His Mickey Mouse against the Worms series re-writes old Disney comics to feature slimy, writhing, faceless monsters.

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Between 1957 and 1967, Disneyland would lay its cards on the table and put forward the whacky shapes, gadgets and materials that it believed would constitute the housing of the future. This particular example features ‘four equal wings ‘floating’ above landscaped grounds and waterfalls; an Atoms for Living Kitchen, with its revolutionary “microwave” oven; and a sleek living room, with its giant, wall mounted television screen’. Very preescent! Apparently, the planned one-day demolition of the House of the Future actually took two weeks ‘as the wrecking ball just bounced off the exterior. Workers painstakingly cut the house into pieces with hacksaws’.

One of the things that hotels, and international hotel brands in particular, are often criticised for is a lack of identity, the feeling of being somewhere but nowhere simultaneously. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. One of the emerging trends in the industry is the personalization of hotels around a style or a theme, so feast your eye on 7 of the coolest and most individual themed hotels from around the world!

Hotel Tomo [San Francisco, United States, above] Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown, this hotel is uniquely themed around Japanese pop culture. Anime murals and other related art work are just the tip of this theme’s iceberg. The real reason that people love this theme hotel is because there are gaming suites that let adults plop into bean bag chairs and play video games as though they’re just kids hanging out in Tokyo. The on-site Kabuki Springs Spa gives a little bit of a luxury adult edge to the hotel and reminds visitors that it’s a great place for grown-ups.

Aria Hotel [Prague] Prague is a city known for its musical history and that’s the theme of this hotel located in the heart of the region. It’s a five star luxury resort where musical virtuosos and their fans can immerse themselves in music from the very first step they take on the property. From the Italian mosaic formed from a Gregorian chant to the surround-sound features in each room, every detail of the place is inspired by music.

The Block at Tahoe [Nevada, United States] The mountains of Lake Tahoe are a popular place for skiers and snowboarders to spend their winters so it was only a matter of time before a snowboarding theme hotel cropped up. Each room is themed around some aspect of snowboarding culture from the trendy DVS shoe brand they love to the Jones soda they drink. The Delta 9 poker-lovers’ room and the Vivid porn star room are other favourites in this hotel which is designed around the central idea that snowboarders are the world’s newest pimps.

Hotel Cocoon [Salvador, Brazil] This hotel prides itself on being the world’s first spaceship hotel. Minimalist design, contemporary colouring and a pool designed to feel as though it’s a lake in outer space are a few of the things that help to set the space ambience of this hotel.

Moscow Hotel Dubai [United Arab Emirates] There is a luxury hotel in the Middle East where you can pretend that you’re visiting Russia. Aspects of the hotel that enhance this theme include a recreation of the Bolshoi Dome, influences from Russian theatre design, A Tolstoy Library, a Russian restaurant and a coffee shop selling strong coffees from Russia.

The Iron Horse Hotel [Wisconsin, United States] This motorcycle-themed hotel hasn’t even opened yet and it’s already taking reservations from Harley riders interested in being among the first to enjoy the place. Located within walking distance of the brand-new Harley-Davidson Museum, this hotel is a luxury spot with special amenities for bikers. Those amenities include indoor bike parking, on-site bike washing facilities, and on-site stores selling everything a motorcycle rider might need.

Disney All Star Movies Resort [Florida, United States] The Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida has numerous hotels with themes ranging from African Wildlife to modern sports. One of the most fun theme hotels there, though, is this one which is all about the different movies that Disney and Pixar have put out over the years. Orlando is truly a family destination and this theme hotel is designed to appeal to families with kids of all ages. Toy Story, 101 Dalmatians and Fantasia are a few of the room themes to choose from.