The Markel Building is in the Shape of an Aluminum-Clad Baked Potato

I live in Richmond, the capital of Virginia, which is well-known for its architecture. There are many historical buildings admired for their beauty. However, there is one building that is in the record books for being one of the ugliest buildings in the world and the quirkiest in Virginia.

There is an interesting story about why the structure was built in a circular shape, and it looks like a baked potato wrapped in aluminum foil.

The Markel Building

If you have ever seen Richmond's Markel Building at 5310 Markel Road, Richmond, VA 23230, you can't help from noticing its unusual design. No other building in the world is built that way.

The Markel Building is an office building commissioned by the Markel Insurance Corporation and designed by Haigh Jamgochian.

According to Only in Your State, it is the strangest building in Virginia. It was inspired by a baked potato wrapped in foil served to Jamgochian while attending an American Institute of Architects' dinner.

The Baked Potato Look

The entire building is wrapped in 555-foot-long pieces of aluminum, which are completely used for siding. Jamgochian personally hammered the wrinkles into the unbroken aluminum pieces himself, giving the building its hallmark crinkled texture and that “foil-wrapped” appearance.

Opened in 1965, the strange-looking structure is a circular aluminum-clad three-story office building that looks almost exactly like a foil-wrapped baked potato. That's exactly what the architect had in mind when he was inspired to design it that way in 1962.

Notice in the photo that the Markel building is so high off the ground that you can actually look under and through it to see on the other side of the street and other parts of the neighborhood.

The Markel Building is truly one-of-a-kind, and it was Jamgochian's legacy. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 8, 2017.

The building is visible from public roads, so you don’t need a tour to see it. Visitors often stop by and take pictures. While interior access may be limited given its commercial use, its exterior alone offers plenty to see. Actually, those who work inside the building feel like they are inside any office building.

I once visited my sister, who used to work in an office there. She met me in the lobby on the first floor, so I never went to the two upper floors. I must admit that I did not know what to expect when I first entered the aluminum-clad building. However, after being there for a few moments, I felt comfortable as if I were in a regular building rather than inside aluminum foil.

Just for fun, some people call the Markel Building the "Potato Building" for a good reason. Those who have seen the building know exactly why that name is appropriate. Those who have heard the name but have never seen the building make a point of seeing for themselves what the "Potato Building" looks like. After seeing it, they begin to refer to the building by that name as well.

Many tourists are surprised when they see the building for the first time, but Richmonders are used to seeing it, especially those who live nearby and those who travel on the busy highway going to and from work and other places.

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