The religious buildings, located as far apart as the U.S., Asia and the Middle East, are all due to feature in the upcoming World Architecture Festival in Singapore.

All nine buildings form the shortlist for the religion category. The designs are huge departures from the traditional forms of each religion, in some cases resembling a helter-skelter slide or a Bond villain's lair.

They include churches, mosques a monastery and a Buddhist temple.

Speaking about the entrants to CNN, festival program director Paul Finch said: 'The brief is usually looking for something that engages with the spirit, has elements of beauty and calm and reflection, and that's a wonderful thing for architects to respond to.

'It's hard to tell if they themselves are or aren't religious.'

(dailymail.co.uk)