Big Picture Contest
Is this a fish-shaped seafood restaurant?
This is the National Fisheries Development Board building in Hyderabad.
It is a three-story, 1,920-square-meter structure. According to an official, "As Hyderabad is the head office of India's fisheries department, the government wanted it to be unique. It's a great building, particularly for a government office."
Mimetic architecture, also known as ‘novelty’ architecture, became popular in USA in the first-half of the 20th century especially between the 1920s and 1950s, as cars became widespread and freeways were built across America. Some roadside architecture started to be seen as a means for advertising to passing cars. For eg: a roadside restaurant might be designed in the shape of a giant hot dog, a coffee shop in the shape of a coffee pot, or a fruit stand in the shape of a piece of fruit.
The style later fell out of favour in the late 1950s, and most such buildings are now long gone, the sheer size and novelty has allowed some to be viewed as local landmarks and preserved. The Hyderabad building is both fully functional and a landmark.