Japanese  artist Takanori Aiba is a very patient man. His intricate sculptures of complex habitats “from far away lands” can take over a year to create.

Before taking up sculpture, Aiba was responsible for the architectural design of the Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum (a museum devoted to noodles!), the Musée Du Petit Prince De Saint Exupery in Hakone, Japan, and scores of other intriguing structures. His interest in unusual buildings incorporates both his knowledge of architecture and his other sometimes-occupation as a maze designer and illustrator. Who even knew that was a job?

Aiba’s goal with these amazing, imaginative works of art is to represent “the beauty of spiritual accordance between human and nature in miniature.” His dream is to create his own version of Disneyland using his designs. I’d certainly travel to see that!