What is a 'folly'?????

Question

FOLLY

Answer 1

I don't know about sports, but in architecture, a folly is an extravagant, frivolous or fanciful building, designed more for artistic expression than for practicality.

Originally such structures were often dubbed after the single individual who commissioned or designed the project. "Folly" is used in the sense of foolishness, fun or light-heartedness.

However, very few follies are completely without a practical purpose. Apart from their decorative aspect, many originally had a use which was lost later, such as hunting towers. Follies are misunderstood structures, according to The Folly Fellowship, a charity that exists to celebrate the history and splendour of these often neglected buildings.

Follies are often found in parks or large grounds of houses and stately homes. Some were deliberately built to look partially ruined. They were especially popular from the end of the 16th century to the 18th century. Theme parks and world's fairs have often contained "follies", although such structures do serve a purpose of attracting people to those parks and fairs.