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When you hear that someone’s an architect or a designer, odds are that you’re impressed. If you’re like us, you might imagine that they build gorgeous skyscrapers and meticulously work to elevate interiors to perfection. However, not all ‘pros’ are of the same caliber. Some look like they’re just winging it.
We’ve collected some of the top posts (read: biggest nightmares) from the r/BadArchitecture and r/ArchitectureFails subreddits to show you just how bad things can get. We’re not only talking about a lack of taste, some of these structural decisions are downright dangerous! Scroll down for some architectural madness. You’ll swear you’ve accidentally stumbled down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland…
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#1
I Feel Like Something Is Missing
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#2
Control C + Control V X 10000000000
#3
That’s Not A Kitchen Island. Kitchen Lagoon?
The r/BadArchitecture online community was founded in early 2012, and it currently has just over 2.7k members. Meanwhile, the r/ArchitectureFails group, also started up in 2012, has 670 members.
They are niche subreddits that focus on one thing and one thing alone—showing the world just how bizarre and mind-meltingly low-quality some buildings have been designed. Fridges in the middle of the kitchen, wonky windows, and Extremely Precarious Death Stairs (patent pending) are just the tip of the iceberg.
#4
Start Small, And Then Just Expand! House In Cambodia
#5
Stair
#6
This House
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
I don't know what's worse, the weird mishmash of styles or the fact the pillars aren't on the corners.
One of the best skills you can have as an architect (and that goes for practically any other career path as well) is being a capable leader. That means knowing how to communicate clearly and efficiently with others, supporting and respecting your team, and being able to find compromises when things get tense.
Without decent leadership or communication skills, you can have the best and brightest ideas in the entire realm, but that won’t do you much good if you can’t turn your imaginative blueprints into reality. No architect is an island—they have to be team players.
#7
This Flight Of Stairs Right Outside A Bedroom
#8
Just A New Build Ground Floor Flat Facing A Busy Road
#9
I Want To Understand... I Really Do
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
It's obviously deliberate, but why? Curtains won't hang right. The angled windows don't open by the look of it. When you go to resell you cut down the number of potential buyers drastically. And to top it off, it doesn't really look that great anyway.
Poor communication skills will inevitably lead to a deep divide between what the designer envisioned and what the contractors have built. When there’s ambiguity in the blueprints or instructions, you’re essentially letting the builders decide what to do themselves. And that’s exactly what they’ll do if the architect isn’t on-site, ready to field questions.
#10
Something About This Shower In My Old Childhood House
#11
An Apartment In London That Has No Front Door. Just A Set Of Stairs Leading Up To A Window
Narwhal Blast 1 year ago
There was no architect or engineer involved in here... I've seen this one before, the owner modified this in order to charge an obscene amount of money for rent. This article is so bad, on a lot of them there is no architect involved...
#12
But Why?
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Open plan gets pushed too far sometimes. I think it's ok to a point, but this has gone past that point.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Institute of Technology also stresses the need to have top-notch design and problem-solving skills, as well as a background in mathematics and a solid understanding of the law. What’s more, good architects will be computer-savvy and have a way to turn their creativity into clear visuals.
#13
Doors To ???
LK 1 year ago
I've seen a number of such buildings. They were used for firefighter training. The new recruits would climb ladders and rescue people from the towers.
Vasana Phong 1 year ago
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ( hey kids they’re making a part 2- not a reboot )
Kathryn Baylis 1 year ago
I’m thinking that, at some point in history, there were wood or metal stairs or a fire escape attached to the building and lining up to these doors, but they have been removed for some reason. Wouldn’t an extra exit come in handy in case of fire or something equally hazardous? Replace the fire escape, ffs. This isn’t 1912, and the building isn’t the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory—-scratch that—-Sweatshop.
Mia Bouhan 10 months ago
These kinds of things make me think that Architects don’t like alcohol
Mia Bouhan 10 months ago
Sometimes I think architects are trying to murder anyone who gets drunk ever
John Kamau 1 year ago
Grandpa Drax: We just throw them and they learn to fly. That's how I was taught... THIS IS A TALL TOWER... That's why its cool.
Nathan Shipman 1 year ago
This reminds me of a book series I read in Elementary School called "The Dumb Bunnies". The building that had those doors was a Skydiving school.
Rebecca Phillips-Partridge 1 year ago
Probably once used for fire fighter training... This kind of structure is common
Ghostsauce 1 year ago
The lower door leads to the ER while the upper door actually leads to heaven
Melissa Hamed 1 year ago
No I've seen doors and odd places on buildings but never one where the doorknobs face outside.
Odin Schmidt 1 year ago
I love the fact that there's doorstops on the wall. You wouldn't want to put the doorknob through the brick as you burst through the door and plummet to your death!
John Boy 1 year ago
This is most likely a Training Tower for Firefighters. We have one here where I live and that's what we use it for. It's full of "rooms" and we fill the tower with theatrical smoke to simulate a fire, then we practice finding "victims" (dummies that have been hidden around the rooms) and "rescuing" them by lowering them via a pully system that hangs off the roof.
Serenity Now! 1 year ago
Hmm, falling out of those doors might just be the stairway to heaven.
Chexmy Licks 1 year ago
oh we used to have this on my old country it seems like uhh like a fire exit like uhh when the firefighters have to pull out like the trampoline to catch the people.. idk what its called
#14
This Combination Staircase/Cellar/ Bathroom Gets Worse Every Second You Look At It
#15
Stairs Straight To 1st Floor
At times, poor design decisions aren’t a result of maliciousness on the contractors’ part. They might have been the best course of action, given the circumstances and (a lack of) resources. In other words, when you need to keep a deadline, you look for ways to get the job done, instead of aiming for ‘perfection’ (if that even exists). In times like this, it often helps to look at the property you just bought as an eternal ‘work in progress.’ Not every detail will be to your liking, but with enough care and attention, you can make your house feel like a home.
#16
Big Brain Roof Access Placement
#17
This Thing On Bratislava Castle
The Exquisite Pancake 1 year ago
I’m guessing they were renovating but then a bunch of people got annoyed because it was a part of history? I have no idea what I’m talking about so I may just be spouting nonsense
#18
This Just P**ses Me Off
However, in other cases, mistakes happen because the contractor team might be lazy, looking to cut costs, or might simply want to get the project over as quickly as possible.
Ariane Sherine, the former editor at ‘These Three Rooms,’ previously told Bored Panda why mistakes happen and what we can all do to embrace that our homes are imperfect.
"Certain materials might be unavailable so they decide to use an unsuitable substitute, or they might have a surplus of the substitute that they want to use up. They might be misinformed and not very good at their job and think they're doing the right thing. Or they might be trying to save money and end up cutting corners as a result," the interior design expert shared why mistakes can and do crop up in homes.
#19
There's No Entrance To The Balcony Except For That Little Window
#20
This Floor Plan Is A Dungeon
#21
Why?
One example of a contractor not being worth their salt is opting for materials that don’t fit the purpose. For instance, if they decide to use wood like oak, ash, and pine outdoors, which are not weather resistant, there’s probably something fishy going on.
Other red flags include not following the right process during an installation, “such as not tanking a wetroom to ensure it's waterproof.”
#22
Feel Sorry For The Person Who Thought It Was A Fire Escape
#23
Nice Job
#24
The House Next Door #fail
ferocious freshwater fish 1 year ago
I see their mechanic making a fortune in their not so distinct future
The interior design expert suggested learning from other people’s mistakes and only using licensed and vetted tradespeople for jobs. She also noted that no home is ever finished, so it’s best to embrace the quirks and see them as charming details that add character to the property.
#25
2bedroom House With A Balcony !
#26
Just Why
The Exquisite Pancake 1 year ago (edited)
What’s so bad about this? {Edit} Ohhhh I get it now thanks guys
#27
Ugghhhh
"There's always some problem, something to fix or replace that would make it better. Realistically, as long as there's nothing major such as a faulty boiler or leaking roof, it's up to the homeowner what they're willing to live with," she told us. In short, ensure that your home is functional, but try not to stress too much if every tiny little detail doesn't align. So long as you're not in danger or incredibly inconvenienced, whether or not you can live in an imperfectly designed home becomes a matter of perspective and taste.
#28
Luxury Spanish Colonial Revival Prison Style Apartments
#29
This Staris Gives Me The Creeps
#30
Bathroom I Found In A Rundown Theatre
Which of these architecture and design disasters impressed you the most, Pandas? Were there any that you would genuinely classify as epic fails? What's the very worst design fail that you've seen with your own eyes? We'd love to hear what you think, so feel free to pop by the comments to share your opinions.
#31
A Square House On Top Of A Tower ??
#32
New Wall They Made At My Work
#33
The Balconies Are Done Boss
#36
This
#37
An Outhouse In New Mexico (Tinted Red Because Of My Headlamp)
Panda Kicki 1 year ago
This isnt weird. Swedish outhoses traditionally often have 2-4 holes and going there was/is a social thing.
#38
Seriously? Just “Y”? As A Designer This Is So Grating
#39
Watch That First Step, It's A Doozy!
#40
Seems Pretty Useless
#41
Great Closet
#42
This Door Makes Me Mad
#43
Architect: "What Do You Want?" Me: "You Know The Graphics They Used On 80s Vhs Movies?" Architect: "Say No More."
#44
When You Don’t Think All The Way Through Your Drainage System
Pieter LeGrande 1 year ago
Done on the cheap. The downpipe could have gone down into the kerb, then a right-angle exit to the gutter.
#45
University Of The Arts. Chaco, Argentina
#46
Bruh
#47
Architecture At It's Peak
#48
Ah Yes A Face Full Of Fence
#49
Nice One
#50
A Kid’s Sims Model Irl ?
Add New Image
What do you think ?
g90814 1 year ago
seriously. They need to get flagged for a few months at least.
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Kosnian 1 year ago
I don't think any architect was ever involved in these atrocities, maybe the old window frames on the stone buildings, and even then it might have been a requirement from the historical buildings protection. Actually, with an architect all those wouldn't happen to begin with.
Diolla 1 year ago
Exactly. This is more like a list of what happens if NO architect was involved.
Load More Replies...
Ole Peder Amrud Hagen 1 year ago
Hardly any of these horrors are the fault of architects or designers. What a c**p article.
Tetelestai 1 year ago
I’ve seen a couple of old lists that have the same “architect fails” kind of title, yet it’s the same thing, where the architect isn’t probably at fault, it’s likely the builders or the fact no architect was involved
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Two_rolling_black_eyes 1 year ago
So many pictures of moving doors. You build a 3 story building with a tight stairwell. At the end of the hallway on each floor you have a door that allows larger objects (bed, pianos, etc) that will never fit through the stairwell to be moved into the home/office/etc. If you've ever watched a Bugs Bunny cartoon where someone is crushed by a falling piano, some movers were using one of these doors and the piano was being winched up.
g90814 1 year ago
seriously. They need to get flagged for a few months at least.
Load More Replies... Kosnian 1 year ago
I don't think any architect was ever involved in these atrocities, maybe the old window frames on the stone buildings, and even then it might have been a requirement from the historical buildings protection. Actually, with an architect all those wouldn't happen to begin with.
Diolla 1 year ago
Exactly. This is more like a list of what happens if NO architect was involved.
Load More Replies... Ole Peder Amrud Hagen 1 year ago
Hardly any of these horrors are the fault of architects or designers. What a c**p article.
Tetelestai 1 year ago
I’ve seen a couple of old lists that have the same “architect fails” kind of title, yet it’s the same thing, where the architect isn’t probably at fault, it’s likely the builders or the fact no architect was involved
Load More Replies... Two_rolling_black_eyes 1 year ago
So many pictures of moving doors. You build a 3 story building with a tight stairwell. At the end of the hallway on each floor you have a door that allows larger objects (bed, pianos, etc) that will never fit through the stairwell to be moved into the home/office/etc. If you've ever watched a Bugs Bunny cartoon where someone is crushed by a falling piano, some movers were using one of these doors and the piano was being winched up.
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