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Architectural visualizations are crucial to the design and planning phases of a project. They help communicate ideas, gather feedback, and make informed decisions before construction begins.

However, when you compare the finished building with its initial representation, sometimes you don't see the shining sun reflecting in its windows and the greenery around it that's more lush than that in the Garden of Eden.

So to remind you that what we see isn't always what we get, here's a collection of pictures that exemplify the contrast between the promised ideal and reality.

#1

Design Submitted By The Architect vs. How The Contractor Ends Up Building It

Design Submitted By The Architect vs. How The Contractor Ends Up Building It

frosted_bite Report

#2

Stanley Milner Library In Edmonton, Alberta

Stanley Milner Library In Edmonton, Alberta

ham-nuts Report

At this point, the phenomenon in these pictures is virtually a trend. In one of his articles for The Guardian, British architecture and design critic Olly Wainwright explains how he tends to find himself observing thesis projects produced by the best and brightest students of the UK.

But what he is struck by the most isn't the technical skill or imagination, but rather the sheer lack of connection these projects have with actual, built, imperfect architecture: "Time and again, the projects seemed intent on fleeing the real world of people and places, scale and context; retreating instead into fantasy realms of convoluted forms with no seeming purpose."

#3

Such A Big Difference Between The Rendered Photo And Reality. Prisma, Helsingborg, Sweden

Such A Big Difference Between The Rendered Photo And Reality. Prisma, Helsingborg, Sweden

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#4

Vizag International Cruise Terminal In Visakhapatnam, India

Vizag International Cruise Terminal In Visakhapatnam, India

cheraputra Report

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ॐBoyGanesh
Community Member
10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh…this is so misleading. The terminal was supposed to launch this fall and has been delayed. The first picture was one of several submitted and not the final design. There are no actual cruise ships that currently visit Visakhapatnam yet. The delay is until March and the angle of this photo is also misleading. It’s a beautiful building and once landscaped and after construction is completed, it will be exactly what was ordered.

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#5

Växjö's New Municipal Building. Render vs. Real Building

Växjö's New Municipal Building. Render vs. Real Building

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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Camilore
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do these renders look so futuristic and the actual buildings so downsized and bland? 😩

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"There [are] scaleless worlds of splintered shards and riverine landscapes, in which forlorn mechanisms had been implanted like post-apocalyptic ruins of a distant-future race," Wainwright explained.

"Clouds of lines and layers were regularly employed as a smokescreen to disguise the fact that there wasn't really an idea at all: visual complexity masking conceptual thinness."

#6

Residence Trea In Istanbul, Turkey

Residence Trea In Istanbul, Turkey

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Camilore
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those graphic designers should take it more easy with the lighting 😄

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#7

Located In Central Halmstad

Located In Central Halmstad

In order to sell projects, they brighten up the facades and exaggerate the number of pedestrians and cyclists in their render. They also invent greenery that doesn't exist.

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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majandess
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the brightening. So many of these are so dark in reality. The tinting on the windows, the material of the outside, etc, add darkness to the buildings once they are complete, and they look like sad versions of the rendering.

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#8

The So-Called Stadsberget In Piteå. Although It Is A Parking Garage, The Illustration Shows A Car-Free Environment With A Lot Of Cyclists And Pedestrians

The So-Called Stadsberget In Piteå. Although It Is A Parking Garage, The Illustration Shows A Car-Free Environment With A Lot Of Cyclists And Pedestrians

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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Urbanist Vanessa Quirk agrees that it's a trap many architecture schools have fallen into, not just in the UK but around the world.

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"It's not just a symptom of the misguided nature of architecture education. It's also symptomatic of architecture's obsession with the image of architecture, an image completely detached from reality," said Quirk, who is the interim president of the board at Urbanist Media, a non-profit trying to elevate underrepresented voices and preserve the places that matter to them.

#9

Spektrum In Nya Hovas. Rendering vs. Actual Result

Spektrum In Nya Hovas. Rendering vs. Actual Result

Semrén & Månsson , google maps Report

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les
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if the photo was taken from the same angle it would be about the same. also a pic at night would show the highlights when its lit up and have a similar look.

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#10

Tel Aviv University's "Building Of The Future"

Tel Aviv University's "Building Of The Future"

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#11

I Wonder How The People Who Bought Apartments In This Apocalyptic-Leninist Bunker Nightmare Feel About Their Investment

I Wonder How The People Who Bought Apartments In This Apocalyptic-Leninist Bunker Nightmare Feel About Their Investment

wrathofgnon Report

Quirk believes the idea of the "perfect" architectural image is not only propagated by professors who prioritize the rendering over its practical implications (causing students to spend hours perfecting visuals instead of perfecting the design).

In her eyes, the architectural media shares the blame. "[It] presents a flood of glossy shots that 'sell' an idealized architecture to the public and, frankly, architects themselves." 

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#12

Vision vs. Reality. Platinan In Gothenburg, Sweden

Vision vs. Reality. Platinan In Gothenburg, Sweden

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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Camilore
Community Member
10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eco friendly on the render, industrial mammoth in reality - totally different styles and concepts

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#13

Söders Höjder In Helsingborg, Sweden

Söders Höjder In Helsingborg, Sweden

The real building doesn't shine very much, and the reality is painful. Söders Höjder in Helsingborg is Sweden's third ugliest new building in 2023 and also the building with the year's worst fake view.

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#14

The Vision Of This Building Looked Great, But The Reality Is Very Disappointing

The Vision Of This Building Looked Great, But The Reality Is Very Disappointing

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#15

The New Hotel At Halmstad's Travel Center. It Looks Like A Haunted Hotel

The New Hotel At Halmstad's Travel Center. It Looks Like A Haunted Hotel

arkitekturupproret.se Report

The danger of this is that the image exists independent of the concept, to be evaluated as a graphic, or as Quirk put it, "The architecture itself is erased, eclipsed by its image."

The proliferation of such pictures could lead clients and the public at large to expect from architecture and architects a degree of quality, perfection even, that is impossible to deliver in the real world, and thus, disappointment.

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#16

The Plans For The Marble Arch Mound On The Left Regarded Spectacular In Comparison With The Way It Had Really Been Constructed

The Plans For The Marble Arch Mound On The Left Regarded Spectacular In Comparison With The Way It Had Really Been Constructed

MVRDV Report

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James016
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I drove past it a number of times, it looked terrible, thankfully it has gone

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#17

This Monstrosity Of Selma Center In Gothenburg, Sweden

This Monstrosity Of Selma Center In Gothenburg, Sweden

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#18

This Is A Building Concept For A Hofbräuhaus (German Beer Garden-Type Restaurant Chain) In Buffalo, But Failed To Be Built Correctly Or Finished At All

This Is A Building Concept For A Hofbräuhaus (German Beer Garden-Type Restaurant Chain) In Buffalo, But Failed To Be Built Correctly Or Finished At All

gergensocks Report

Slightly idealized renderings are often seen as necessary means to sell the idea of a design to a client, in which case a bit of artistic leeway becomes an unavoidable evil.

However, as Quirk asked, once that idea is sold, "what happens when a more realistic rendering, one which shows as truthfully as possible how the building will look (air conditioning units and all) is presented?"

#20

If You Can't Design A Nice Building, You Can Always Try To Hide The Building Completely. Unfortunately, It's More Difficult In Reality Than In The Picture

If You Can't Design A Nice Building, You Can Always Try To Hide The Building Completely. Unfortunately, It's More Difficult In Reality Than In The Picture

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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majandess
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK. Not gonna lie. The finished product may not look the same, but I am really liking the way that facade turned out.

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#21

The New Munch Museum In Oslo Opened, And It Might Not Look Exactly Like The Vision Picture

The New Munch Museum In Oslo Opened, And It Might Not Look Exactly Like The Vision Picture

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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majandess
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This, to me, looks like an oversized air traffic control tower. In both images.

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#22

Vågen Was Sweden's Fifth Ugliest Building In 2022

Vågen Was Sweden's Fifth Ugliest Building In 2022

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#23

A Different Angle But The Message Is Still Clear - Horrendous

A Different Angle But The Message Is Still Clear - Horrendous

rendervsreality Report

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Krzystofersson
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

goes to prove that some people cannot think in 3 dimensions -- as a design professional it's worse crime than being a colour-blind air force pilot.

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#24

Royal Ontario Museum: Expectations vs. Reality

Royal Ontario Museum: Expectations vs. Reality

99hoglagoons Report

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Camilore
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, the holographic teleportation device wasn’t ready on time or this generation is too early for it

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When the rendering sets expectations far higher than anyone can achieve, does the realistic one become useless?

Is the stylized version of the rendering actually bad for architecture in general?

Should everyone just stick to models and forget renderings altogether?

I guess, time will tell.

#25

Sara Cultural Center In Skellefteå, Sweden. In Reality It Looks Very Sad

Sara Cultural Center In Skellefteå, Sweden. In Reality It Looks Very Sad

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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Gillbella
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the viewing angle was the same, and the building was lit inside it would be very similar

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#26

Glasiaren, Gothenburg. The Building Turned Into Something That Resembles An Old Refrigerator With Ugly Magnets

Glasiaren, Gothenburg. The Building Turned Into Something That Resembles An Old Refrigerator With Ugly Magnets

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#27

Totalitarian New Box In Kungsängen, Sweden. The Gray Color Looks Way Worse Than It Should Be

Totalitarian New Box In Kungsängen, Sweden. The Gray Color Looks Way Worse Than It Should Be

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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#28

The Vision And Reality Of Kv. Poolen The New Bathhouse In Frösunda, Sweden

The Vision And Reality Of Kv. Poolen The New Bathhouse In Frösunda, Sweden

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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majandess
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this one turned out remarkably close. It might be even closer if we saw the real building from the same angle as the render.

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#29

Malmö's New District Court In Sweden. Vision vs. Reality

Malmö's New District Court In Sweden. Vision vs. Reality

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#30

A Skyscraper In Warsaw, Poland

A Skyscraper In Warsaw, Poland

smoderek Report

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Camilore
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again, looks flat and short in comparison to the actual project

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#31

Funny How Buildings Just Change Color

Funny How Buildings Just Change Color

twitter.com Report

#32

Sven-Harry's Art Museum In Vasaparken, Stockholm

Sven-Harry's Art Museum In Vasaparken, Stockholm

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#33

"Bal Gown" In The Hague, Netherlands. It Had The Potential

"Bal Gown" In The Hague, Netherlands. It Had The Potential

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#34

The Render Of Däcket Car Park And The Reality Of It

The Render Of Däcket Car Park And The Reality Of It

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#35

Planned vs. Actual Pune Metro. Left - Sant Tukaram Metro Station, PCMC. Right - Deccan Gymkhana, Pune

Planned vs. Actual Pune Metro. Left - Sant Tukaram Metro Station, PCMC. Right - Deccan Gymkhana, Pune

facade_boy Report

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#36

Citygate (Getingboet) In Gothenburg, Sweden. Those Windows Look Really Different

Citygate (Getingboet) In Gothenburg, Sweden. Those Windows Look Really Different

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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Camilore
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The designers dream big but the constructors must stick between materials limitations

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#37

The Elite Hotel Carolina Tower At Nya Karolinska In Hagastaden, Stockholm, Sweden

The Elite Hotel Carolina Tower At Nya Karolinska In Hagastaden, Stockholm, Sweden

According to the vision, the place would suddenly become much brighter when the hotel will be completed. Unfortunately, they were wrong.

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#38

The Render One Looked Way Better. Scandic Central In Örebro, Sweden

The Render One Looked Way Better. Scandic Central In Örebro, Sweden

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#39

An Expectation Image Of Metropolia's Myllypuro Campus vs. An Image From Reality

An Expectation Image Of Metropolia's Myllypuro Campus vs. An Image From Reality

HelsinkiKymp Report

#40

Kalmar House Stella In Sweden. At Least They Tried?

Kalmar House Stella In Sweden. At Least They Tried?

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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Richi Weiss
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please stop taking pictures from different angles and in different day times to compare and then say "they not delivered what they promised"...

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#41

A New Landmark Was Built In Kallhäll, Stockholm

A New Landmark Was Built In Kallhäll, Stockholm

The result angered the residents who had expected a white house. Those responsible replied that they saw no problem with the illustrations: "We have done what we said we would do. Not everyone can love a house."

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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majandess
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the drab colors on the balconies? And the complaint was that it wasn't white??

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#42

From Render To Reality

From Render To Reality

JoaquinTorres_V Report

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Daniela Lavanza
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not that bad, I actually like the real building. They should merely change the color of the light, to blue or white for instance.

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#43

Vision Picture For Brandbergen Centre. It Didn't Turn Out Exactly As Planned

Vision Picture For Brandbergen Centre. It Didn't Turn Out Exactly As Planned

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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majandess
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do these buildings end up looking dingy? Is it the lighting the reality pictures are taken in? Is it choosing a darker building material? Photoshop?

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#44

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Headquarters: Expectation vs. Reality

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Headquarters: Expectation vs. Reality

dontrescueme Report

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majandess
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not what was promised, but I think it's cool. I actually like the contrast between the bottom and the top.

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#45

Reality Is Bleak Compared To The Rendering World

Reality Is Bleak Compared To The Rendering World

twitter.com Report

#46

The Completed Mast Quay Phase II Built-To-Rent Development Is Substantially Different From The Scheme That Was Originally Permitted

The Completed Mast Quay Phase II Built-To-Rent Development Is Substantially Different From The Scheme That Was Originally Permitted

Royal_Greenwich Report

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grotesqueer
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the real one better. It's cleaner/tidyer. The rendered building is too chaotic.

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#47

An Apartment Building Near Stockholm

An Apartment Building Near Stockholm

wrathofgnon Report

#48

This Disappointing Building In Gothenburg, Sweden

This Disappointing Building In Gothenburg, Sweden

arkitekturupproret.se Report

#49

Elbe Philharmonic Hall. In The Renders Of This Project, Hinged Glass Facade Resembles A Perfect Blanket, Almost Weightless. However, In Reality The Facade Does Not Show The Same Effect

Elbe Philharmonic Hall. In The Renders Of This Project, Hinged Glass Facade Resembles A Perfect Blanket, Almost Weightless. However, In Reality The Facade Does Not Show The Same Effect

Herzog & de Meuron Report

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Camilore
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the modern technology is not there yet to produce such mesmerising materials and visual effects

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#50

In The Renderings, There Are Significantly More People Than Cars On The Roads, But In Reality It Is The Opposite

In The Renderings, There Are Significantly More People Than Cars On The Roads, But In Reality It Is The Opposite

arkitekturupproret.se Report

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majandess
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one who couldn't give fewer figs about the people in the renderings? The proposal is for a building. Not a park. Not a sidewalk. Not a bright future where everything is carbon neutral, and there's no pollution. It's a building. And this one seems remarkably dead-on compared to some others on the list.

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Note: this post originally had 52 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.