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"Better to be ugly than to be boring" is written in the bio of the Instagram account 'Ugly Belgian Houses,' and the bold phrase is echoed in the pictures that it uploads.
Whether we're looking at a quirky color palette or strange shapes standing out in the landscape, the buildings featured on the account certainly challenge conventional architectural aesthetics.
The creator of the fun social media project, Hannes Coudenys, has been running it since 2012, but apparently, there's still no shortage of content.
More info: Instagram
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'Ugly Belgian Houses' has been growing non-stop and at the moment of this publication, 'Ugly Belgian Houses' has 174K followers on Instagram.
For our earlier publication on the account, Hannes told Bored Panda that there, in fact, is a problem with becoming too big, too fast, which resulted in some drama on his social media.
People have been clashing there because they have different opinions about experimental architecture and classical Belgian farm-style buildings. "I never wanted to shame experimental [buildings]," Hannes said.
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However, actively repeating the phrase and even putting it in his account's bio isn't stopping everyone from getting angry.
Coudenys said that some people have been trying to get in touch with him.
In another interview we had with him (yes, we love 'Ugly Belgian Houses' and we don't see ourselves stopping writing about it), the creator of the project also pointed out that his feed represents only a portion of the country's architectural scene.
He highlighted that there are also plenty of good examples. "I like the work of Gijs van Vaerenbergh, Vens-Vanbelle, De Vylder Vinck Taillieu, Vincent van Duysen," Coudenys explained.
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Javelina Poppers 10 months ago
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#9
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jon gilbertson 10 months ago
Every now and then I fall apart. Love that song!
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LauraDragonWench 10 months ago
That building is screaming for some kind graffiti artist to come along and spice things up.
Shiny Pants 10 months ago
If the sun hits that wall just right the occupants of the house will never have to pay for heating!
Kobe (she) 10 months ago
Well, probably an investment company found a spot to build their ugly building on. Most likely tried to get the house owner to move - which they did not want. So they build their ugly building next to the already existing house.
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Glen Ellyn 10 months ago
How depressing to have that monstrosity right there. Life was good, and then...
Petra Schaap 10 months ago
very common in Belgium. you'll see a lot like this on the coast, most even more bizar.
DaftAndFlemish 10 months ago
The house is older than the other building. Best guess, probably used to be connected to a second normal house. Other building got sold to investment company, demolished and an apartment complex was build (connected to the build because of zoning and plot regulations). Source: me, I'm from Belgium and see it all the time.
Load More Replies...According to Coudenys, the variety is so colorful "because [local] regulations are quite liberal" and the citizens "love to design [their own] quirky dreamhouse."
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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 10 months ago
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However, it's not like Coudenys is the first one who started questioning his country's construction tastes and habits. It's been going on for decades.
In the 1961 book 'The New Architecture of Europe,' American architect, author, educator, photographer, and prolific "builder" G.E. Kidder Smith wrote: "Of all European countries, Belgium is least to be excused for not contributing more to contemporary architecture."
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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 10 months ago
Deleting Windows frees up a lot of RAM, I'm sure. The only problem is if the RAM wants a room with a view.
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Janet Bergstrom 10 months ago
Anyone else see the ghost in the window of house closest to us?!
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"Having a thoroughly literate and capable population and an extremely high living standard, the mediocrity of its architecture can be explained only by the indifference of its officials, the inadequacy of its educational system, and a flabby materialism," Kidder Smith said.
So hopefully people will cut 'Ugly Belgian Houses' some slack. After all, the account is approaching the topic from a positive perspective.
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GoldfishCrackers 10 months ago
Many times I feel brick should be left unpainted, however this right here seems like a perfect candidate for a fresh coat of paint.
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still tired 10 months ago
Direct translation: Everything is possible. Coffee can. Water can. But not balcony.
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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 10 months ago
It can stick two completely different buildings together, with just one drop!
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Kobe (she) 10 months ago
That looks like a barn. Like; open in the backside to house tractors/machinery and so. It could have used some tiling or paint in the front to make it look less depressing. But, my guess - it is not a house.
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What do you think ?
Diolla 10 months ago
They do but I don't think they have anything to do with aestetics.
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Will Cable 10 months ago
Near my location there is ongoing housing development in several areas, the areas are looking just as if someone went 'copy, paste' mad. Nothing individual, nothing that makes you easily identify which area you are in, even the people have the same types of cars on their driveway all metallic grey/gray Audi and BMW. So depressing.
TheBlueBitterfly 10 months ago
Im sire the HOA insists on everything remaining the same, too.
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Sergio Bicerra 10 months ago
Many of them look like after you built that super spaceship and find you have some spare legos
Shaunn Munn 10 months ago
So much blank space facing the street - I hope there were windows on the other sides. What's the story about the half-houses? Are they duplexes?
Petra Schaap 10 months ago
in Belgium some plots of lands are destined for two houses. So if you are the first one to build you have to build something that looks like a halfhouse, so the next person can attach theirs to it. Its something like this, dont know exact details.
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Simon Chen 10 months ago
Many of those look like a bunch of architects had a contest to design the ugliest house possible.....and then build it
Diolla 10 months ago
They do but I don't think they have anything to do with aestetics.
Load More Replies... Will Cable 10 months ago
Near my location there is ongoing housing development in several areas, the areas are looking just as if someone went 'copy, paste' mad. Nothing individual, nothing that makes you easily identify which area you are in, even the people have the same types of cars on their driveway all metallic grey/gray Audi and BMW. So depressing.
TheBlueBitterfly 10 months ago
Im sire the HOA insists on everything remaining the same, too.
Load More Replies... Sergio Bicerra 10 months ago
Many of them look like after you built that super spaceship and find you have some spare legos
Shaunn Munn 10 months ago
So much blank space facing the street - I hope there were windows on the other sides. What's the story about the half-houses? Are they duplexes?
Petra Schaap 10 months ago
in Belgium some plots of lands are destined for two houses. So if you are the first one to build you have to build something that looks like a halfhouse, so the next person can attach theirs to it. Its something like this, dont know exact details.
Load More Replies... Simon Chen 10 months ago
Many of those look like a bunch of architects had a contest to design the ugliest house possible.....and then build it
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