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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

#2

Bombastic Side Eye

Bombastic Side Eye

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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.

#3

What Kind Of Shape Do You Like: Circle, Rectangle, Triangle, Trapezium, .. Yes!

What Kind Of Shape Do You Like: Circle, Rectangle, Triangle, Trapezium, .. Yes!

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#4

Slugly Belgian Houses

Slugly Belgian Houses

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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.

#6

Some People Have Gingerbread Houses, I Have A Pizza Hut

Some People Have Gingerbread Houses, I Have A Pizza Hut

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#7

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#8

When You Send The Architect Back To The Drawing Board, But He Sends The Drawing Board Back

When You Send The Architect Back To The Drawing Board, But He Sends The Drawing Board Back

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According to Coudenys, the variety is so colorful "because [local] regulations are quite liberal" and the citizens "love to design [their own] quirky dreamhouse."

#10

In Belgium We Don’t Build Our Dreams. We Build Our Nightmares

In Belgium We Don’t Build Our Dreams. We Build Our Nightmares

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#11

When You Are A Home Alone And Scared

When You Are A Home Alone And Scared

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

The house has witnesses some s**t happening through the neighbours windows

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#12

That’s Me In The Corner, Choosing My Transmission

That’s me in the corner, choosing my transmission

uglybelgianhouses Report

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."

#14

I Think They Blocked Me

I Think They Blocked Me

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#15

When Your House Is Low On Storage Space You Can Always Delete Windows

When Your House Is Low On Storage Space You Can Always Delete Windows

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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My!
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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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#16

When Your Contractor Watches A How To Video Halfway Through

When Your Contractor Watches A How To Video Halfway Through

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#17

The House Has Left The Building

The House Has Left The Building

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

The house seems to be still downloading as it is still at 87%.

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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.

#19

So Is This Where Blackboxrevelation Lives?

So Is This Where Blackboxrevelation Lives?

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#20

The Ugly Belgian Houses Virus Is Spreading

The Ugly Belgian Houses Virus Is Spreading

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

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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#21

In Belgium We Use The Metricsytem And Also Sometimes The Tetricsystem

In Belgium We Use The Metricsytem And Also Sometimes The Tetricsystem

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#22

This Doesn’t Add Up

This Doesn’t Add Up

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG! If you start you have the German Empire, then the interwar period, and finally the bottom is Soviet East Berlin!

Remi (He/Him)
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

but what the heck is that half built blue thing to the left? EU, but deppressed?

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

I have a friend from Austria who told me that she knows of this woman who liked her old house but needed more space. So she had a new house built on top of her old house. I always imagined it'd look something like this.

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

Actually, I think it does add UP. Each layer was done by a different contractor, just putting their own style on top of the other

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

The architects pages got stuck together I think! He missed out pages 4 & 5

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

That scaffolding in the back. - Like maybe after dark they are going to cobble on another random chunk of house.

I heart Boo-BI-es
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a pretty good fall from the door. Unless that's just a large door shaped window in the middle but either way I feel as though some type of platform at the very least would add to the home and hopefully not the insurance policy.

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

black red white ... hmmmmm... like a flag from the 30s? nah, just coincidence

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

Somehow least hideous, or at least coolest looking, so far

Kobe (she)
Community Member
10 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

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

isn't it Neapolitan ice cream? or have I been reading it wrong for my whole life?

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#23

When You Accidentally Break A Formula In Excel

When you accidentally break a formula in Excel

uglybelgianhouses Report

#24

Alles Kan. Koffie Kan. Water Kan. Maar Balkon Niet

Alles Kan. Koffie Kan. Water Kan. Maar Balkon Niet

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

Direct translation: Everything is possible. Coffee can. Water can. But not balcony.

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#26

(Ver)bauhaus

(Ver)bauhaus

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

For those wondering about the captions "ver", in this it would be translated as "re" as in "rebuild house"

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#27

Never Fool Around With Superglue

Never Fool Around With Superglue

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#28

Think Outside The Parallelogram

Think Outside The Parallelogram

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#29

Now With 10% Extra Roof!

Now With 10% Extra Roof!

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

When replacing their roof, they discovered the leaks were coming from the neighbors home.

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#31

If Italians Were [mad] Because We Broke Pasta In Two, They Gonna Be Real Angry At This Pizza

If Italians Were [mad] Because We Broke Pasta In Two, They Gonna Be Real Angry At This Pizza

uglybelgianhouses Report

#32

When Your House Runs Out Of Battery

When Your House Runs Out Of Battery

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

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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#33

When You Try To Take A Picture Of An Introvert

When You Try To Take A Picture Of An Introvert

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#34

In Pole Position

In Pole Position

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

Happy to see the garage is full of unwanted stuff and rubbish it'll make burning it down a lot easier

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#37

What Did The Triangle Say To The Circle?

What Did The Triangle Say To The Circle?

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#38

Must Be A Streepclub

Must Be A Streepclub

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User# 6
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's camouflage to make it difficult to estimate the range, speed, and heading for enemy submarines.

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#39

Ykes

Ykes

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

It's like a client had a pinterest of 20 different architectural features on different buildings, and demanded they all be included in the design.

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#40

You’re Such A F*cking House, I Love It

You’re Such A F*cking House, I Love It

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Note: this post originally had 45 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.