Panel buildings are common, mostly in Eastern Europe—fast and easily buildable homes for the masses in developing cities of the Eastern Bloc during the Soviet era. They can also be found in the western part of the continent. Since then, they have become infamous icons of socialist architecture and are a part of every larger city in the region. And everyone agrees—they are ugly (the title is based on the cliché that panels are grey).
Sure, I’m not saying these buildings are beautiful, but if we look at their shapes from a minimalist perspective, there might be something to appreciate. So, over the last few years, I went out into my town and tried to capture the concrete desert—the shapes softened with an ND filter, mixed with street photography—to convey the mood. It wasn’t easy, mostly because there aren’t many places here without trees or bushes, so luckily, this city isn’t actually a concrete desert (the place in the photos is Székesfehérvár, Hungary). But I hope there are some shots here that feel meaningful.
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The outsides might be drab but I like how individuals find ways to pretty things up!
Many of these buildings were built in Bulgaria as well. They are quite infamous for their poor insulation, which makes their interiors freezing in the winter, and hot in the summer. That's why many of them had additional insulation installed in recent years, but many "unupgraded" ones still exist.
Here also, and the sound isolation is also very bad, you can hear everything from the neighbours :D
I appreciate the photography but not these buildings. They have been putting similar looking apartments up in the US and I hate them. So uninspiring and no design elements at all.
Thank you! Everyone hate these :D Seems that cheap living places are tended to this technology in every part of the world then.
They still seem to look better than this type of architecture in Hong Kong and other places in Asia. When it comes to sound insulation, you should try living in apartment buildings in Canada or the US. Constructed with particle boards. Involuntarily, you can get acquainted with your neighbours s*x life.
Many of these buildings were built in Bulgaria as well. They are quite infamous for their poor insulation, which makes their interiors freezing in the winter, and hot in the summer. That's why many of them had additional insulation installed in recent years, but many "unupgraded" ones still exist.
Here also, and the sound isolation is also very bad, you can hear everything from the neighbours :D
I appreciate the photography but not these buildings. They have been putting similar looking apartments up in the US and I hate them. So uninspiring and no design elements at all.
Thank you! Everyone hate these :D Seems that cheap living places are tended to this technology in every part of the world then.
They still seem to look better than this type of architecture in Hong Kong and other places in Asia. When it comes to sound insulation, you should try living in apartment buildings in Canada or the US. Constructed with particle boards. Involuntarily, you can get acquainted with your neighbours s*x life.