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50 Design Fails In Public Places So Atrocious, They Make People Wonder How They Got Approved (New Pics)
Interview With Expert
The secret of a great public space lies in its design. For people to visit and make use of these places many times over, they have to be functional, accessible, easy to use, match the needs of the community, and evolve with it as it changes. After all, most things are created to be utilized, not just to be seen.
However, not all designs can check these boxes. “What happens when they fail to do so?” you may ask. Well, they are shared online for netizens to judge. The team at Bored Panda has collected some of the worst cases in the list below. We hope that these photos serve as a public service announcement that we deserve better!
We also reached out to urban planners Taiwo Agbaje and Samuel Austin, who kindly agreed to share some tips on how to create a successful public space.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This Pattern On The Hospital's Floor
Tucker Cahooter 5 months ago
And if someone really did bleed on the floor and needed urgent assistance you wouldn't notice
RELATED:
#2
The Students In My Course Complained About Not Having Enough Privacy, And University Decided To Install Glass Doors To Solve The Issue
Did I say that out loud? (he/him)cis/het 5 months ago
At least there's no big gap at the bottom.
#3
My Classroom Has These Floor Outlets. It's Basically The Toe Stubber 5000
Urban planner and GIS analyst Taiwo Agbaje tells Bored Panda that one aspect that makes a public space successful is its accessibility. “A remarkable public space is undeniably easy to access and navigate, visible from a distance, and seamlessly connected to its surroundings.”
Other features that it has to include are engaging activities. “Successful public spaces are unequivocal hubs of vibrant activity, offering diverse opportunities for people to engage and participate in various activities,” says Agbaje.
#4
Leg Space In A Cricket Stadium
#5
There Are Three Steps Down At The Entrance To This Lobby
#6
Public Restroom Stalls With... Viewing Windows? Why?
He also adds that such places should be comfortable, pleasing to the eye, and serve as a fostering environment for social interactions. “A comfortable environment is undeniably crucial, where seating, shade, cleanliness, and pleasant aesthetics significantly contribute to a positive experience. The space's image must radiate safety, inviting warmth, and impeccable maintenance.
Outstanding public spaces definitively foster social interactions, serving as unequivocal meeting points that genuinely enhance the sense of community, enabling connections among friends, family, and strangers."
#7
The Wall Art In This Bathroom Is... Suboptimal
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 5 months ago
Taco Bell toilet? To help hide what happens when you eat there?
#8
They Put Circus Mirrors In My Local Gym
#9
My School Installed A New Beamer. I Nominate Them For "The Best Engineering 2017"
Urban planner Sam Austin, who advocates building liveable cities for youth, summarized these principles by saying, “Public spaces should make people 'stick' and linger for longer, encouraging people to stay and spend time in. Whether that's having informal seating spaces along a pedestrian street or interactive public art - it should provide multiple opportunities to enjoy the space.”
#10
This Was The "Sink" In A Restaurant
Nope, this isn’t a minimalist, avant-garde design. The water just spills off the edges onto the floor, which is why the mop is right there. There isn’t even a drain pipe below this counter.
#11
At Least It's Padded
#12
The Fitting Room Door At The Thrift Store
Now that we have discussed what makes a public space successful, let’s see what the most common mistakes designers make when creating them.
Austin believes that going too over the top can often ruin the experience of these places. “Some of the most successful public spaces are those that are simple, welcoming and encourage you to stay. While flashy designs and expensive materials look nice, they often create spaces that feel like you don't belong or a sterile, unnatural feeling.”
#13
The Lights In This Hallway
#14
Lets Hope There Won't Be Fire
ADJ 5 months ago
My thoughts exactly. We in Poland learned it the hard way. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_in_the_Gdansk_Shipyard_hall
Load More Replies...
Alan Watkiss 5 months ago
This is something we used to do at the end of the day at a place I used to work, overnight it is locked like this so the doors can't be forced open during the night. Then as soon as first shift arrived we'd unlock it. This looks like that's what this is
Bobby 5 months ago
It's still illegal. A fire exit must always be usable.
Load More Replies...
Dre Mosley 5 months ago (edited)
If they ever get a surprise inspection, someone is getting in trouble. You can't do this.
Rowan Kohler 5 months ago
One call to a fire marshal and that would be remedied super fast wit fines and such to boot. Unless shut down and doesn’t allow the public in then they can lock it since no one needs to escape.
Debra Newell 4 months ago
Safety first. Call the Fire Department and report it (!before it’s too late)!
Mary Peace 4 months ago
There's 'interior design fail', as this article's titled, and then there's actual safety fail!
Chris Sprucefield 4 months ago
Oooooh... A Fire and OSHA inspection fine and prosecution bonanza bingo!! The guys guilty of this needs some time behind the bars if a different kind for this abomination....
Javelina Poppers 4 months ago
The bike lock is the kicker, up to that point everything is defeatable.
Dave Taylor 4 months ago
They are not trying to keep you from going out..they are trying to keep something from coming in....
Barong 4 months ago
Remind me of Kellen Erskin bit “Want know what else is not stealing? putting an extra bike lock on a stranger's bike. It's insane that bike locks are legal that they're just available to the public. Do you have any idea the amount of power that you wield with your imagination and a bike lock? There's so many things. Like, you can just walk past the Baskin Robbins and be like, “You're closed”. It is so arbitrary what we need permission to buy and what we don't. You have to show photo ID at a hobby shop to buy paint yet all of us here are just one amazon click away from buying orange cones and making traffic go wherever we want.“
winterwidow87 5 months ago (edited)
When i was in high school (early 2000s) the principal put chains and locks on the fire exit because he was afraid people who sold dr.ug.s used them to go in and out of the school. We protested and threatened to call the press, he dropped the locks and installed cameras instead (i assume he had to have parents consent to do that, and the cameras had no sound for privacy reasons).
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 5 months ago
The amount of slide locks, apparently weren't enough, so let's add a couple pieces of rod iron and a bicycle lock, for good measure.
BoredBranzino 5 months ago
I’m not sure Bike locks like that should be legal at all. I mean someone could just be walking down the street with a bicycle lock, see a Starbucks, and decide: “well, you’re closed today”
#15
Placing The Emergency Door Button Next To The Children's Play Area
January Tempis 5 months ago
Bonus for making it pretty and brightly colored so that every child will need to push it.
Meanwhile, Agbaje often notices inadequate seating and lighting in poorly designed public spaces, “Insufficient seating or uncomfortable benches may dissuade individuals from utilizing the space. Adequate seating is paramount for relaxation and facilitating social interaction. While “insufficient or harsh lighting can engender a sense of insecurity within a public space, particularly during evening hours or at night. Well-conceived lighting augments visibility and fosters a welcoming environment.”
#16
These Stairs
AtMostAFabulist 5 months ago
My eyes are going sideways trying to see where the stairs under the stairs are .
#17
This Is The View Of The Stage At The Concert I'm At
#18
This Aquatic-Themed Hospital Couch Weirdly Has An Underwater Giraffe On It
Additional issues he mentions are a disregard for maintenance and monotony. No one wishes to be in an environment that is repetitive, unstimulating, and marred by litter, graffiti, or malfunctioning amenities. Neglecting context is a big one too, as “designing without regard for the surrounding environment or the prerequisites of the community can precipitate disconnected or incongruous spaces,” explains Agbaje.
#19
Perfectly Thought Classroom
#20
Who Wouldn’t Want A Ceiling That Looks Like It’s Covered With Hair?
#21
Steps That Are Too Long For One Step, But Too Short For Two
Kaspar Kristiansen 5 months ago
These kinda steps exist a lot of places, and they're annoying as hell...
One piece of advice that Austin has for designers who aspire to create successful public spaces is to get tactical and then get permanent. “Trial pop-up street furniture, or temporary programming within a space. Physically test what will work best through trial and error before you start pouring concrete and making permanent decisions.”
Agbaje recommends starting by engaging with the local community and considering their needs, activities, and utilization. “Community involvement fosters a sense of ownership and pride in the space,” he says.
#22
Cyber-Greco-Roman Architecture
#23
My School's Locker Can't Even Fit My Backpack Because Of Those Shelves
#24
They Replaced Half The Mirrors In My Local Shopping Mall's Bathroom With Advertising Boards
Chihuahua Mama 5 months ago
What hell do we live in. I fear we will soon have to watch ads to get in our bed, use the toilets, and open the fridge
Additionally, it’s important to prioritize users and their accessibility. “Ensure universal access to the space by designing pathways, seating, and amenities with inclusivity in mind. Pedestrian-friendly settings cultivate community interaction. Consider sensory experiences, encompassing visual appeal, sounds, and scents," shares Agbaje.
#25
"Mind The Step"
#26
Installed Those Elevator Buttons, Boss
AtMostAFabulist 5 months ago
I don't see buttons for floors 1-4. I think that padded wall I see in the reflection is so you can bang your head.
#27
My View At A Movie Theater Last Night
He further advises embracing the unique identity of the local culture and embracing greenery, which provides relaxation and improves the well-being of the community. Lastly, he reminds designers not to overlook the materials they use in the space. “Opt for durable, sustainable materials capable of withstanding wear and tear. The use of premium materials notably augments the overall experience and endurance of the space.”
#28
My Sister And I Went To Use The Bathroom At My Other Sister's Softball Game And We Saw This
Nadine Debard 5 months ago
When I sleep and I need to pee, my brain invents something like this to make me refrain from peeing in bed...
#29
The Staircase At My Hotel Room Just Drops Off
Green Tree 5 months ago
I actually stayed at a place that had stairs like this, they were a little scary. But my place was a 500 year old Tower House in ireland. Is this a similiarly old building?
#30
World's Most Practical Design
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 5 months ago
I love the khaki shirt! And the way it just flows from the overshirt. Very classy.
#31
This Escalator Requires That You Still Use The Stairs
#32
This Door
#33
Kids' Area In A Hospital's Lobby. N Is For... Nugget?
#34
My Friend Saw This At The Cinema
Lavern Defazio 5 months ago
I thought it was a skylight at first. I thought to myself. "Well who in tarnation would put a skylight in a movie theater? ".
#35
My School Added A New Vending Machine To The Science Building’s Lobby. Better For Them To Eat Junk Food Than Have Free Water
Green Tree 5 months ago
Put water bottles in the vending machine and add this to the dystopian lists
#36
Meanwhile In Supermarket
#37
Shoutout To This Bar In Rural Alberta, Where The Women's Bathroom Is Right Beside The Piano Stage, No Door. If You Go To The Toilet, Everyone In The Bar Is Going To Hear It
#38
The Only Unlocked Bathroom At My School
#39
Wheelchair Accessible Washrooms Are Located On The Second Floor. Just A Quick Trip Up The Escalator
#40
How Close This Toilet Is To The Stall Door. Had A Good Laugh At How My Feet Poke Out Underneath
#41
I Found This Gem At A Hotel In Wisconsin
#42
The Way These Canvases Were Hung Up In The Bathroom Of My Local Sushi Restaurant
#43
This Weird Door At The Top Of The Stairs In A Hotel
Kira Okah 5 months ago (edited)
As stated when this came up before - this door is for fire safety and is regulaton. It is so that people trying to escape through the stairwell when the power goes out don't trap themselves in the basement with no exit by stopping them trying to continue down the stairs. This is likely at the ground floor.
#44
Oddly Placed Phone In A Waiting Room
#45
My View At The Kings Theater, Portsmouth, UK
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
They can't really take out a single seat from these rows, but they shouldn't be selling the ticket for it
#46
This Pull Door At Panda Express
#47
This Hallway Is Lined With 12 Framed Copies Of The Same Picture
Savahax 5 months ago
Behold the magnum opus of the elusive maestro, Émile de L'Espace, whose latest piece, 'Lilies of the Mundane Repetition,' subtly mocks the very notion of individuality within the framework of modern decor. Through a painstakingly orchestrated sequence of twelve identical prints of the crimson lily, de L'Espace engages in a highbrow commentary on the banality of contemporary aesthetics. Each lily, meticulously rendered in varying shades of red and pink, challenges the viewer's perception of uniqueness and conformity.
#48
Nice Idea Badly Executed
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 5 months ago
Get rid of the white background and this would work. The shadows would go away. Alternately more diffuse lighting.
#49
Which Floor Am I On?
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Miki 5 months ago
What are people thinking designing all this very public toilets??? I have never ever saw abomination like this, but I wonder how and where?!
I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 5 months ago
Ya these are atrocious! Thank the stars I've never seen anything like these. Pretty sure the school ones would be illegal here.
Load More Replies... Jac Carr 4 months ago
The world needs more women architects; they have far more common sense about the practicality of a space
Dan Abramsky 🇮🇱 4 months ago
Great read. Laughed my way through it. Such crazy bad design gaffs!!
David Beaulieu 5 months ago
So a lot of these are either poorly planned renovations or ADA gone wild.
Miki 5 months ago
What are people thinking designing all this very public toilets??? I have never ever saw abomination like this, but I wonder how and where?!
I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 5 months ago
Ya these are atrocious! Thank the stars I've never seen anything like these. Pretty sure the school ones would be illegal here.
Load More Replies... Jac Carr 4 months ago
The world needs more women architects; they have far more common sense about the practicality of a space
Dan Abramsky 🇮🇱 4 months ago
Great read. Laughed my way through it. Such crazy bad design gaffs!!
David Beaulieu 5 months ago
So a lot of these are either poorly planned renovations or ADA gone wild.
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