50 Times Architects Failed So Badly, They Got Shamed Online

The r/BadArchitecture online community was founded in early 2012, and it currently has just over 2.7k members. Meanwhile, the r/ArchitectureFails group, also started up in 2012, has 670 members.

They are niche subreddits that focus on one thing and one thing alone—showing the world just how bizarre and mind-meltingly low-quality some buildings have been designed. Fridges in the middle of the kitchen, wonky windows, and Extremely Precarious Death Stairs (patent pending) are just the tip of the iceberg.

One of the best skills you can have as an architect (and that goes for practically any other career path as well) is being a capable leader. That means knowing how to communicate clearly and efficiently with others, supporting and respecting your team, and being able to find compromises when things get tense.

Without decent leadership or communication skills, you can have the best and brightest ideas in the entire realm, but that won’t do you much good if you can’t turn your imaginative blueprints into reality. No architect is an island—they have to be team players.

Poor communication skills will inevitably lead to a deep divide between what the designer envisioned and what the contractors have built. When there’s ambiguity in the blueprints or instructions, you’re essentially letting the builders decide what to do themselves. And that’s exactly what they’ll do if the architect isn’t on-site, ready to field questions.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Institute of Technology also stresses the need to have top-notch design and problem-solving skills, as well as a background in mathematics and a solid understanding of the law. What’s more, good architects will be computer-savvy and have a way to turn their creativity into clear visuals.

At times, poor design decisions aren’t a result of maliciousness on the contractors’ part. They might have been the best course of action, given the circumstances and (a lack of) resources. In other words, when you need to keep a deadline, you look for ways to get the job done, instead of aiming for ‘perfection’ (if that even exists). In times like this, it often helps to look at the property you just bought as an eternal ‘work in progress.’ Not every detail will be to your liking, but with enough care and attention, you can make your house feel like a home.

However, in other cases, mistakes happen because the contractor team might be lazy, looking to cut costs, or might simply want to get the project over as quickly as possible. 

Ariane Sherine, the former editor at ‘These Three Rooms,’ previously told Bored Panda why mistakes happen and what we can all do to embrace that our homes are imperfect.

"Certain materials might be unavailable so they decide to use an unsuitable substitute, or they might have a surplus of the substitute that they want to use up. They might be misinformed and not very good at their job and think they're doing the right thing. Or they might be trying to save money and end up cutting corners as a result," the interior design expert shared why mistakes can and do crop up in homes.

One example of a contractor not being worth their salt is opting for materials that don’t fit the purpose. For instance, if they decide to use wood like oak, ash, and pine outdoors, which are not weather resistant, there’s probably something fishy going on.

Other red flags include not following the right process during an installation, “such as not tanking a wetroom to ensure it's waterproof.”

The interior design expert suggested learning from other people’s mistakes and only using licensed and vetted tradespeople for jobs. She also noted that no home is ever finished, so it’s best to embrace the quirks and see them as charming details that add character to the property.

"There's always some problem, something to fix or replace that would make it better. Realistically, as long as there's nothing major such as a faulty boiler or leaking roof, it's up to the homeowner what they're willing to live with," she told us. In short, ensure that your home is functional, but try not to stress too much if every tiny little detail doesn't align. So long as you're not in danger or incredibly inconvenienced, whether or not you can live in an imperfectly designed home becomes a matter of perspective and taste.

Which of these architecture and design disasters impressed you the most, Pandas? Were there any that you would genuinely classify as epic fails? What's the very worst design fail that you've seen with your own eyes? We'd love to hear what you think, so feel free to pop by the comments to share your opinions.