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Article created by: Greta Jaruševičiūtė

Examples of spectacular architecture can really take one's breath away; but so can instances of dwellings far from dazzling. With the population growing at an unstoppable rate, accommodating all of people’s needs is by no means an easy task, which can lead to ideas that look like proper solutions to some, but to others, they might look like ‘Urban Hell’.

Dedicated to “the downsides of modern development”, in their own words, the ‘Urban Hell’ community sheds light on some of the most depressing-looking buildings, poor infrastructure decisions, and constructions that simply don’t match the environment, among other debacles. We have put some of them on this list for you today, so scroll down to browse them and see for yourself how unfortunate some architectural decisions can be.

To learn more about the dos and don'ts when it comes to modern development and architecture, Bored Panda turned to an expert, the CEO and founder of ‘Architecture Hunter’, Amanda Ferber, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions. Scroll down to find her insight in the text below.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Urban Art In Belgrade

Large urban mural showing a figure with cityscape teeth holding a tree root, capturing the essence of urban hell.

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    #2

    Hong Kong's Dismal Cage Homes House Thousands Of People

    Crowded urban hell living space with metal cages, minimal furniture, and two men in a dim, dystopian-like environment.

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    #3

    Light Pollution By A Single Building In Mumbai (It Was 1 Am When This Pic Was Taken)

    Dystopian urban hell scene at night showing a tall illuminated skyscraper behind dark, weathered buildings and palm trees.

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    #4

    Delhi, India

    Urban hell scene with a river clogged by plastic waste and litter in front of residential buildings and parked cars.

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    #5

    Homeless In Phoenix, Arizona - The Hottest City In The USA

    Urban hell scene showing people among trash and debris on a city street lined with palm trees and signs.

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    #6

    Trees, I See

    Green cone-shaped objects lined up along an empty sidewalk and road in a stark urban hell scene.

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    #7

    Contrary To Popular Belief, The Belgian Coast's Real Estate Did Survive To The Two World Wars. Its Cultural Heritage Was Destroyed By Real Estate Developers' Greed And Public Officials' Lack Of Care

    Comparison of historical and modern urban landscapes in Ostend, Belgium showing urban hell transformation over time.

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    #8

    Las Vegas’s Underground Homeless

    People in urban hell living in a dimly lit, graffiti-covered tunnel filled with clutter and makeshift bedding.

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    #9

    Dadaab In Kenya. World's Largest Refugee Camp. Stretches Over 20 Miles

    Aerial view of densely packed urban hell area with makeshift housing and dirt roads resembling a dystopian cityscape.

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    #10

    Mansion On Top Of Building In Bangalore. Dear God

    Rooftop mansion with a pool atop a skyscraper surrounded by dense urban buildings in an urban hell dystopian cityscape.

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    #11

    The Neue Elbbrücke Bridge In Hamburg. The Original Design Was Completed In 1887 And Featured Two Wonderful Gothic Gateways, Torn Down In 1959 To Add An Additional Lane

    Before and after images of a historic bridge illustrating urban hell decay and dystopian city transformation in real life.

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    #12

    The Problem There Are Still People Living In Such Buildings!

    Tilted apartment building among crowded urban structures, showcasing an eerie example of urban hell in a dystopian cityscape.

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    #13

    Chinese Ghost Town Of Mansions Reclaimed By Farmers

    Abandoned residential area in urban hell, featuring empty houses and overgrown land resembling a dystopian scene.

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    #14

    Skopje, North Macedonia. Consistently One Of The Most Polluted (Air Quality) Cities In Europe

    Heavy traffic congestion and dense smog create a bleak urban hellscape resembling a dystopian city scene.

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    #15

    Covering The Slums With Green Walls

    Run-down buildings covered with tarps above a busy street with vehicles highlight urban hell in a dystopian cityscape.

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    #16

    Come Enjoy The Lovely Beach In Alexandria, Egypt!

    Comparison of an empty road and heavy traffic congestion in urban hell, showcasing a chaotic city environment with dense buildings.

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    #17

    Liebian Building - A 121-Meter Skyscraper With A Waterfall In The City Of Guiyang, China's Guizhou Province

    High-rise building with a massive waterfall feature cascading down its glass facade in an urban hell cityscape.

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    #18

    The "Other Side" Of The Pyramids Of Giza

    A vast junkyard of abandoned cars near an ancient pyramid, depicting a scene of urban hell and dystopian reality.

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    #19

    Bolton, England

    Before and after images of an urban hell house with a removed front garden and a paved yard, giving a dystopian movie vibe.

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    #20

    This Elementary School In Ohio Can Only Be Reached By Car - It Might Be Normal For Us For Is An Abomination By European / Asian Standards

    Aerial view of an urban area with a school isolated by curving roads and highways in an urban hell dystopian setting.

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    #21

    Residential Space In Noida, India

    High-density apartment building in an urban hell setting with traffic and power lines in a hazy cityscape.

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    #22

    Los Angeles Is Also A Concrete Jungle

    Aerial view of Los Angeles showing urban hell with dense city sprawl and surrounding mountains in California.

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    #23

    I Wonder How One Can Live In A Mansion Like These Without Feeling Immense Guilt

    A stark aerial view contrasting lush green homes with densely packed urban hell settlements resembling a dystopian movie scene.

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    #24

    Housing Complex In Malaysia

    Tall, densely packed residential buildings with repetitive windows and balconies, illustrating urban hell in a dystopian cityscape.

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    #25

    The Largest Stack Interchange In North America, Entire LA Neighborhoods Were Destroyed

    Aerial view of a vast urban highway interchange surrounded by dense city housing, illustrating urban hell and dystopian scenes.

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    #26

    Tokyo, Japan

    Busy urban street at night with heavy traffic and bright neon lights, showcasing an urban hell scene that looks dystopian.

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    #27

    Lancaster New "City" (General Trias, Cavite, Philippines.)

    Aerial view of densely packed suburban area showing urban hell with repetitive housing patterns and minimal green space.

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    #28

    What's The Point Of Having An Interchange That Size In The Middle Of The City, Dubai, Uae

    Complex urban highway interchange in a futuristic cityscape showcasing urban hell with dense traffic and towering skyscrapers.

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    #29

    New Delhi, India

    Crowded urban street with tangled electric wires overhead and people navigating a dystopian urban hell scene.

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    #30

    Abandoned Building Occupied By Artists And Anarchists. São Paulo, Brazil

    Run-down urban buildings covered in graffiti and decay, depicting a striking example of urban hell in a city environment.

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    #31

    These Apartments I Saw In Barcelona

    Narrow, cluttered urban alleyway between tall buildings illustrating a real-life example of urban hell.

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    #32

    Moscow, Russia

    Massive urban traffic jam during rush hour showing real-life urban hell and dystopian city congestion scene.

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    #33

    Houston, Texas. So Many Places In The US Look Like This

    Busy urban street crowded with billboards and signs, illustrating examples of urban hell in a chaotic cityscape.

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    #34

    Aquatar A Water Park In Qatar

    Construction site with complex water slide structure surrounded by cranes in an urban hell dystopian cityscape.

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    #35

    "Infrastructural Development" In Past Two Decades. [mumbai, India]

    Comparison of urban hell showing city skyline and massive highway construction from 2006 to 2023 illustrating dystopian urban growth.

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    #36

    Since We're Posting Photos Of Cairo, Here Is One I Took While Landing For A Connecting Flight

    Aerial view of densely packed cityscape showcasing urban hell with tightly clustered buildings and limited open space.

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    #37

    Guys, We Just Need To Build Another Ring Road. This Time It’ll Fix The Traffic Guys, I Promise. Guys?

    Map of Houston traffic showing severe congestion and multiple road closures, illustrating urban hell conditions in a real city.

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    #38

    UK Newbuilds

    View from a window showing densely packed urban backyards with high wooden fences creating a maze-like pattern.

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    #39

    Henderson, Vegas, USA

    Aerial view of dense suburban neighborhood illustrating urban hell with tightly packed houses and winding streets.

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    #40

    NYC Apartment The Broker Showed Me

    Dystopian urban hell scene showing cramped, worn brick apartment buildings with air conditioners and c*****d concrete.

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    #41

    Huge Screen Set Up In A Small Town Of Just Under 15k Population, UK

    Dimly lit urban street at dusk with old buildings and a glowing billboard, capturing a scene of urban hell.

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    #42

    Who Wants To Live Under A Freeway (Sydney)?

    Urban hell scene under a concrete overpass with dark buildings and parked cars along Kent Street.

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    #43

    Taiwan Government Does Not Build Sidewalks. Taoyuan

    Crowded urban street with heavy traffic and pedestrians among dense signage and tall buildings in an urban hell scene.

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    #44

    Beijing Man Builds Rock Villa On Top Of Apartment Tower

    Apartment building rooftop turned into an artificial rocky landscape, an example of urban hell with dystopian city vibes.




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