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58 Construction Fails That Might Make You Wonder How Humans Ever Built Anything
Interview With Expert
People generally expect buildings to be functional. Whether it’s a house, a staircase, a road, or a public structure, we assume that these construction projects make sense.
But in reality, some projects leave people shaking their heads, whether in disappointment or confusion. Some of you may even be asking, “Who approved this and what were they thinking?”
Here are some photos of questionable construction and zoning decisions, courtesy of this Facebook page. Feel free to laugh or cringe as you scroll through. Either way, your reaction is justified.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I-.
Bill Swallow 2 hours ago
That ain't a construction fail. That's decades of hard use and insufficient maintenance. Let me guess - bridge over the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, PA?
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#2
Accessibility is our passion.
Chihuahua Mama 3 hours ago
"Listen, we will help you get onto the curb. You're on your own for the rest"
#3
The longer you look at it, the more painful it gets….
A structure may look impressive on paper, but that won’t matter if people can’t use it. According to UK Construction Blog co-founder Thomas Oldham, one common design mistake is focusing too little on practicality.
“A beautiful staircase can become a daily frustration if it takes up too much space, while a poorly placed door can make moving furniture difficult,” Oldham told Bored Panda. “I have also seen how overlooking storage, natural light, ventilation, and access for maintenance can make an otherwise attractive building less practical.”
#4
Have you booked a session with the chiropractor?
Sara Frazer 6 hours ago
Nope, never, because they are quacks! And charlatans! But seriously, those "stairs" are scary ..imagine going down, your foot slips, your leg goes into a gap but your body keeps going forward....
#6
From my hometown Syracuse NY……
Ben Raabe, CEO of Bella Contracting Services, shared a similar sentiment about the top design mistake everyone tends to make: focusing less on usability. He also added that architects and contractors often fail to collaborate during the design phase.
“Winning a building permit doesn't always prove your design is good. Your project could be the right thing to do on paper. For this reason, clearance and safety analysis are essential before you start. An architect could be changing a wall without informing the plumbers or electricians,” he said.
#7
Cairo, Egypt.
#8
Mesas del Mar, Tacoronte, Tenerife.
Hippopotamuses 6 hours ago
I don't see anything wrong with this. As long as they took into account vibration from heavy vehicles.
Some of these photos may make you wonder how such poorly thought-out structures got the approval they needed. But as Oldham explains, even subpar work can get the green light from the powers that be.
“Reviews often focus on whether plans meet specific building regulations, planning requirements, and safety standards. A design might satisfy those requirements but still have an awkward layout, difficult access, or inconvenient maintenance arrangement,” he said.
#11
Cathedral in Palermo, Italy.
#12
Catch me at the activity center.
Bored Jellyfish 7 hours ago
At least they provided a map to show where the activity center is located.
Construction fails can result from several factors. Budget constraints, rushed schedules, communication breakdowns, and deviations from the original plan are just a few.
Oldham says many of these problems can sprout from small changes that aren’t communicated properly. For that, he advises transparency for everyone involved, above all else.
#14
Only in San Francisco.
Toujin C'Thlu 6 hours ago
I'd prefer this over Stepford-esque HOA communities that seem to be springing up
“Have one shared set of current drawings, record every design change, and require the relevant professionals to approve changes before work proceeds,” Oldham said. “Regular site meetings should focus on upcoming work and unresolved issues, not just progress updates.”
#16
I can't imagine it's legal to be driving down the sidewalk, even if the parking lot design requires it.
#17
Downtown Montréal, Canada.
Is renovation work, not demolition.
#18
Hashima Island, Japan.
#19
Who placed a school here?
#21
Kansas City, Mo has great pedestrian standards this is in the same block.
Hippopotamuses 5 hours ago
This looks like it's a cynical interpretation of a compliance requirement.
#22
What came first? The wall or the window?
#23
When they make you build a park but you really really don’t wanna.
#24
Alexandria - Egypt.
#25
Aquatar Waterpark - Qatar.
#26
Portishead, UK.
Hippopotamuses 6 hours ago
Presumably there are other, flats/units/rooms accessible from a different entrance.
#27
Dear Americans! We have these two in my town, in Hungary. Makes the traffic flow perfectly. You just have to learn how to use it.
#32
Looks a little ok at first glance until you see the top has limited space for the wheelchair user.
#38
Seems legit.
Bill Swallow 2 hours ago
Oh, one of those 'Can *you* find the Rattlesnake in this scene?' pictures!
#39
I’ve never seen a clearance sign for a tree…
#40
Just put in about a block from me.
#41
Door county Wisconsin.
#43
Whenever I for a second become empathetic towards Starchitect Frank Gehry's design doctrines, I remember his house is essentially a giant middle finger to other architects and his neighbors.
#45
Rental in my area.
Bill Swallow 2 hours ago
I'm wondering if the sink was there first, then some idiot remodeled the floor plan and did a lousy job of it.
#47
This ridiculous house is on the market in my state and it looks like an unfinished fallout shelter from the outside. Apparently it was designed by some big-name architects, but it just seems full of poor choices. Kitchen with no full-size fridge and looks like you can barely open the oven door all the way because of how narrow it is. Light fixture is actually just a bunch of single bulbs chaotically spread across the ceiling. Shower with no walls and just an industrial looking pipe to hang a curtain. But if you felt like that was too much privacy, the other bathroom with the tub has absolutely no doors and is right next to an all-glass exterior door into a balcony. And let's throw in a big round column that looks like it's from a mall or parking garage for good measure...
#52
If you know, you know.
#53
this looks insane to me.
#54
Yes, the address is 144, 4213, #1,2,3, and 4.
Rebecca O’Donnell 10 minutes ago
As a letter carrier, this makes perfect sense. Street address is 144. House has four apartments with numbered mailboxes and numbered door bells. Wish all my apartments were like that.
#56
Speed bumb from the UK in my friends neighborhood.
She says:
"the car BOUNCES SO MUCH" and "it’s not like they’re worn down they’re literally built as doubles".
#57
I wouldn’t want to live in that high apartment on the left.
#58
I was there, Gandalf. 3000 years ago. I was there when two red lines defeated the entire What Zoning Board Approved This?. And nobody even knew what a zoning board is.
Sara Frazer 6 hours ago
Dúmb, or intentionally dúmb. This incline looks extremely steep, especially after seeing the vehicles on the road. This is fine. I've driven in many mountainous regions, winding roads are reasonable and safe. The OP's method would have an unsafe and impossible-to-drive grade. Maybe I'm missing a joke, but the era of "brainrot" has me confused
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