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Beauty is subjective, beauty is in the eye of the beholder—most of us were taught to never judge a book by its cover. Or, more simply put, to not be superficial. However, scientists argue that aesthetic appreciation of beauty is hard-wired into our brains—we can't escape it. Subconsciously or consciously, we all like to look at beautiful creatures, be it an animal, or a building.

Therefore, some people that are more leaning towards traditional architecture are worried that the notion of beauty in buildings is fading away. As cities all over the world are experiencing globalization, the newly designed buildings can sometimes look awfully alike, even if they were built thousands of miles apart. We're all familiar with the glass boxes in the prestigious areas of cities, that, according to some, are lacking that certain kind of charm, or je ne sais quoi, that makes them unique in their own way. But before we get all judgy, we want to let you decide what you think of these building renovations. Bored Panda has made you a list of before and after pictures of some buildings around the world that were renovated in a way that didn't sit right with some people. Do they look good to you? Scroll down below to see them all and tell us your opinion!

#6

Szawel Sauliazauras Report

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also Russia, but this cladding just clips on so it could be removed and the oдвук building is still under there

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#7

Western_Trad Report

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Tabernus
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Birmingham central library .... There's a reason the style is called 'brutalist'

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Joonscrab
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm crying at how beautiful the Gothic one looks 😭😭 brutalism isn't one of my favourites for sure

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Emyo Jennifer Nakayama
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate the trend towards everything as "modern". The old styles were often exquisite examples of art and craftsmanship.

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Khadeja
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How??? This architect has done a heinous crime against humanity.

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Octavia Hansen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

City council out to lunch when this was approved by the cleaning staff?

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Tabernus
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Partly because a lot of Birmingham was bombed in WW2 and they came up with a new plan for the city and knocked a load of the rest down

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sarah llop
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who would do this? This tragedy is making me physically ill.

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Rainclouds Radio
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know architects who are obsessed with Brutalism. It's like a dark humour thing or something but they use words like "irony" to describe their love for it... *eye roll*

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Joan OConnor
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like those East Communist Bloc styles that were popular in the late 60s.

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Vickie Johnston
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh wow... lived in Brum for 30 years, didn’t realise such a beautiful building stood there before! 😭

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H Edwards
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is Birmingham, in the UK. This was done in the 1970s, absolutely criminal.

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Jeffrey Tustin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thankfully we do not have to endure this anymore. The Library has been demolished and the whole area re-developed

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Hugh Walter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair - I think the Luftwaffe might have had a hand in later planning decisions on this one?

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Valerie Page
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But to be realistic, These ornate old buildings were worn out and impossible to heat properly. Our councils can't afford to keep them up without increasing local taxes to a level which isn't acceptable to the paying population who prefer better schools, infrastructure and services. As my old Granny used to say "He who pays the piper calls the tune" And we elect our councils

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mermaidgirl960
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see they tried to keep the centerpiece but I'm mad that they completely changed all of the buildings around it. Victorian buildings are so beautiful yet hard to renovate :(

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OTTER
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this what they mean about keeping a ‘token’ from the scene of a crime?

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Loraine MacGinness
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely awful. Leave all this abominable building to the Americans. Old Character to the UK. They are destroying London too trying to be clever ??

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Paloma Vita
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is not a renovation but complete destruction... brutal indeed!

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Steve Cruz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The "Then" photo appears to have been taken in the 1800s. Who knows what happened to the original buildings in the course of two world wars and global financial collapse. The "new" building was erected in the 1950s.

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Ole Peder Amrud Hagen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not a renovation. This brutalist building is pretty nice, but has unfortunately been town down itself.

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Dalene Weiss
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it looks as if the entire historic section was rebuilt. So wrong.

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Jacki Hamer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The pretty buildings are still there - the second pic is taken from the opposite side and the ugly library is long gone!

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Neva Nevičica
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why didn't they just build a similar/same one in the same place, if it was ruined in bombings. Dresden was rebuilt in the same style, so it is possible. The goth building would make a great library, like from Harry Potter :)

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Helenium
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All that’s been demolished. You should it now if you think that’s bad.

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Wyndmere
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No - they Didn’t. You’re gonna loose tourist if you keep this up!!

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#15

skyscrapercity Report

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Becklass
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s like the lovely old building had been eaten by an ugly one.

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#19

L'évolution du patrimoine bâti Report

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H Edwards
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't mind this one, in fact I think it's an improvement. The original building isn't anything special.

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#22

architectural.revival Report

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H Edwards
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nobody would tear down an original Tudor building these days, thankfully.

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