70 Times Architects, Designers And Planners Messed Up At Their Jobs And Were Shamed On This Page (New Pics)
Empathy, good taste, self-awareness, and the ability to think ahead and follow through on your plans are all vital skills for architects, urban planners, contractors, surveyors, engineers, and designers. But unfortunately, some ‘professionals’ are lacking in all of these fields. And this leads to less-than-perfect cities and homes that are real eyesores.
The popular ‘[Bad] Planning’ account on X is a celebration of all the awful stuff “imposed on our environment.” We’ve collected some of the biggest, most recent architectural and design planning fails to make your inner builder gasp and cringe. Scroll down for a crash course in what not to do if you’re ever tasked with building something.
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Sounds Fun!
I Can See Clearly Now!
Not quite. This has appeared on BP before. The person ordered a door with a peep hole so they could see who was at the door before opening it but they forgot that it was mostly glass door to begin with. 🤷♀️
Load More Replies...Is that meant to be a peephole or something? If so, then the problem is the fact that it's totally unnecessary, the door's made of glass.
That is indeed a peep hole. This has been on BP before. The person who posted this bought a door with a peep hole to see who was at the door but didn't realize or forgot that they were getting a mostly glass door. derp.
Load More Replies...Offencive!
It was: I've seen the reddit post where it originated. HOA insisted on a fence around the wheelie bins, and got one.
Load More Replies...Shielding their wheelie bins, I'm sure. Apparently, it's too far to walk if it was on the side of the garage. Sheesh.
IIRC from previous times I've seen this, the HOA fined them for not screening the bins from view which would have the same issue even if off to the side. Problem solved!
Load More Replies...Your designs have to be as clear as possible. The less ambiguity there is, the easier it is for everyone, from the architect to the contractors, to build something great and make their clients happy. This means that, as a designer, if you want your project to be of stellar quality, you have to put in a ton of effort to keep everyone involved in the project on the same page.
A big part of your responsibility as a designer is taking the time and energy to expand your knowledge, learning about materials, manufacturing processes, and keeping in mind any potential challenges that can happen during the planning and building process. If you can spot these problems ahead of time, you’re saving yourself a lot of money, avoiding headaches, and maintaining a good reputation. And if you’re up-to-date with the latest trends, you’re at an advantage.
Holding Out
I can totally understand why a person would not want to sell their land/develop it. But I can't understand the lack of trees and landscaping. Their garden is huge, but so incredibly boring.
How they can build entire suburbs and not include trees is beyond belief, Western Sydney is already incredibly hot, no trees and all those buildings are going to make it worse.
Load More Replies...They could have planted trees, flower beds and created some ponds, as refuge for any animal trying to survive there. Instead it is a pesticide and herbicide lade green desert.
Do you remember the pictures of Australian wildlife?
Load More Replies...Oh yeah, I remember seeing that one. This guy refuses to sell his land. Smart choice if you ask me.
When the first big shopping mall was being built near where I grew up, there was ONE family who didn't want to sell, no matter what. The mall went up right on schedule, with just this one (perfectly ordinary) house in the middle of the huge parking lot, chain link fencing around it. I haven't been there for decades, so I don't know if it's still there.
You Ain’t Seen Me, Right!
When You're A Tram Driver, And Your Employer Says You've Got To Work From Home
When I was a child in the 1950s we had a bus carcass in the backyard to cover the toilet,which was outside and my mum was scared of the dark. It made her think it was inside I suppose
I can tell you with 99.9999% confidency this is in Czech Republic.
I'd absolutely live in this. Just imagine sitting in the driver's seat on a full moonlit evening; or during a parade! LOL.
Okay, I mean... the HOW of this is pretty obvious... a crane or a hoist or something... but that still leaves us with the WHY, as the former things don't usually come free of charge.
Of course, let’s not be naive. No matter how talented and experienced you are, you can’t control every tiny little detail of the building process. Someone, somewhere, will mess up at some point in time. Maybe someone misinterprets your plans. Maybe someone else decides to cut corners, or they’re not as skilled at their job as they let on. You have to be flexible, adaptable, and react to (unpleasant) surprises.
Though your sharp mind and insights are fundamental to your job as a designer or architect, you can’t ignore your people skills either. At the end of the day, the entire project is a team effort. And if you constantly mismanage and mistreat your contractors, it’ll affect the final result. You have to treat everyone you work with with the respect they deserve, and communicate well.
Quite Possibly The Most Depressing Garden I Have Ever Seen - As If The Parents In Their Spotless Marble Perfect House Had To Make One Tiny Concession To The Children And Created The Smallest Saddest Patch Of Fun Possible
They may have out in the lawn only because local safety laws required it for putting up a swing set.
Reminds me of the front garden in " Mon Oncle ", minus automatic fountains, etc.
You Can’t Plant That There Mate!
I suspect the owners were able to get planning permission for a garage, but just wanted the space for storage.
Load More Replies...Why the built an inaccessible garage there is wacky .. that tree is at least 75-100 years old
And it's one good way to keep the neighbors from co-opting your driveway to park their cars.
That Looks Much Better!
I know. They're way too short... they don't even reach the ground.
Load More Replies...Oh those fake shutters! They came with my house. I tried to see if I could remove them, only to realize the installers c*****d the siding and it looks like spider webs.
Though your sense of taste can be very subjective, people can usually intuitively tell if something has been designed well or not.
Truly good design is empathetic and takes the consumer’s wants and needs into account, whether you’re talking about the building you live in or a product you’re considering buying.
It may sound nuts, but these playgrounds are actually pretty safe. They promote play in a place like the real world (i.e. consequences) without mollycoddling their still-forming little brains.
Tarmageddon!
If I ever lived here I’d just book it to the woods nearby. How hot would it even get during the summers?
That will hold the rain preventing it from draining properly and it will flood the car park they've turned it into. However, they will have a great ice skating rink in the winter 😒
I'm no architect or decoration expert, but even I can see how beautiful this could've been. Jesus Christ.
This Charming Shopfront In Camden Passage Has Been Ripped Out And Replaced With Grey Upvc Cladding And A Roller Shutter. You Guessed It... Without Planning Permission
You do know what a front like that would cost? The choice made is awful, but replacing 100+ years old façades would have bancrupted the shop.
Load More Replies...i'm guessing this is in response to some sort of "smash and grab" crime one day?
As legendary designer Dieter Rams noted, good design is innovative, makes the product useful, and is aesthetic.
Truly good designs are also understandable, unobtrusive, honest, long-lasting, and environmentally-friendly.
They must also be thorough down to the last detail and, ironically, as little designed as possible.
You’re supposed to do away with non-essential details and concentrate on the main aspects of whatever it is you’re designing.
Breaking News: Contract For Crooked House Rebuild Goes To Taylor Wimpey!
I was watching that last night "And...loving it."
Load More Replies...If those are the kind of mistakes the builders have made on the outside, nobody is gonna risk buying a property which probably has worse mistakes on the inside!
That looks like a piece of chep plastic like the sell at Home Depot and the owner tacked on.
Corridoors!
Looks like there could be trouble getting furniture in...and out.
Load More Replies...Flummox. It isn't a common word, by any means, so I am not surprised it was misspelled.
Load More Replies...Who Needs Trees And All That Green Nonsense!
All this concrete reminds me of a “big house” in Washington DC, USA.
Load More Replies...According to Planetizen, one of the biggest issues with urban planning recently is the lack of adequate infrastructure for pedestrians.
Another widespread problem is the danger that construction sites pose to passersby, potentially leading to injury or worse.
Not to mention that poor urban planning negatively affects women’s safety.
Rest And Enjoy The View!
Slap a white sheet on that brick and have a neighborhood movie night! But BYOC - bring your own chair because the homeowner gets the bench.
Guilty Of Multiple Offences!
Well it's clearly still bring built. By the time people move in, put up sheds and plant stuff, it will be fine.
Unlikely hence the garden makeover programmes, you can be sure the soil is dreadful.
Load More Replies...It's much more fun when ppl skip the fences and let the yards all run together. Everyone has more that way.
So... had laminate flooring laid in the bathroom.. removed the toilet to get the floor laid properly.. a couple of hours later.. the carpet fitter come and laid a new carpet in the next room we come home and I moved the toilet to find this !!!! ...
As an ex carpet fitter can confirm some of them/us are/were not the sharpest knives in the box! I had a lad start to cut round a small bedside cabinet. Stopped him after just one cut and repaired it. Couldn't be seen and customer was fine. If it had needed to be replaced, it would have come out of his wages!
“For example, the rise of sprawling urban suburbs often means a single mother lives and works too far away from where her child attends school. Poorly maintained parks become hotspots for crime, meaning women may not feel safe going there alone. It's a similar story for entertainment and nightlife districts. Many get developed under the assumption women will go there with male partners, and not unaccompanied.”
New Housing In The Ponds, In Western Sydney
Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes made of ticky-tacky Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes all the same
This is what you get if everybody insists on living in a single family home. They could have built apartement houses, 2×4, and put them in a green area with some ponds. living would feel a lot less packed, and it could have been elderly/handicapped-friendly. Look up "Waterzande", a new village build near where I live. If you compare "The Ponds" with how it looked earlier, it is even more awful. There is a family which refused to sell - no trees either, just one huge grass patch.
Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes made of ticky-tacky Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes all the same There's a pink one and a green one And a blue one and a yellow one And they're all made out of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same And the people in the houses All went to the university Where they were put in boxes And they came out all the same And there's doctors and lawyers And business executives And they're all made out of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same And they all play on the golf course And drink their martinis dry And they all have pretty children And the children go to school And the children go to summer camp And then to the university Where they are put in boxes And they come out all the same And the boys go into business And marry and raise a family In boxes made of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same There's a pink one and a green one And a blue one and a yellow one And they're all made out of ticky-tacky And they all
British Housing At Its Finest - Setting, Scale, Landscape, Proportion, Details, And Finesse All Completely Absent!
I thought the entrance led to several homes inside.
Load More Replies...We Want A More Modern Look … Yes A Small Municipal Crematorium Would Be Fine!
Yes, that's why it is on a list of planning fails.
Load More Replies...If it is a 19th Century reproduction as has been mentioned below then maybe permission was granted because it held no historical significance. And sometimes new architecture can be better (though not convinced about the replacement tbh but I'm not finding the original all that attractive either)
Now, unlike the one immediately above this (at the time of writing: the brown brick converted to modern white and glass), this is DEFINITELY worse (in outward appearance) by a lot.
The local Council allowed the 19th century dower house to be demolished because they didn't consider it to be of heritage status. They then gave planning permission for the abomination on the right.
What’s more, today’s cities aren’t as inclusive as they can be, even as they become more advanced and high-tech.
“The development process often does not include enough input from disabled people themselves. The people responsible for making city improvements might get feedback from an area's residents, but there's no guarantee that the studied segment includes the voices of people with disabilities. For example, a touch-sensitive screen for bus ticket sales might seem high-tech, but can wheelchair users with fine-motor difficulties use it?” Planetizen muses.
This Weeks Nerdy Fascination Has Been House Doors On Buses. Didn’t Know This Was Even A Thing
These are for when people have turned a bus in to their tiny house. They're called Schoolies and there's a big community of them in the US.
Mehbanism!
This is exactly like one of my coworkers. Like she would take down all old buildings in town, some of which are centuries old and still in use, and replace them with... this. God, I hate it.
Luckily, we experienced the reverse here in Asheville. What is now the Haywood Park hotel, had been clad in textured, anodized aluminum (70's awfulness) and has been restored to it's original design.
What You Doing With That Bit Left Over
I thought this was clever. You've got an odd shaped door, why not have a little fun with it?
Nobody's gonna know. They're gonna know. How would they know? How would they know. THEY ARE GONNA KNOW.…
I like it inventive ,fun Id put a locking hinge on it so any unauthorised entry would get a smack in the head, ok bit much but better than my explosive trapdoor idea
The ‘[Bad] Planning’ project has been around for over 6 years. Created in mid-2019, it continues to share photos of some of the most awful things “perpetrated by architects, planners, surveyors, engineers, and other environmental ne’er do wells.”
Currently, 136.5k internet users follow the architecture-shaming account whose curator isn’t afraid of calling things as they see them.
Some People Just Want To See The World Burn!
You know that they are moveable? You can lift it and put it in the right place.
Happy Bright, Shiny, Stick-On, Grey, Plastic, New Year Everyone!
New house is way more energy efficient, way more. Those glazing panels on the atrium are multiple glazed units (looks thick enough to be triple), and that's not regular glass. Other windows have been shrunk.
Plus, maybe people who experienced the brown-everywhere of the 70's and grew up dreaming of a clean white future just wanted something sleek and modern. Not necessarily my taste, but...
Load More Replies...Some People Just Like To Watch The World Burn!
Which of these planning fails annoyed you the most, Pandas? What is the very worst case of urban planning that you’ve personally witnessed?
If you had an unlimited budget and power, what would you change about your neighborhood and town in terms of design? Grab a snack and tell us what you think in the comments.
"I’ve Got A Mate Who’ll Knock That Up For Half The Price!"
There used to be steps or something under the door, look at the brickwork. Guessing they had that removed to put the new drive in and probably gonna have a replacement built.
The builder didn't finish the job and left the house like that for a year. I looked at the house through Google lens and it definitely doesn't look any better after a metal ramp was was installed.
Well, it keeps the door to door salesmen and traveling missionaries away, but it's a right royal pain for ordering delivery.
Kinda reminds me of that guy in US, who tricked the city. They hired him to build a skyscaper, he gave them blueprints... but never mentioned the prints were in feet, not hundreds of feet, and nobody noticed... until he built like a tiny building exactly as they greenlighted it. XD
There's a house near me that has a front door like that, it's been like that for years and I just can't understand why they haven't put in any steps
this is either photo shop or haven't installed steps yet, "blue print" clearly shows the house is raised and has basement underneath with windows, yes the front door is missing some framing features
Bp did you erase the front steps? There is clearly a welcome mat suspended in air at foot of door???!!!
Summerhouse With Views!
I've seen these kind of rooms before... but usually at a beach or in a garden...
Can't Believe Someone Did This To The Art Deco Building On Commercial Street. Who Paints Portland Stone?
Gross. Also stupid. Now the owner will have to pay for regular repainting.
Offf!
I was about to say it might be opening into the room, but... no, no it doesn't. XD
Room Without A View!
I'd like to know why. And is that window to the right of the right door bricked on the inside?
Could be blinds but again, I wonder if it's AI. The weird break in the grey pavement looks odd.
Load More Replies...They could at least have used matching bricks. Not good, but better than non-matching patches.
What Vent!!
I always say everyone should paint their house as they like, but... come on.
Sure this looks bad, but they are the best Pizza/Dirty Burger for miles around.
Did You Ever Think You'd See The Day ? The Mysterious Steps Of Lawn. Manchester
I went to a saree shop in Madurai a few weeks ago and they had this exact arrangement for all 3 of their entrances. We had to remove our shoes to go in as the floor was made from mats (we call those mats ‘chatai’ in Hindi but I don’t know the English equivalent)
Fully Skateboard Accessible!
Having Delivered The Building But Left The Trailer Unit It Came On Behind!
Honestly... that's pretty clever way to deal with parking. Not sure about longevity though. I'm no architect. XD
As a person who lives in a place prone to earthquakes, this is terrifying.
Angel Square Islington, Before And After. The Previous Building Wasn’t Perfect, But With Upgrading And An Activated Street Frontage, It Had More To Give
s***w charm. give me functionality. give me modern designs.
Load More Replies...was that the tower of Islington, where condemned prisoners languished before beheading?
affordable but s**t housing good looking unaffordable houses pick one.
Hmm
Can We Have All The Things!
Those Bollards Should Keep Their Car Secure
Retractable could be cool. You could go for a full on 'Wallace and Gromit' or 'Thunderbirds' effect. Need loudspeakers with sound effects.
Load More Replies...All you lot saying they are retractable... yes, but you can just drive around them!!!
I can't believe so many people have missed the whole point!
Load More Replies...Lee, our suburban street goes most of a nice, quiet, tree-lined mile, with nary a sidewalk in sight. And *everyone* insists on walking in the middle of the travel lanes, ALWAYS with their backs to oncoming traffic.
Load More Replies...This happens too often. Councils put in pavers, as part of a beautification project. Then they lose interest in maintaining them.
Same thing in my town and strangely it has a reason. After the repair work of pipes, electrical lines, or other thing buried there, they have to put tarmac for gravel and ground settlement. After 2 or 3 months the original pavement could be restored
leave the budgies out of it this is what happens when the wealthy dont pay their taxes, and probably own the tarmacadam company and have a family member on the council courtesy Karoline Leavitt (get over it party)
The Bulls [butt]!
death at dawn........the only sensible penalty to the evil brain that produced this abomination
It's sad, especially as public houses are closing down at a fast rate, but most of them were built to a cookie cutter template by the Victorians, you have 2 options, convert them into flats, or knock them down and rebuild as flats.
Blandscaping!
The sky looks pretty in the second one, a shame because it would’ve complemented the scenery if there was at least some vegetation
The lack of vegetation is a serious downer, but could be remedied with determination and money. At least the facade on the building has a bit of character.
There Are Levels!
"So, how do you feel about a swimming pool in the garage? Since it rained last night, it seems we now have one."
Load More Replies...This is probably the best example of the difference plants make/made to a streetscape.
what's stopping them flooding as water runs down driveway into garage or door?
Pretty sure I can see long drain covers in the low point
Load More Replies...I can't figure out why these house have balconies, there is absolutely no view
Getting Strong Gp Surgery Vibes From This House!
A lot of security around there: Guard hut on the black gates, and street gates to the right of the building.
Bob: "Ted and Alice are hosting the swinger's party this weekend." Carol: "Oh nice! There's always plenty of parking."
That's one thing it's probably not. The buildings aren't interconnected so you'd have to wheel the bodies outside for the fridge, then again to the autopsy room.
Load More Replies...What The Actual Hell
Stage Set Architecture
UM, the heck with windows - where's the first story (2nd story in the U.S.).
Responds Positively To Its Historic Context!
When Cars And Bin Lorries Are Your Primary Design Consideration
How would children even play in this neighbourhood? Even gully cricket and badminton seem a bit dangerous here as it feels like way too much priority has gone to the road
In South Africa, this situation does not exist. We have sidewalks/pavements/fences and walls and it is never necessary to park in the street. Also, houses sitting right on the street like this is a sucky situation that I cannot contemplate living with.
Don’t You Just Love A Bit Of Detailing!
Maybe it’s to help with turning? But it does leave pedestrians pretty vulnerable
The Rules Of Second Floor Club Are That You Do Not Talk About What Happens In Second Floor Club
Timber Effect!
Impediment!
Lots of buildings look like that where I live the bottom floor is rented to a store and they pay to make it look nice to attract tourists.
The Porch Comes With A Small House Extension To The Rear!
I'd be very disappointed if there isn't a grand chandelier inside that entrance.
Somethings Off!
I feel like I’d get mürdered if I stepped into that place
Signed, Sealed And Delivered!
Before And Hereafter! Grade II Listed!
I'm amazed this got through planning. My mother had a 400 year old cottage. Windows needed replacing like for like. Oh the hassle getting permission from all the powers that be. Took months before everyone signed off on it.
Also lived in a listed building and were refused permission to put in double glazing even if it were with wooden frames. Person we sold it to put in UPVC, and the planners didn't give a.... Looks like if you do it first and only respond if they 'find out' you may well get away with it.
Load More Replies...Tell Me What Windows Would You Like? Yes Please!
idk which is worse, the window conglomeration or the view you'd have from the other side of them!
What Fresh Hell Is This!
The path for pedestrians is to the left of the railing, to the right is access to the properties, what the sign is attempting to convey is that the two routes do not join up and there is no gate or gap to get on the pedestrian pathway from the property side, in essence a dead end unless you climb over which obviously some people can’t do. Nothing wrong with this at all.
looks like there is a pedestrian- and cycle path on the left of the fence
I'd have to commit guerilla public service and toss those signs in the dumpster.
its *clearly* unsafe to walk on. you want pedestrians? get rid of the green and put a sidewalk on.
Load More Replies...Placement!
I think the point is that it's not centered.
Load More Replies...Cut And Paste Streetscape!
Wildlife vs. Wildstrife!
Had this been an actual lawn with actual grass, it might've been an improvement.
1666: Imagine The Wonderful Doors That Will Adorn This Entrance In Its 350+ Yr Lifespan 2024:
Yes, a wonderful carved oak door would be more appropriate, but insurers expect a more modern door and locks. Looking at the way the electricity is ported in, looks like the inside will not be pristine either.
Local Vindictiveness!
Wolverhampton School Of Art Is Under Threat!
Designed by Diamond, Redfern & Partners (1966-70), the nine-storey Art School block has been earmarked for potential redevelopment by Wolverhampton University. Behind the striking sculptural concrete ‘exoskeleton’, the building remains in its original use and has abundant potential for sympathetic modernisation. Demolition would be wasteful, irresponsible, and anti-growth. C20 Society has submitted a listing application, and local campaigners have started a petition to save it.
Kinda reminds me of that tic-tac-toe game we used to play on playgrounds. The one where you drop the colored discs from the top.
nah, demolish it and replace it with something more modern and less gimmicky.
You're not nearly attractive enough to get a pass for being this f*****g insufferable.
Load More Replies...“Adds Visual Interest”
Biodiversity Not Gain!
Build Back Better!
APARTMENT BLDG - SEPARATE GARAGES FOR EACH UNIT (NOTICE THE NUMBERS)
Load More Replies...I Can Think Of Other Reasons!
wellllllll, normally i detest petty bureaucracy, but in this case...i will aplaud
Greyscaping!
Courtesy Of Cockitup Construction Ltd. Via Lots Of You
The wood is rotten, and nowadays would cost a b**b to replace the carved parts. Not brilliant, but you can see why.
I think the point is that they could have maintained a design more similar to the original.
Load More Replies...Garden Is Something Else!
Shall We Start The Viewing Inside The ‘Stick-On Porch’! I Think You Mean Vestibule!
Looks like the picture is framed or cropped too low. I believe the grey cylinder extends up *through* the roof
Yes you need to click on the word under the picture to see the full thing.
Load More Replies...But Of Course!
That means nothing given Bored Panda's love of shuffling list entries around.
Load More Replies...Building Better, Building Beautiful!
Scale
I believe that used to be another window.
Load More Replies...Going Bust On The Landscape Design Here!
What Have We Here!
Gearing Up For Mansards!
They Paved Paradise And Put Up Solar Gain A Lot!
Details
We Need The Development Of This Windowless Tin Box, Supported With Oceans Of Parking Tarmac For The Vibrancy And Vitality Of Our City Centre!!
This isn't a City Center. Toys R Us closed it's last store in England in 2018. This is part of an abandoned retail park.
"Its". I assume that this abandoned retail park is _in_ the city center, not that it _is_ the City Center.
Load More Replies...What's wrong with solar panels on a modern house? With this lot and batteries you'd run the house for free AND sell 50% to the grid.
Panels that cover up all almost all the windows? Not to mention it looks awful, which is the point of the list.
Load More Replies...Placement of the solar panels on the sides of the structures is, uh...interesting
EVIDENTLY, "Bored Panda" staff can NO LONGER COUNT. This content for housing fails said "70 pics"-it had 90. A previous article on here said 50 pics for animal pictures--it had 87. Good thing I have time to waste.
And I thought new constructions in my country were getting uglier (USA).
And I thought new constructions in my country were getting uglier (USA).
