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"Better to be ugly than to be boring" is written in the bio of the Instagram account 'Ugly Belgian Houses,' and the bold phrase is echoed in the pictures that it uploads.
Whether we're looking at a quirky color palette or strange shapes standing out in the landscape, the buildings featured on the account certainly challenge conventional architectural aesthetics.
The creator of the fun social media project, Hannes Coudenys, has been running it since 2012, but apparently, there's still no shortage of content.
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'Ugly Belgian Houses' has been growing non-stop and at the moment of this publication, 'Ugly Belgian Houses' has 174K followers on Instagram.
For our earlier publication on the account, Hannes told Bored Panda that there, in fact, is a problem with becoming too big, too fast, which resulted in some drama on his social media.
People have been clashing there because they have different opinions about experimental architecture and classical Belgian farm-style buildings. "I never wanted to shame experimental [buildings]," Hannes said.
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Will Cable 1 year ago
Thank goodness it was a tree, imagine telling people they can come straight in through your bush!
Fenchurch 1 year ago
Wondering that too. The number of years they’ve been cutting them weird instead of just removing them…
Load More Replies...
However, actively repeating the phrase and even putting it in his account's bio isn't stopping everyone from getting angry.
Coudenys said that some people have been trying to get in touch with him.
In another interview we had with him (yes, we love 'Ugly Belgian Houses' and we don't see ourselves stopping writing about it), the creator of the project also pointed out that his feed represents only a portion of the country's architectural scene.
He highlighted that there are also plenty of good examples. "I like the work of Gijs van Vaerenbergh, Vens-Vanbelle, De Vylder Vinck Taillieu, Vincent van Duysen," Coudenys explained.
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According to Coudenys, the variety is so colorful "because [local] regulations are quite liberal" and the citizens "love to design [their own] quirky dreamhouse."
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However, it's not like Coudenys is the first one who started questioning his country's construction tastes and habits. It's been going on for decades.
In the 1961 book 'The New Architecture of Europe,' American architect, author, educator, photographer, and prolific "builder" G.E. Kidder Smith wrote: "Of all European countries, Belgium is least to be excused for not contributing more to contemporary architecture."
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Deleting Windows frees up a lot of RAM, I'm sure. The only problem is if the RAM wants a room with a view.
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"Having a thoroughly literate and capable population and an extremely high living standard, the mediocrity of its architecture can be explained only by the indifference of its officials, the inadequacy of its educational system, and a flabby materialism," Kidder Smith said.
So hopefully people will cut 'Ugly Belgian Houses' some slack. After all, the account is approaching the topic from a positive perspective.
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GoldfishCrackers 1 year ago
Many times I feel brick should be left unpainted, however this right here seems like a perfect candidate for a fresh coat of paint.
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still tired 1 year ago
Direct translation: Everything is possible. Coffee can. Water can. But not balcony.
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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
It can stick two completely different buildings together, with just one drop!
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![If Italians Were [mad] Because We Broke Pasta In Two, They Gonna Be Real Angry At This Pizza](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CtXIKVSoeBn-png__700.jpg "If Italians Were [mad] Because We Broke Pasta In Two, They Gonna Be Real Angry At This Pizza")
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Kobe (she) 1 year ago
That looks like a barn. Like; open in the backside to house tractors/machinery and so. It could have used some tiling or paint in the front to make it look less depressing. But, my guess - it is not a house.
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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
It looks like a leftover piece of another building that was grafted on.
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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
The building is winking. It's not a good look for this house.
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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
Who needs a front porch or a facade? All you need is a giant hole to park your land yacht in.
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I think the no parking sign is because they don't want anything to block the view of this "beautiful" house
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What do you think ?
Diolla 1 year ago
They do but I don't think they have anything to do with aestetics.
Load More Replies... Will Cable 1 year ago
Near my location there is ongoing housing development in several areas, the areas are looking just as if someone went 'copy, paste' mad. Nothing individual, nothing that makes you easily identify which area you are in, even the people have the same types of cars on their driveway all metallic grey/gray Audi and BMW. So depressing.
Sergio Bicerra 1 year ago
Many of them look like after you built that super spaceship and find you have some spare legos
Shaunn Munn 1 year ago
So much blank space facing the street - I hope there were windows on the other sides. What's the story about the half-houses? Are they duplexes?
Petra Schaap 1 year ago
in Belgium some plots of lands are destined for two houses. So if you are the first one to build you have to build something that looks like a halfhouse, so the next person can attach theirs to it. Its something like this, dont know exact details.
Load More Replies...
Simon Chen 1 year ago
Many of those look like a bunch of architects had a contest to design the ugliest house possible.....and then build it
Diolla 1 year ago
They do but I don't think they have anything to do with aestetics.
Load More Replies... Will Cable 1 year ago
Near my location there is ongoing housing development in several areas, the areas are looking just as if someone went 'copy, paste' mad. Nothing individual, nothing that makes you easily identify which area you are in, even the people have the same types of cars on their driveway all metallic grey/gray Audi and BMW. So depressing.
Sergio Bicerra 1 year ago
Many of them look like after you built that super spaceship and find you have some spare legos
Shaunn Munn 1 year ago
So much blank space facing the street - I hope there were windows on the other sides. What's the story about the half-houses? Are they duplexes?
Petra Schaap 1 year ago
in Belgium some plots of lands are destined for two houses. So if you are the first one to build you have to build something that looks like a halfhouse, so the next person can attach theirs to it. Its something like this, dont know exact details.
Load More Replies... Simon Chen 1 year ago
Many of those look like a bunch of architects had a contest to design the ugliest house possible.....and then build it
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