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Belgian Guy Documents Ugly Houses He Sees And They’re So Bad, It’s Hilarious (30 New Pics)
Interview With Author
Let’s talk architecture and let's talk Belgium. What do these two things have in common? Well, you probably need no introduction of Belgium being a land of architectural wonder, with several shifts in design throughout its history creating a rich cross-section of European heritage and design. From Art Nouveau to modernism, the country is known for nailing its architecture.
Except we’re talking the other side of the coin—”Ugly Belgian Houses”—an enigmatic, humorous and eccentric project run by Hannes Coudenys. The project is dedicated entirely to the uglier the better buildings, dwellings, and all kinds of roofs over one’s head.
With 139k Instagram followers, “Ugly Belgian Houses” follows the motto which reads “Better to be ugly than to be boring,” and you can totally see why. But still, don’t try this at home, everyone!
Psst! After you’re done, be sure to check out our previous posts with Belgian architectural mishaps and faux pas here and here.
More info: Instagram | Facebook | UglyBelgianHouses.tumblr.com
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Hmm
RELATED:
#2
Tried To Call The Architect For An Explanation But He Was Bus-Y
#3
Residence Evil
To find out more about “Ugly Belgian Houses” and how it evolved since we last featured the project a year ago, Bored Panda talked to its creator Hannes Coudenys. Hannes is a media personality with many projects, from owning Hurae creative digital studio to running “Ugly Belgian Houses” and “Like My Ride,” to vlogging on YouTube.
Hannes told us that “Ugly Belgian Houses” has amazingly evolved throughout the year, amassing 139k followers. “I have been visiting a lot of the houses and had some really nice conversations.”
“Meanwhile I am working on a second edition of the book, so I have to call all the owners again,” Hannes said and added “I’ve just had a call with two people who hate me and don’t want their house in my book. I can understand that,” he smiled.
#4
The Ugly Belgian House Is Slowly Wrapping Around Its Prey
#5
I Want To Brick Free
#6
They Recently Discovered The Great Garage Of Giza
When asked why “Ugly Belgian Houses” has gained almost a cult following online, Hannes believes it comes down to “The fact that we all have a certain opinion on what makes a house beautiful. Or ugly. And the fact that these opinions are only opinions.”
The author added that it seems like a lot of Belgians agree that “we have a lot of ugly Belgian houses.”
When asked about the slogan “Better to be ugly than to be boring,” which greets users on the project's Instagram page, Hannes said that “In Belgium, you have a lot of suburbs and housing projects that all look the same and are in fact very boring.” He added: “Something you see in Holland as well. I prefer ugly than these boring creatures.”
Hannes would describe a typical ugly Belgian house as something with “its own quirky uniqueness; A special roof, a special stone, a special decoration, we want to express ourselves via our house.”
#7
Housemoji
#8
Minimalism In Belgium
#9
Neighbors, Everybody Needs Goth Neighbors
#10
So Where Is Your Architect? Over The Top
#11
Cut My House Into Pieces
#13
It Is In The Darkness That One Finds The Sh**e
#14
Purple Pain
#15
When You’ve Seen The Trailer And You Know The Movie Sucks
#16
Just Another Brick In The Wall
#17
Peak #uglybelgianhouses
#18
Door-E Is That You?
#19
Mummy, I’m Home
#20
Statue Of Misery
#21
Haters Will Say It’s Photoshop
#23
(Turn Around) Every Now And Then I Get A Little Bit Tired Of These Houses
#24
Is This The Real Life?
#25
Optihouse Prime
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
Can transform itself into a normal-looking house but chooses not to
#26
Is This A New Jacquemus Purse?
#27
Now That’s A Mancave
Myrtille rat 4 years ago
lol it looks like it's a wink to Massabielle grotto ( a catholic pilgrimage place in the French pyrénées) 612206-gro...2be8b4.jpg 
#28
Ready For The Third Wave
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
Allows you to feel seasick without the inconvenience of being on water
#30
Some Houses Never Grow Up
#32
From The Movie Finding Doory
#33
Black & Why?te
#34
Now They’ve Gone Too Farao
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
Yes, the rooms are a weird shape but you'll stay young for all eternity
#35
I Believe I Can Cry
#37
Robokot
Ludwig Michiel 4 years ago
About the caption: "kot" is Flemish (Belgian Dutch) for shed. (in an other context it can also mean student room)
#38
Cut My House In To Pieces This Is My Last Carport
#39
Nice Trick To Sell Your Ugly Belgian House
#40
At Least The Architect Made His Point
#41
Welcome In The Neighborhoodie
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
The expensive alternative to simply buying blinds for your bedroom window
#42
Luke, I Am Your House
#43
Moved Back In With My Parents
#44
Clap Along If You Feel Like A Roof Without A Room
#46
A Game Of Sh*tris
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
I'm intrigued by the broken glass panel in the front door. Burglars trying to get in or owner desperate to get out?
#48
I Visited One Of The Houses For Eenbe
Ludwig Michiel 4 years ago
A little bit of context: the creator of "Ugly Belgian Houses" has a part in a show on Belgian tv channel "Eén" where he visits people to ask them to react to their house being featured on his blog.
#49
Frank Lloyd Wrong
#50
Caption This
#51
Yellow. It Ain't Me You're Looking For
#53
5 Steps To The Left, 5 Steps To The Right, Slide Real Smooth
#54
This Is My Church, This Is Where I Hurt My Heels
#55
Clap Along If You Feel Like A Room Without A Roof
#56
Don’t Think Out Of The Box. Just Get Rid Of This Box
#57
The Roof, The Roof, The Roof Was On Fire
#58
I’m Flabberhousted
#60
When Your Door Want Its Own House
#61
Ugly? Sink Again
#62
I Don’t Understand
#64
Designed In Autocad
#65
Blinded By The Stair Of Flights
#67
Housenumber 69
#70
Where Is The Ski Lift Please?
#74
Caption This
Add New Image
What do you think ?
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Say what you want, in Belgium people have the freedom to build their houses exactly like they want it to be. In the Netherlands there are about 923 000 rules and regulations to follow when you want to design and build your own house to keep just as much civil servants busy who all are searching for something to annoy the hell out of you. "Sir, you have permission to build with white bricks, but this white is too white, you have to tear it down or paint it in the approved white." "Sir, you've painted your house white, but that's too white. Remove the paint."
Sanne H. 4 years ago (edited)
I agree that we might have a bit too much rules in The Netherlands. Then again, the Dutch “lintbebouwing” (is there a proper English word for that?) usually looks much nicer than the Belgian one (or to my opinion at least).
Load More Replies...
Lotus Flower 4 years ago (edited)
Belgians seem to forget to build the rest of the house…a lot
Irina Sudilovskaya 4 years ago
Lol, this guy hasn't been to Russia for sure. There are whole ugly cities
Lisa-Marie Dhondt 4 years ago
We do have some very unattractive houses here. The up-side compared to America tho, is that when it’s windy ours do stay upstanding.
Bumble 4 years ago
Is anyone else cringing at each introduction? Seriously BP, sometimes there are no words needed!
H Edwards 4 years ago
The titles are lifted from the original post, BP isn't paying someone to come up with these.
Load More Replies...
Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
I actually liked quite a few of these. Perhaps the interior design of some of them was responsible for the unorthodox exterior. Whatever the reason, " not my circus, not my monkey. "
Linda van A. 4 years ago
Every Belgian builds his own house and no two are the same. I don't think there are any rules, just do what you want.
Veerle Dickx 4 years ago
There are, it depends on the city council though. Rules could be about hight, place, windows facing neighbors,... But the style is indeed quite free.
Load More Replies...
Pauliina Pain 4 years ago
To be honest, couple of these have strong art deco vibes and I don't understand why they are on this list at all. Also. Some I would have preferred to see from another angle.
Sanne H. 4 years ago
It’s quite common in Belgium to build (and design) your own house. And there are hardly any regulations, so people can build what they want.
Load More Replies... WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Say what you want, in Belgium people have the freedom to build their houses exactly like they want it to be. In the Netherlands there are about 923 000 rules and regulations to follow when you want to design and build your own house to keep just as much civil servants busy who all are searching for something to annoy the hell out of you. "Sir, you have permission to build with white bricks, but this white is too white, you have to tear it down or paint it in the approved white." "Sir, you've painted your house white, but that's too white. Remove the paint."
Sanne H. 4 years ago (edited)
I agree that we might have a bit too much rules in The Netherlands. Then again, the Dutch “lintbebouwing” (is there a proper English word for that?) usually looks much nicer than the Belgian one (or to my opinion at least).
Load More Replies... Lotus Flower 4 years ago (edited)
Belgians seem to forget to build the rest of the house…a lot
Irina Sudilovskaya 4 years ago
Lol, this guy hasn't been to Russia for sure. There are whole ugly cities
Lisa-Marie Dhondt 4 years ago
We do have some very unattractive houses here. The up-side compared to America tho, is that when it’s windy ours do stay upstanding.
Bumble 4 years ago
Is anyone else cringing at each introduction? Seriously BP, sometimes there are no words needed!
H Edwards 4 years ago
The titles are lifted from the original post, BP isn't paying someone to come up with these.
Load More Replies... Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
I actually liked quite a few of these. Perhaps the interior design of some of them was responsible for the unorthodox exterior. Whatever the reason, " not my circus, not my monkey. "
Linda van A. 4 years ago
Every Belgian builds his own house and no two are the same. I don't think there are any rules, just do what you want.
Veerle Dickx 4 years ago
There are, it depends on the city council though. Rules could be about hight, place, windows facing neighbors,... But the style is indeed quite free.
Load More Replies... Pauliina Pain 4 years ago
To be honest, couple of these have strong art deco vibes and I don't understand why they are on this list at all. Also. Some I would have preferred to see from another angle.
Sanne H. 4 years ago
It’s quite common in Belgium to build (and design) your own house. And there are hardly any regulations, so people can build what they want.
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
