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The dystopias you see in movies, books, TV shows, and video games might be closer to reality than you might want to believe. Many cities and dwellings are far from the positive environments that you envision human beings would thrive in.
The members of the sprawling ‘Urban Hell’ online group call out the flaws of modern development, design, and architecture by sharing photos of some of the ugliest buildings from around the world. We’ve collected the worst offenders to remind you that people deserve better. Much better.
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#1
Building On A Giant Ancient Buddha Statue. Chongqing, China
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#2
Sports In The US
Nicole Weymann 1 week ago
"Sports" it says. The main problem is not the stadium, but the enormous waste of land that the parking lot poses. I'm amazed that a place so averse to walking that it has drive through banks and churches builds parking lots that make the distance from car to entry a HIKE! Stack the floors, save on land, make the commute shorter, or, heII, go crazy and install public transport. If the place depicted gets as hot in summer as it looks parking decks would also prevent drivers from getting their hands soldered to the steering wheel upon entering the car.
#3
Hong Kong’s Extreme Residential Density
According to Our World in Data, more than half of the entire world’s population, 4 billion people, now live in urban areas.
However, living in highly dense cities and urban settings is a relatively new phenomenon in human history and has changed how societies live, work, travel, and build networks.
Previously, throughout most of human history, most human beings lived in small communities.
#4
Concrete Without Escape
#5
Dhaka, Bangladesh
#6
United Arab Emirates, Dubai. A “Community” Called Nad Al Sheba
Nicole Weymann 1 week ago
"Little houses made of ticky tacky" reference seems even more appropriate here.
“Over the past few centuries – and particularly in recent decades – this has shifted dramatically. There has been a mass migration of populations from rural to urban areas,” Our World in Data explains.
More than 80% of the population lives in urban areas in higher-income countries across Western Europe, the Americas, Australia, Japan, and the Middle East.
#7
New Bus Stop Benches In Kansas City
I couldn't believe it when I saw the new "benches" at our bus stop. This is insanity.
cowboysmavs:
God forbid an elderly, disabled, or pregnant woman can sit down waiting for the bus.
Michele Ferretto 1 week ago
The war on homeless people... yeah, like those people haven't enough problems... so easy to take on the most weak part of society
#8
Block 23, Belgrade - Serbia
#9
Hong Kong
patricia patricia 1 week ago
This is Central (the double deckers). As far as I know, it's the most densely populated island.
Meanwhile, between 50% to 80% of people live in urban settings in upper-middle-income countries across Eastern Europe, East Asia, North and Southern Africa, and South America.
To compare, in 1800, less than a tenth of all people across all regions lived in urban areas.
Urbanization trends are expected to continue, as incomes rise and more employment shifts away from agriculture.
#10
Very Well Connected, Bangkok
#11
Las Vegas, USA Suburb
#12
Highway Built On Top Of Apartments In China
As reported by Statista, Tokyo-Yokohama in Japan was the largest world urban agglomeration in 2025. That year, a mind-melting number of people lived in the area: 37 million.
In second place was Delhi, India, with more than 34.7 million inhabitants, followed by Shanghai, China (30.5 million), Dhaka, Bangladesh (24.7 million), Cairo, Egypt (23.1 million), and Sao Paolo, Brazil (23 million).
#13
Karachi, Pakistan
#14
Balcony Facade Of A Famous Hotel In Thailand
#15
Istanbul Traffic
Vehicle emissions, industrial processes, agricultural practices, burning fossil fuels for energy, improper waste disposal, and wildfires all cause pollution.
Based on the data in the 2025 IQAir World Air Quality Report, air pollution has long been recognized as a persistent hazard, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases like cardiac disease, stroke, and cancer. Last year was a turning point, as “international institutions finally elevated the crisis to the forefront of the global agenda.”
According to the report, air quality is a “fragile asset,” not a “static achievement,” requiring “active stewardship and a proactive strategy.”
#16
Dystopian Thessaloniki
Brandi VanSteenwyk 1 week ago
I simply cannot fathom any desire to "live" like this. It is EXISTING for the sake of existence. Definitely not living for the sake of life.
#17
Mitsubushi Cement Plant Kyushu, Japan
#18
A Stroll In The Downtown Eastside, Vancouver
“Maintaining clean air is a long-term commitment to incremental improvement rather than a single policy goal achieved or annual target concentration reached. For children, however, the impact of air pollution exposure can last a lifetime; the respiratory damage sustained during developmental years is often irreversible. As the demographic with the least agency in these environmental shifts, children are left to bear the permanent health costs of air quality they did not choose,” the report states.
#19
Every Window Tells A Different Story
#20
Pasig, Manila, Philippines
#21
“New Delhi — Then (Lockdown) vs. Now”
Brandi VanSteenwyk 1 week ago
Mother Earth healed while others suffered during COVID. Yet even with the evidence so plainly clear, we didn't learn a thing on either front.
‘Urban Hell’ is an online community that focuses on highlighting the flaws of modern development through iconic photos.
Its members mainly share “all the hideous places human beings built or inhabit” by posting aesthetic photos of “the darker side of the cities, towns, and villages in our shared world.”
According to the moderators running the huge subreddit, they welcome any photos that either show the ugliness or problems of urban development. Examples of rural and suburban hell are allowed here, too.
Originally, the subreddit was created in 2013. It continues to be popular and relevant to this day. At the time of writing, the group gets 522k weekly visitors.
#22
Modern Cairo, Egypt
PrettyJoyBird 1 week ago
Are the two tallest buildings on left and right randomly unfinished in areas? Wow that view tho!
#23
Hong Kong
#24
The 2 Faces Of Mumbai, India
Roxanne D'souza 1 week ago
Definitely looks like urban hell, but the slums of Dharavi generate around close to 900 million to a 1 billion dollars per year in revenue. Houses around 1 million people and is home to over 20,000 small factories and small businesses that deal in textiles, leather and other handmade work. Some of the clothes seen on red carpets and in runway shows in Paris and Milan have their embroideries designed and sampled right here.
Above all, the community values authenticity and quality. You’re meant to share photos, not articles, art, memes, or screenshots. What’s more, you should avoid posting overly photo-edited pictures or composite images.
Moreover, ‘Urban Hell’ isn’t the place to share portraits of people, close-ups of buildings, or interiors. Instead, through your architectural photos, you’re mainly supposed to give your audience a sense of the surroundings and environment.
#26
The Definition Of Overpopulation, Mexico City
#27
Highway Built Right On Top Of Historic Building
The Blaubeurer Tor is a historic landmark in Ulm, Germany. A highway was built next to it, ruining the view and limiting access. Thankfully the highway is currently under reconstruction and this place will hopefully look better in the future.
Inigo Montoya 1 week ago
You can see the Ulmer Münster in the background, the world's tallest church (although I think the new Gaudi Sagrada Familia in Barcelona has now surpassed it).
The community values quality photos taken in real-life places. You should also avoid reposting what others have already shared before. And your photos should, ideally, show either an ugly place or bad urban development.
“If it's hard to tell what is so bad about the place, explain why it's bad in the comments,” the mods urge.
#29
Falowiec (“The Waveform”) Is One Of Europe's Longest Buildings. Gdańsk, Poland
Paulina 1 week ago
I have to say, I don't mind it at all! I generally don't have anything fundamentally against those apartment buildings (we call them "bloki" - blocks), for as long as they're functional, respect the surroundings and are build with greenery included in the project. This seems to me like it has a pretty nice park area to itself!
#30
Beijing Digital Building, China
Which of these photos left the biggest impact on you, dear Pandas? What, in your opinion, are the biggest upsides and downsides of life in a major city?
What are the ugliest, worst-designed buildings or areas in your hometown? On the other hand, what is your dream town to live in and why?
How would you go about solving modern development problems?
We’d like to hear your thoughts! Share them in the comments.
#31
Cairo Egypt
#32
The Infamous House Under The Motorway In Naples, Italy
#33
The Delivery Food Drop Point Of A Chinese University (Many Places In China Don’t Allow Food Delivery Staffs To Enter)
Brandi VanSteenwyk 1 week ago
Speaks volumes about the trust and faith put in their fellow residents.
#34
Delhi - Today - Pictured Around 9 Am Morning - Full Sunshine - It Does Not Show
#35
Two Extremes Of Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Debby Keir 1 week ago
The extremes seem to be high or low rise. Lots of places have a similar mix. What's so special? Personally I'd prefer a house and garden, but that's only my preference.
#36
Something Very Dystopian About This - Seoul Korea
#39
Sydney, Australia. I'd Rather Live In The Red Dirt Part Of NSW Where It Doesn't Rain For Years Than This Hellhole
Michele Ferretto 1 week ago
I don't understand how it's legal to build a house so close to the other one. Here in Italy on new costructions you normally have to keep 3 meters from the other building...
#40
Make Way For Progress Church
#41
An Abandoned School In Northern Croatia
Michele Ferretto 1 week ago
At first glance I thought it had collapsed on one side, but then I realized it had been built like that... huh...
#42
A 19th Century Stone Building In Bradford, England
#43
Elections In Hungary
#44
Thames Town - Fake English Town In Shanghai, China 🇨🇳
#45
Bridge To Nowhere, Kollam, India
Brandi VanSteenwyk 1 week ago
The "Bridge to Nowhere" in Kollam, Kerala, refers to an unfinished, abandoned bridge structure in the Ashtamudi Backwaters, frequently highlighted as a symbol of poor planning and failed infrastructure. Construction stalled due to design errors—such as ignoring tidal changes and creating traffic redundancy after a new bypass was built—coupled with funding shortages. -- REDDIT
#47
Russia Can Be Very Mixed
#48
In Just One Week, China Opened More Than 1000 Mi/1600 Km Of Motorways
#49
Stavropol, Russia
#51
Old Town Bucharest
#52
Queue For The Bus (This Is Not Trees Or A Fence)
#53
Tyumen, Russia
Brandi VanSteenwyk 1 week ago
The heartbreaking reality of the stalled stroller (hopefully the rider is not disabled) unable to traverse the pallet de sidewalk.
#55
When Your Architect Is Also A Net Admin
#56
Hachioji, Japan
Max Robitzsch 1 week ago
"Cable doesn't work anymore" "Oh, okay, string a new one." Rinse and repeat a few decades.
#57
Saudi Arabia Riyadh 2001 And 2026
#59
Slum Areas Of Osaka City, Japan
#60
Cursed Hotel In Pyongyang, North Korea
#61
Mumbai Smh
Kelly Scott 1 week ago
Cheezus. Here in Washington state they can work on a freeway the same amount of time and it still looks the same.
#62
I Knew Saudi Arabia Was Building The Next Tallest Building (Jeddah Tower). What I Didn't Know Was It Was Going To Be Built In The Middle Of Nowhere
#64
The Part That Get Used More Frequently Looks Cleaner Than The Other Two
New Media Center, Nanning, China.
Max Robitzsch 1 week ago
I somehow doubt the image description. This is likely either cleaned / repainted more recently, or the different surface angles mean dirt doesn't stick as easily on the higher floors?
#65
Saw Someone Bragging About Their Trip To Dubai By Posting This Photo
#66
Norilsk (Talnakh)
#69
A Suburb On The Outskirts Of Pyongyang, North Korea - A Jangled Mess Of Thousands Of Homes, Many Hundreds Of Meters From The Nearest Cohesive Pathways
Max Robitzsch 1 week ago
I see lots of streets and paths there. Strange criticism - this is how cities always looked like?
#70
Volgograd, Russia
Kiki Likes Sweets 1 week ago (edited)
Truly shows the the scale of the Mamayev Kurgan, though. An amazing piece of sculpture.
#72
Norilsk, Russia
Max Robitzsch 1 week ago
I find it interesting how some colour can make these blocks look at least a little bit less dystopian...
#73
Lake Como Keeps Flooding Into The City Almost Every Year. We’re Tired
Brandi VanSteenwyk 1 week ago
Pretty sure the lake was there before human beings. Gotta adapt or drown.
#74
Somwhere In The Middle Of Nowhere In Büsum (Germany)
Nicole Weymann 1 week ago (edited)
A hotel, apparently, and the caption is a little misleading, as there's actually a town behind the dýke (some rooftops are visible in the pic). The view is the only valid reason I can imagine for booking a room in that abomination: when you're inside looking out you don't see the eysore. Edited to circumvent censorship via intentional misspelling.
#75
Residential Building From 1987, Constantța, România
#76
Cairo, Egypt
Max Robitzsch 1 week ago
"I recommend you use 42pt font, otherwise your sign won't stand out."
#77
If You Ever Wanted To Look At A Giant Pill Box (Leverkusen, Germany)
Fred L. 1 week ago (edited)
That is not a regular building. It was a company building temporarily wrapped for the 100 year celebration of Aspirin (which they invented). Apparently they later tried to turn it into an advert platform but it didn't work out and the building was demolished over a decade ago.
#78
The "Weißer Riese" (White Giant) In Duisburg (Germany), Who Was Demolished In 2025
#79
Recently Built Government Office, India
Max Robitzsch 1 week ago
Interesting but not very effective. Maybe they were / are planning to have a different development underneath, like someone was planning a mall or another building and the govt bought part of the site to have their building inside it, but then were the only ones / first ones to actually build. Well that, or they worry about floods. Or very tall elephants. Or about being flooded with tall elephants.
#80
Moscow, Russia
Max Robitzsch 1 week ago
Someone secretly wanted to build a dam but couldn't get a permit for a dam in an urban area?
#82
Athens, Greece. A Concrete Jungle
#83
An Ugly Building Drowning In Poverty In Göttingen (Germany)
Max Robitzsch 1 week ago
Well, it's neither pretty nor fancy, but what's poverty here? The fact that they don't own mechanical dryers?
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What do you think ?
martin734 1 week ago
I find places like this oppressive and soul destroying. I have lived almost all of my life in the countryside on the south coast of England, apart from when I was at university in London. I can appreciate the convenience that living in a large town or city can bring but for me, the downsides far outweigh the benefits. For contrast, there is a photo of where I live below.
Oskar vanZandt 1 week ago
I live at the edge of a council estate in an end terraced house with a large driveway and gardens front and back... Seeing these images makes me realise I need to be more grateful for what I have.
Bossy Bret 1 week ago
Makes me feel a little bit better about my town who is cutting down all of the trees to put in apartments (New York, NY)
martin734 1 week ago
I find places like this oppressive and soul destroying. I have lived almost all of my life in the countryside on the south coast of England, apart from when I was at university in London. I can appreciate the convenience that living in a large town or city can bring but for me, the downsides far outweigh the benefits. For contrast, there is a photo of where I live below.
Oskar vanZandt 1 week ago
I live at the edge of a council estate in an end terraced house with a large driveway and gardens front and back... Seeing these images makes me realise I need to be more grateful for what I have.
Bossy Bret 1 week ago
Makes me feel a little bit better about my town who is cutting down all of the trees to put in apartments (New York, NY)
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