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Not every building is as beautiful as the Palace of Versailles. Or blends into its surroundings as well as the Macallan Distillery. On the contrary, there are many structures across the world looking like outcasts that will fall apart during the next storm. In some places, they aren't isolated examples, either — even an entire neighborhood can be an abomination. And you can find them on r/UrbanHell.

It's a photography subreddit of "all the hideous places human beings built or inhabit." The online community invites everyone who wants to explore the darker side of the cities, towns, and villages in our shared world and welcomes any photos which show either ugliness, or a problem in urban development. Rural and suburban nightmares are also allowed.

Below you will find a collection of pics that perfectly describe what this subreddit is all about.

#1

The Annual Monsoon Ritual Of Mumbai's Ocean Giving Back What Has Been Dumped In It

The Annual Monsoon Ritual Of Mumbai's Ocean Giving Back What Has Been Dumped In It

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

If only nature could actually give back all the trash to us, maybe we will see the damage we are doing :(

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About half of the global population already lives in cities, and by 2050, two-thirds of the world's people are expected to live in urban areas. But as you can see from some of the photos in r/UrbanHell, in cities, two of the most pressing problems facing the world today also come together: poverty and environmental degradation.

Bad urban development isn't just ugly aesthetics. It's also poor air and water quality, insufficient water availability, waste-disposal problems, and high energy consumption, all of which are exacerbated by the increasing population density and demands of urban environments. Strong city planning is essential in managing these and other difficulties as the world's urban areas grow.

#3

New Delhi - During Lockdown vs. Now

New Delhi - During Lockdown vs. Now

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

For a few months earth took a breath, then humans came back with a vengeance :(

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Some of the biggest problems caused by urbanization are:

  • Intensive urban growth can lead to greater poverty, with local governments unable to provide services for all people;
  • Concentrated energy use. It leads to greater air pollution with a significant impact on human health;
  • Automobile exhaust produces elevated lead levels in urban air;
  • Large volumes of uncollected waste create multiple health hazards;
  • Urban development can magnify the risk of environmental hazards such as flash flooding;
  • Pollution and physical barriers to root growth promote loss of urban tree cover;
  • Animal populations are inhibited by toxic substances, vehicles, and the loss of habitat and food sources.
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#7

It's Baffling How Fast It Changes

It's Baffling How Fast It Changes

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Solutions might include:

  • Combat poverty by promoting economic development and job creation;
  • Involve local community in local government;
  • Reduce air pollution by upgrading energy use and alternative transport systems;
  • Create private-public partnerships to provide services such as waste disposal and housing;
  • Plant trees and incorporate the care of city green spaces as a key element in urban planning.

Ultimately, cities can bring us obstacles and opportunities as well as freedom and captivity, and it's up to us to get the most out of them.

#9

People Offering Prayers At River Yamuna, India, Which Is Frothing From Industrial Waste

People Offering Prayers At River Yamuna, India, Which Is Frothing From Industrial Waste

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

And none of these fools has the sense to even consider that bathing in industrial waste speeds up your reincarnation process.

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#10

Hotel In Łodz, Poland

Hotel In Łodz, Poland

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

Its not a nuclear cooling tower. It is for a heating, electric and hotwater generating plant ( TETS in Russian) most are coal or gas powered and that is for releasing steam.

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

This powerplant is closed for years now. But yes, the whole city of Łódź has a simmilar vibe and actually... that's why I fell in love with this place :)

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

Poland is beautiful. ALL cities and towns have horrible buildings.

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

Poland is beautiful only with its nature and views. Polish cities are concrete, mediocrity, dirt and "the cheapest cost, as long as it was". What are you talking about ??? You want to show such infantile local patriotism? You're so funny. In Poland, only the old towns of the cities are nice.

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AspieGirl88
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg, LOL! Loved that movie. Rik Mayall was one of the best comedians of his time, for sure. It was him wearing the kinky red rubber knickers that had me crying tears of laughter, though!💀😂

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

It is a fake - EC-II is the first of three combined heat and power plants built in Łódź after the war. The unit was designed to operate in the so-called collector system (8 boilers, 6 turbine sets). The construction process took place in the years 1955-1960. In 1960, as a result of merging the CHP plant with Łódź Power Plant, the Complex of CHP Plants in Łódź was established. In the following years the expansion continued (1 steam boiler, 1 turbine set and 2 water boilers fired with mazout). In 2006, as a result of restructuring and ownership transformations, the CHP plant became a plant owned by Dalkia Łódź S.A. Electric power was 87 MW and thermal power 578 MWt. The CHP plant supplies process steam and steam for heating purposes as well as hot water to the city areas including factories. In 2011, due to the decrease in heat demand from industrial factories, a decision was made to decommission the CHP plant by mid-2015.

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

I might be the only person on BP who finds these cooling towers mysterious, and beautiful in a way...

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

Surprise, I agree with you! :) There is something amazing about this tower, that serene vastness of it, more guarding than threatening...

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

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see how that first picture could hide something that large.

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

Current images show that it’s pretty much abandoned; overgrown & neglected, not even fully fenced off from public access. The pub on the corner though - complete knock-down/rebuild. Looks fantastic now, but still has the scary/gloomy background. Most recent Google maps - https://goo.gl/maps/e32TqSMSoBfpyAmVA

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

This pic is fake. The ( closed for a few years) power plant was there before the hotel building was built.

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

This powerplant is out of service since 2015 (EC-2 Lodz city)

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

I love that people are totally missing the point with this. It's not whether the the heat/power plant is still active today, it's just UGLY. Besides which, at one point ECII WAS operational.

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Tata Ludwiczka
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Im from Lodz, This is cooling steam tower. The other chimneys are inactive most of the decade. After all, there is no smoke from them in the photo and at all becouse the power plant is inactive

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Barry Scott
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is a power plant, decommissioned but nuclear from all accounts, it's named the Victoria Power Plant. https://www.urbex-travel.com/power-plant-lodz/

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Carrie Kelly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The green paint on it below...reminds me of a very creepy funeral home and the tower for crematorium....just saying...

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Bartek Biedrzycki
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually it's Łódź. All the letters are funny, cause Ł is pronounced like W, ó I pronounced like oo nad ź is soft, softer than j. Now you know.

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

Also...... Wouldn't it be amazing if they made some creative painting / street art ( sorry forgot the name of the can paint haha) on it???

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

I must admit...this photographer is reallyyy good at his job 😅

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

It’s all about perspective! And location … it’s also about location. 😉

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

Would be better with before and after dates. The after photo shows how hideous ill thought out building and city planning can ruin an idyllic setting.

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

If they just painted the plant it wouldn't look so bad ;-;

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

I remeber playing a WW2 Nazi vs Soviet tablet game that had Lodz on it.

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

The hotel owner makes the place attractive but the rest of the world says no.

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

This photographer did a fantastic job editing out the background!

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

Looks like the bottom photo is the one that’s PHOTOSHOPPED, not the other way around

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

cool https://www.google.com/maps/@51.7395683,19.4519383,3a,75y,306.09h,88.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-QHAdlGh3qqVBoBM-L92VA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

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

Even the plants that were there on the balcony have disappeared as a sign of protest against this sight pollution (and, of course, air pollution). However, these probably are necessary evils.

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

On the plus side, they won’t run out of hot water for a long time.

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

The top photo is probably on the hotels brochure, and web site.

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Farid Red
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why i always check with google street view before i got somewhere new. NEVER EVER FOREVER EVER believe picture from hotel booking site.

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

There is Technical University of Lodz campus on the other side of this heating plant. I've been living there as a student for couple of years. The plant itself wasn't so bad. We had a dyeworks close to our dormitory windows which used to stink a lot. Stench was was, so intensive that eyes start to prickle. Yep, Lodz is so ugly.

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Tata Ludwiczka
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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F. H.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, a picture from the old web. How did someone find it in such a high resolution.

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

I'd like a hotel with a really good hot water supply....well I've got the place for you!

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

next nuclear meltdown coming ... would you like the Continental breakfast with that?

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

Something about that green... its the same color as insulation panels in the US. Makes this look under construction to me. Also agree not a nuclear tower, just a cooling tower.

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Eva the Egg
Community Member
2 years ago

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Come to our hotel restaraunt! We have radiation chips and make the best tocic pie

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#11

An Interesting Perspective I've Stumbled Upon In Macau A Year Ago

An Interesting Perspective I've Stumbled Upon In Macau A Year Ago

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Raven Sheridan
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The difference between the have's and the have not's, in one photo.

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#12

Petare, Venezuela

Petare, Venezuela

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#13

Before And After A Desert Is Turned Into A Soulless Suburb Of A Desert. Jk, Its A Single Photo Of Arizona

Before And After A Desert Is Turned Into A Soulless Suburb Of A Desert. Jk, Its A Single Photo Of Arizona

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

The water waste hurts. Why do you want lawns in a desert? If you want green lawns, move to England (no offense, England. You have the rainfall, is all.)

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#14

Not A Very Romantic Scene

Not A Very Romantic Scene

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

Blame your government’s. This is their fault . They buy rubbish from countries and do not dispose of it correctly.

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#15

Naples, Italy

Naples, Italy

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

Just imagine, a few decades or hundred years ago somebody built a nice villa, and now with the urbanisation the whole thing is under a highway..

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#16

People Living Next To A Helicoidal Street In Chongqing

People Living Next To A Helicoidal Street In Chongqing

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#17

Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong. Comparison Of 1964 - 2016.

Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong. Comparison Of 1964 - 2016.

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#18

Electrical Wiring And Water Pipes In A Brazilian Favela

Electrical Wiring And Water Pipes In A Brazilian Favela

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Sonja
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yeah, I saw this one already somewhere here on BP. Would like to see the guy who would try to find which wire or pipe is the one with problem

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#19

Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa

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

As a South African, I know this is not true... we also have electric fences along with what is shown.

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#20

Literally, Just Thanksgiving Traffic In La

Literally, Just Thanksgiving Traffic In La

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#21

Private Houses On The Roof Of An Eight-Story Mall In Zhūzhōu, China

Private Houses On The Roof Of An Eight-Story Mall In Zhūzhōu, China

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#22

Cairo, Egypt

Cairo, Egypt

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Lekha
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a single tree in sight (Ok, realised that's very normal there. My bad)

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#23

Downtown Seattle, In The Heart Of The Retail District

Downtown Seattle, In The Heart Of The Retail District

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

I don't understand how the US can have money to make bombers but not to help citizens who need help.

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#24

Progressive Insurance's Call Center

Progressive Insurance's Call Center

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#26

Ghost City In China, Made To Be A Replica Of Paris - Tianducheng

Ghost City In China, Made To Be A Replica Of Paris - Tianducheng

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#27

All Residents Of Whittier, Alaska Live Inside One Building

All Residents Of Whittier, Alaska Live Inside One Building

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James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was a whole BP post about this. A rail company owns most of the land so no-one can do anything.

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#29

One More Lane Will Fix It

One More Lane Will Fix It

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

In my country the biggest highway is 3 lanes. No city has more than 3 lanes. And we consider it an achievement. I am amazed at this picture honestly!

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#30

Somewhere In Brazil In The 90's

Somewhere In Brazil In The 90's

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M O'Connell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@WilvanderHeidjen They absolutely are homeless. They are squatting in a utilities access cabinet.

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#31

Baghdad Between Then And Now!

Baghdad Between Then And Now!

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#32

Billionnaire Vijay Mallya's Mansion Atop A Skyscraper In Bangalore, India

Billionnaire Vijay Mallya's Mansion Atop A Skyscraper In Bangalore, India

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#34

Dubai, The Hollow City Of Artificiality

Dubai, The Hollow City Of Artificiality

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

I will never understand the lure of Dubai, it's a giant soulless shopping mall for rich people. They can have it, it's tacky and ugly.

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#36

Mirny In Siberia, Russia

Mirny In Siberia, Russia

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

All of those houses and infrastructure was built die to that mine . It’s still a working mine right now . Giving ppl jobs homes lives

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#37

Ah, Good Old Car Culture...

Ah, Good Old Car Culture...

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Red rockin lobster
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not an urban nightmare (whichever you're reffering to). Also, it's like comparing a clouds and grapes

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#38

Block 23, New Belgrade, Serbia

Block 23, New Belgrade, Serbia

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

At least they have friendly neighbours. My neighbor wouldn’t take my washing in . 😆

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#39

16-Lane Highway Built Through The Downtown Where A Market Square Used To Be In Moscow, Russia

16-Lane Highway Built Through The Downtown Where A Market Square Used To Be In Moscow, Russia

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

Again context is great. This was done to facilitate troop movements quickly in and out of the capital which proved vital in WWII as the soldiers from Siberia crossed Red Square in the May Day parades and went straight to the front lines to repel the Nazis. The French similarly built huge boulevards in Paris to facilitate troop movements and to keep people from being able to build barricades, which is a French national tradition.

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#40

Nobody: Southwest Us Developers:

Nobody: Southwest Us Developers:

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Olivier Caissy
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Out of curiosity, for what it is, why is it not more square, why all the bends?

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Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

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