Constructing a building is no small feat. It takes lots of planning, lots of manpower, and can be quite costly. In fact, putting together any sort of structure is a challenge that not everyone can excel in. So, in a way, it’s no surprise that people make mistakes, it’s only natural. However, laughing at those mistakes is also as natural, if not more so.
The people responsible for the list below definitely made mistakes. Whether they were constructing, designing, installing, improving, or in any other way working on a construction, they didn’t do it right. More precisely, they failed. In some cases, majorly. And the people from the Facebook group Worst Construction Fails Everrrrrr kindly compiled all of those failures into one big list of laugh-out-loud construction comedy. So, get those safety goggles on, because you might be blown away by the sheer lack of competence.
This post may include affiliate links.
Come, Children. Play On The "Slide Down To Hell"
If you think people started cutting corners during construction in the last century or so, you are awfully mistaken. Back in 27 AD, as in, almost 2,000 years ago, a wooden amphitheater collapsed in Fidenae, near Rome. It happened after the gladiator fight ban was lifted and more than 50,000 people flocked to the theatre to see one.
Atilius, the entrepreneur that constructed the building, apparently was a bit too stingy with materials which caused a tragedy that resulted in 20,000 deaths and many more injuries. After the collapse, the government limited event hosting to people that had a capital of 400,000 coins or more. To this day, this is the worst structural disaster in history.
Clever, Really Clever
How Do You Allow This?
The most famous construction failure that attracts millions of tourists each year is, of course, the captivating Leaning Tower of Pisa. The project was doomed from the beginning in 1178 when it was decided that a 10-feet foundation built on unstable soil will be sufficient enough to hold the whole construction. No wonder the tower started leaning the moment they began working on the second floor.
But they didn’t abandon the project. Instead, they took a 55-year break to let the soil settle and continued working on it. Talk about determination. In an effort to compensate for the lean, they adjusted the walls of the upper floors to be taller on one side. That is why the tower has a slight curve. The tower was finished in 1372 or 194 years after the beginning of the project.
The Handicap Bathroom Please?... Oh, It's Up The Stairs
How Do I Get Out Of Here?!
Smart Move
And the trouble, of course, didn’t end there. For years following the construction, people made numerous efforts to keep the tower from falling over. Many didn’t make any improvements while some even worsened the situation. In the end, the stabilization project conducted from 1990 to 2001 was successful. The engineers claim that the tower should stand for another 200 years.
Ironically, the soft foundations that caused for the tower to lean protected it from earthquake damage. The tower withstood strong tremors at least four times.
Useful
I Hope There Is Never A Fire At This Place
Another structure that suffered due to cutting costs was Tacoma Narrows Bridge that collapsed in 1940, just four months after it was opened to public use. The original design of the bridge intended the use of standard materials. However, they were proven to be too expensive, costing more than 200 million dollars in today’s money. So, a lighter and cheaper option was chosen instead. Unfortunately, this made the suspension bridge twist and buckle on windy days. On November 7th, a 40mph wind hit the structure causing the support cables to snap, and for the bridge to drop into the river below.
Lotus Riverside Shanghai
The building collapsed because an underground garage was being excavated. The earth was being dumped on the side by the river. Heavy rains meant there was more pressure on the riverside. The garage side has not been reinforced, and the building collapsed. Totally foreseeable, and totally preventable.
Don't Turn That Fan On!
Closed Means Closed
A rather hilarious construction failure happened in Las Vegas hotel Vdara back in 2010. This time, the fail was related to hotel’s design. The surface of the curved south side of the building reflected the sunlight into one intense beam of light and heat creating what people started calling a “death ray.” And, so it happens, this death ray was hitting the pool deck of the building, alarming the guests. The hotel rushed to solve the problem by installing large umbrellas by the pool and covering the glass with non-reflective film.
Mother Nature Hits Again
I Like Pines,,,don't You?
Most Useful Garage In The World
Someone totally misunderstood the concept of using a garage door as an opening wall. Such as: kitchen-wi...e10793.jpg
Their kid's band needed some place to practice, so they just built this on.
For those who always wanted to know how Colt Seavers would probably park his Jeep when he gets home....
they were planning ahead for the flying cars of the future!! they might need to wait a while longer though...
What makes the previous story even funnier, though, is that the same architect made a similar “death ray” building across the pond, in London. The surface of the so-called “Walkie-Talkie” sky scraper would reflect the scorching light to the nearby street causing tile breakage and melting plastic in window displays. The heat also caused damage to a car parked on the street nearby. The journalists looking into this bizarre occurrence even managed to fry an egg on the sidewalk using the heat.
Almost, Man. Almost
Allo
I Saw Lots Of Those, My God
They only replaced one handle, probably a broken one, and didn't bother matching the design (or couldn't find the same, because it was probably premounted on the door to begin with.)
All that is to say that even professionals make mistakes. So, if there’s something important in your house that needs fixing or remodeling, maybe don’t attempt to do it yourself—it’s hard. And thoroughly vet the professionals you’re hiring. No one needs another door that leads to nowhere.
We had a door at the back of our house like that,in Ontario Canada.For when the snow gets so deep that you can still get out.
Oh Don't Tell Me You Didn't Play This Game Before
Outch
He Said Fix It The Other Way
Still Wondering How They Get Robbed
Another Virtual Gate
Well
Helloooooo
Nevermind
Yes I could turn it around but it's clocking off time so it's not my job
No Problem
You Choose
Perfect For Stretch Armstrong
I’ve been to ones like this when I was little. Nearly cried because I couldn’t reach it
Clever
Horrible Construction
Really?
The accessibility ramp seems to have been added afterwards (presumably in response to legislation). Even if the door can be opened inwards that is still an extremely tight angle for someone to try and turn in a wheelchair or mobility scooter
Wow...privacy
Also, Wheelchairs Probably Have Rockets Attached To Them
If the ramp was where the stairs are - and the stairs where the ramp is... wouldn't be a problem
The Contractors Want You To Go Off-Roading
Interesting Entrance
Yeah I Bet It's Better This Way
I Hope You're Brave Because There's Only One Way Across
What would be great is if the white fence could be pivoted horizontally to fill that gap.
Don't You Love It?
Silly Man, This ATM Is For Hobbits Only...try The Previous One No One Would Be Able To See Your Pin :)
Close Enough
Maybe They Put In The Door Later
When You Gotta’ Go, You Gotta’ Go
I would bet this is a very old building. The standard offset for a toilet f****e has been 12" for quite a long while, but before that it could be anything from 8" to 18" depending on the manufacturer. Toilets with odd offsets are now very expensive because you'll pay $500 extra to not have to tear up the floor in your bathroom to install a new toilet. Or you can install one sideways, or with a giant gap behind it.
Cool
Mother Nature Hits Again
"Frank, We'll Put Half The Lights In Here And The Other Half Elsewhere. It'll Be So Aesthetically Pleasing."
Wheelchairs Can Go Up Steps, Right?
Yes, if you have one of those really expensive ones with tank treads.
Clever
This is what happens when architects don't verify their design against building codes. Hand rail spacing is important for accessibility. Per IBC "All portions of the stairway width required for egress capacity are to be within 30" of a handrail."
Ohhhh Cute,,,,until
Euhhh...well
Chimneys Belong In Front Of Windows. That's Just A Fact
When You Don't Have Enough Space, Just Go Off The Wall. Who Cares?
Euh,,,decor
Who Knows
It's Safer To Roll Down The Stairs
Which Door Shall You Choose?
Don't You Like It ?
Bridge Of Pointlessness
Reallyyyy
Closed
Woohoooooo
Would Be Interesting If They Use Tap Water For Flushing ...no?
Yup He Needs One
This Is What You Do When Someone Asks For Palm Trees
A New Wave Of Faucets: Now You Have To Work For Clean Hands
We Wish To Inconvenience You By Placing This Pole In A Completely Pointless Place
You Shall Not Pass, Citizen, For This Gate Stands In Your Way
You Won't Need It Anyway
He Told Him A Half-Bath...yup
Just A Joke Folks,,,,he Parks His Helicopter There
The Best Seat In The House
No Window Shoppers Allowed
You'll Never Escape This Class. Ever
Want To Escape? Jump!
Here, Let Me Place This Electrical Outlet Right Underneath The Gutter
Bicycle Obstacle Course
You Don't Need To Lift The Seat Up You Know
Yes I Told You...we Don't Need Stairs
A Footrail
You're Not Sure ? They Said
Now Don't Tell Me You Can't????
Cool
Stoplights: The Game
Don't Buy A Level, He Said. It'll Be Fine, He Said
Don't Worry, This Kind Of Mistake Happens To Everyone
Don't Panic,,,it's Only A Design
In Case Of Emergencies: Fall To Your Death
I'm Still Trying To Wrap My Head Around This One. What Even Happened?
"Where The Stairs End," The Lesser Known Shel Silverstein Book
Yes Told You...bricks Are The New Windows
Mother Nature: 3 Architects: 0
Wait,are You Complaining?
very common and useful in small spaces, we have become too used to washing our hands in the equivalent of an Olympic pool :)
No Prob Ma'am,,,you Don't Need The Dishwasher Anyway
Some Pple Just Loveeee Those Doors
Men Upstairs
Having been in spaces like this it's a service crawlspace. They have refrigeration equipment up there for ice machines, etc.
Who Needs Stairs When You Can Just Fall?
I Saw Lot's Of Those,,,believe Me
Welllll...landscaping?
It's the law you must have a ramp...but we don't need one....but it's the law....but we don't need one. but it's the law......
Whatever
Shhhh...virtual Gate
Really??????
You Won't Need It Anyway
Eh....well...euh...... No Idea
Well
Further Proof That High Schools Are From Hell
Mother Nature: 1 Architects: 0
Waitttt, Mother Nature: 2 Architects: 0
Bricks Are The New Windows
probably another example of a leftover result of the old "window tax" in England, Scotland, and France
It's Hot In There
I give a pass to some of these because they look like they are a product of a retrofit/renovation rather than an initial construction fail (like…most people are not going to rip out an entire concrete stair just because they closed in a door.) A lot of these, sadly, are the product of bad communication and lack of firing synapses. Architecture and construction is a chess game - you have to always be thinking three moves ahead.
Shocking how many of these are public places that the local government is in charge of!
Or the old timey way of loading carts or trucks, there would be a rudimentary lift system within the building to raise barrels or other items up, the truck or cart would back up, the door opened and chute extended onto its bed and the barrels were rolled down, easier to fill from above than trying to roll barrels up from the ground
Load More Replies...I give a pass to some of these because they look like they are a product of a retrofit/renovation rather than an initial construction fail (like…most people are not going to rip out an entire concrete stair just because they closed in a door.) A lot of these, sadly, are the product of bad communication and lack of firing synapses. Architecture and construction is a chess game - you have to always be thinking three moves ahead.
Shocking how many of these are public places that the local government is in charge of!
Or the old timey way of loading carts or trucks, there would be a rudimentary lift system within the building to raise barrels or other items up, the truck or cart would back up, the door opened and chute extended onto its bed and the barrels were rolled down, easier to fill from above than trying to roll barrels up from the ground
Load More Replies...