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We’re pretty sure about one thing—nobody was born an architect. It takes years of study and practice to become an expert in the art, history, and engineering of the built world. Yet, some think that designing a house from the ground up is a task they can do themselves.
Even if we agree that architecture is subjective, sometimes there’s no denying the flaws people make. In fact, some home designs turned out so wrong, they’ve made their way into the You Should Have Hired An Architect Facebook group, which is showing why not hiring a professional is a mistake.
From weirdly shaped roofs to open concept toilets, take a look at some of the pictures we have collected from the group and make sure to upvote the most bizarre ones!
Also, scroll down for our interview with Allison Beer McKenzie, the admin of this Facebook group, where we talk about the errors people make when designing a home themselves and the benefits of hiring an expert.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Challenging Physics, Mathematics, Gravity, Engineering, Space, Time, Nasa, Einstein And The Holy Spirit!
RELATED:
#2
Nope. I Am, However, Impressed That Someone Took This Photo Without Being In It
Ryan Deschanel 3 years ago
You will get lost in your own corridor and you will starve to death.
In just a few months, the group has attracted more than 31.2K members who share some of the weirdest design fails every single day. According to the group’s description, much of the built environment in the United States is not designed by architects.
“This group is dedicated to examples of why that is a bad idea with occasional examples of why buildings designed by architects may be superior for variety.”
Bored Panda reached out to the admin, Allison Beer McKenzie, who is an architect and the director of sustainability at SHP Leading Design in Cincinnati, Ohio. She explained that there are mainly two reasons why many people choose to forgo hiring an architect.
#3
Home Of Brave
#4
It Looks Like Someone Couldn't Stop Adding Floors
rumade 3 years ago
This is amazing, I would totally live here. Looks like the exterior spiral staircase is an add on for fire safety
Izabela Wilson 3 years ago
You come safe but perfectly dizzy to the ground 😂😂😂
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Annie Bieber 3 years ago
Ah the good old days when it was okay to "Keep" elderly relatives in the attic 😶
J. Normal 3 years ago
I was actually thinking of the book "flowers in the attic".
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Octavia Hansen 3 years ago
Does this actually have a view of anything? The panorama could be breathtaking at that height. Here's hoping the outdoor spiral staircase is a safety feature and not the only way to the top.
Thorsten M. Weisner 3 years ago
I don't think this one is a disaster! I would like to live there! It look like it could move and talk!
Samantha Lomb 3 years ago
At least they have a fire escape. This is Eastern Europe somewhere and they often ignore safety regs.
Teresa Taylor 2 years ago
I like this. It's probably one of those properties that you pay taxes on the amount of land the dwelling occupies. You can have a 10 floor bldg with each floor having 500 sq ft and pay less taxes than a 1000 sq ft 2 floor building.
Stephen Watkins 2 years ago
When you Minecraft build isn't quite right and you're not sure what is missing so you just keep building
Mary 3 years ago
Wayy back sometime, a husband built his wife a castle. Except for that they couldn’t have the children they wanted so desperately to fill the house with youthful spirits. Hubby felt like such a failure (he was a General Practitioner in the community) and after years of drinking booze, feeling worthless, he jumped from the highest story of the house-not sure which one was the highest at that time but anyway, he left a sweet, faithful middle aged wife whose lived in the house until she passed away peacefully.
wist_the_goblin (they/he) 3 years ago
floor after floor, we don't know what's in store, another floor, then a floor, then a floooooor
Kathleen Hart 3 years ago
I hope that outside staircase isn't the only access to the top floors because trying to maneuver those outside steps in the snow & ice could be deadly.
Shelly Graham 3 years ago
We have a house here that's a double wide trailer which sure atop 3 stories, the bottom being a garage which is unusable because the structure has sunk leaving a 3 foot ledge to get in or out! They also surrounded themselves with a fence fashioned to look like giant pineapple's
Rebecca Gichuki 3 years ago
If you've read Keys to the Kingdom, this is a great depiction of The House.
Marie Miller-Rodriguez 3 years ago
Looks like a cake from one of those baking shoes that juuuuuuust didn’t turn out the way they planned…
Mari Bryant 3 years ago
I think this house is great, but the very top level looks like someone just set it down. I'm not a fan of how it overhangs. I wonder if it's even attached?? 🤔
Jennifer Hughes 3 years ago
When you only have a very small parcel of land, but want a large house.
Wesley Lucas 3 years ago
This looks like one of those houses you see in a cartoon or kid's movie, somewhere a quirky family might live!
Druth Vlodovic 3 years ago
It's like you can see a story of the rise and fall of someone's fortune from bottom to top. Industrial convert, fancy, Disney fancy, home is the woods, broken down shack.
Kaioz Fields 3 years ago (edited)
Willey Wonka's Boston getaway home!! (Cant spell it the correct way... It's censored)
Наталья Бабкина 3 years ago
It gave me a familiar vibe. Si I checked it out. It's in Tomsk, a city in Siberia.
Droopsnoot 3 years ago
Exvept the ugly orange-ish curtain, it looks awesome! Looks like so.ething from emily the strange
Hannah Kirtley 3 years ago
some places u only pay tax on the ground the house sits on (i think) so building UP is cheaper then building OUT
“One is definitely that they are cost-conscious or think they can’t afford an architect. The other, I believe, is they don’t know about or appreciate the value that an architect can bring to their house design,” she explained.
McKenzie continued: “This value can certainly include beautiful design but can also include things like a house that fits seamlessly onto the site it is on and is ideally designed for the climate it’s being built on.”
#5
This Is So Atrocious That I Just Realized There Are Two Dogs In The Front Yard
#6
Future Er Visit
Whether it’s creating a poor design, going way over the budget, or not meeting the current codes and standards, there are plenty of ways people can make errors without expert guidance.
The architect thinks that many of the mistakes people make when designing homes themselves “stem from the fact that most people have trouble thinking in three dimensions without training in how to do so. This often leads to houses with weird proportions or awkward connections between materials and elements.”
#7
What Should We Do With All This Space? More Toilets!
Mila Kulash 3 years ago
Isn't that nice. That way you can still spend precious time with your whole family while you're suffering from diarrhea. ❤️😂
McKenzie admits that some houses that are designed without the help of architects turn out fine. “However, building a house is probably the biggest investment you ever make and is going to require you to make hundreds of decisions in a condensed amount of time,” she said.
“Having an architect at your side to guide you through decisions ranging from where the house sits on the lot, to room size and location, to what color grout you want for your bathroom floor can help ensure that you end up with a result you love and maintain your sanity!”
#9
Accident Waiting To Happen
#10
Murder Vibes
#11
Boob Lights
#12
My Ocd Is Having A Breakdown
PandaGoPanda 3 years ago
Trouble is, that first thought is immediately followed by a second thought, and a third, and a fourth ...
According to architect Bill Whittaker, hiring a professional might seem like an unnecessary expense for your building project. Yet, an expert can bring quality, professional design, and project management to “help you complete a beautiful building on budget and schedule.”
He provides several reasons why you should hire an architect instead of tackling challenges all by yourself. First, when it comes to the design, they help your house to have a consistent flow and comfort.
#13
Huh. Never Seen A Commercial Toilet Partition In A Single Family Home Before
#14
Figured You Guys Would Get A Kick Out Of It
#15
Such A Welcoming Front Door. This Gets Worse The Longer I Look At It
“An architect provides a professional design that takes the client’s preferences into account, along with building codes, and good design practices to create the best possible space for your project.”
Next, experts can efficiently manage a construction site and “ensure that everything is being completed according to the current codes and standards.” The same goes for the budget. It’s easy to get distracted and spend extra on things you don’t actually need or to cover up the mistakes you made.
#16
Bathroom Carpet
Andy Acceber 3 years ago
That's not carpet. That's clearly moss growing on the natural water feature. ;-) /s
#17
Eeeek! But Whyyyyy
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago (edited)
There's something oddly touching about that new pack of screwdrivers, as though the owner wants to fix the problem but, by golly, they're going to do it themselves despite having no DIY skills
#18
Hope Your Guests Are Observant
“Architects help keep communication clear and can steer the project in the right direction to keep costs where they are originally projected,” Whittaker explained.
Still, if you’re really determined to self-design your home, you should consider starting out small. Plan and build a treehouse or a shed, or maybe a dollhouse for the kids. And if you notice that there are some blunders you make along the way, you should probably reach out to an architect for your bigger future projects.
#19
New Construction In Dallas. "Interesting" Roof
#20
World's Smallest Island
#21
Solitary Stove
#22
Too Many Turrets
#23
Multitasking Too Hard
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
Vault straight out of bed into the tub, then nurse your injuries in the comfy rocking chair
#24
This....
#25
Open Concept Toilet
#26
Kitchen Tub
#27
Wtf Is Up With That Railing?
#28
Addition? What Addition?
#29
This Is A Luxury Hotel In My City (São Paulo, Brazil)
When it was built, everybody was like “ooooh, what an AMAZING piece of architecture!!!!”. It’s supposed to look like a ship, but all I can see is a rotten slice of watermelon. A boyfriend at the time, who was an architect, called me crazy for saying it’s ugly. Am I? It’s called Hotel Unique in case anyone wants to look up and see how weird the rooms look. They have a window between the bed and the bathroom. As for me, I can only see pictures, because it’s insanely expensive to stay there
#30
Universal Design At Its Finest
#31
Silly Shutters
#32
Glad This Is The Back
#33
Driving Down The Street In The Very Fashionable And Pricy West Loop Of Chicago. I Literally Had To Stop Dead In My Tracks To Comprehend And Then Photograph This. So Very Much Wrong
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
"Available soon: unique apartments at GIRAFFE TOWERS! Book a viewing NOW as this opportunity CANNOT LAST!!"
#34
I Have To Give Them Credit For Utilizing All Of Those Awkward Spaces
Final score:
160points
#35
The Next Evolution Of Barn Doors Looks Captivating
Samantha Lomb 3 years ago
It's a jail cell door. And looks big enough for kids and pets to get their heads stuck in
#36
A Man's Boat Is His Castle!
#37
This Isn't Ideal
#38
The Only Way This Could Be Worse, I Think, Is If There Was A Sleeping Tawny-Colored Cat Right On The Middle Step
#40
I Feel Like The Mason Had A Bad Day Near The Beginning
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
"Dave, we really shouldn't have let the apprentice work unsupervised. Just knock it down and start again." "Nah, they'll never notice"
#41
If You’re Going To Insist On A Classical Column Wrap, At Least Align The Capital Correctly
#42
Neck Pain And A Head Injury Anyone?
#43
Summoning Infinity
#44
Elevation Challenged
#45
It Might Be A Cyclops
Chintan Shah 3 years ago
We have a front door, we just don't want anyone to visit us so we had the architect remove the walkway leading to it...
#46
Listed For $1 Million In Austin, Texas (This Is The Front)
#47
This Is A House In Tuscaloosa, Al. It's Near The Uofa Campus, I Assume They Had A Small Lot And Wanted Cram As Many College Kids On It As Possible
Mila Kulash 3 years ago
That kinda looks like the Amityville Horror House's little sister, who's just as psycho as her older brother. So is her chihuahua, who's right to her in this picture, btw...
#48
Or At Least Someone Who Wasn't Drunk!
I don't mind the painted brick (it's very common in charming old houses in northern Germany - although they tend to be bright white, rather than purple) but the chimney isn't an eye pleaser. Maybe they wanted to draw the attention off it with the crooked porch? They definitely succeeded in that!
Dorothy Parker 3 years ago
The entry's peaked roofed is indeed askew and awry. And easy to fix.
#49
Tub On Wheels
#50
Architects In Philly
#51
I Just… I… I Have No Words
#52
Windows Not Included
#53
Niche Nightmare
#54
I Think Someone Had A Few Too Many Ideas. Pro Tip: Pick A Few And Make Them Good
#56
Whatever This Is
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
For sale, one careless owner, hot tub has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected
#57
What, Exactly, Are You Supposed To Do With That Bizarre Space Behind The Tub?
#58
I Adore The Juxtaposition Of The Welcome Sign And The Barred Windows And Door
#59
Ran Out Of Room
#60
Performance Platform
#61
Thank Goodness The Kitchen Ceiling Looks Like A Wagon Wheel To Tie Everything Together
#62
Conjoined Gables
#63
Clearly “Less Is More” Was Not The Theory Here
#64
Is It Just Me, Or Does This Have A Face?
#65
Cruise Ship Vibes
#66
You Get A Niche! And You Get A Niche! Everybody Gets A Niche!
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
"We're going to put Grandma on the left, Grandad on the right and Uncle Mark in the middle. Honestly, those niches could have been designed for urns"
#67
So Many Barn Doors
#68
Batchroom Stairs
#69
Mannequins
#70
I’m Assuming This Is The Proposed Set For The Newest Dystopian TV Series
#71
The Way The Front Turret Roof Meets The Main Roof Is Criminal
#72
Not Sure I Would Want The Room Above That Chimney
#73
I Want An Island In The Kitchen That Really Stands Out. -Say No More
Got Myself 4 Dwarves 3 years ago
I wouldn’t mind this, I’d stick my two youngest and husband the other side to keep them out my way while I’m busy since they’re always standing in front of whatever it is I need - it’s like a wee jail for the spectators
#75
Kitchen Work Zigzag
Got Myself 4 Dwarves 3 years ago
Still better layout than my kitchen. Previous owners thought it was a great idea to put a huge breakfast bar across the room - it’s pretty big but that just eats up so much space, plus the oven/hob are on the opposite side from the sink so cooking a meal feels like your running laps of the kitchen, it’s so annoying. Can’t wait to get it redone when I’m not so poor
#76
Lots Going On Here. Not Much Of It Is Good
#77
What Do You Think Is In The Protuberances?
#78
The Whole Space Is Bad, But For Me The Light Fixtures Are The Most Ridiculous
#79
Sad Thing Is, They Did Hire One
#80
I Can’t Help But Think That This House Is Having An Identity Crisis
#81
If You’re Going To Design For The Zombie Apocalypse That’s A Weird Garage Door Choice
Chintan Shah 3 years ago
This is perfect for my car that can make a sharp 90° angle left turn into the garage
#82
Double Decker Colums
#83
Lick And Stick "Stone"
#84
Clumsy Columns
#85
Ugh. At Least Make The Dormers And Downspouts Symmetrical
#86
There’s Potentially A Situation Where A Shipping Container House Could Work (Though I Can’t Think Of One). This Is Definitely Not It, However
#87
Can't Find The Center
#88
Just Had To Have That Extra Three Feet Of Countertop And Cabinets
#89
I Feel Like This House Has A Place In This Group
#90
For Just Under 2.6m, You Could Take A Relaxing Bath With Your Head Resting Comfortably Next To The Commode In This Custom Waterfront New Construction Home
#91
Pocket Doors Are A Crime. Pocket Doors On A Water Closet Without A Lock Gets You A Helicopter Ride
#92
"Stone"
#93
This Kitchen Has Clearly Been Sent To The Corner For A Timeout
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Random Anon 3 years ago
Nearly half of these are really fine and a matter of tastes. There are some really impractical and some downright murderous ones though.
Leonard Yeo 3 years ago
Most readers appear to be assuming that these less than ideal design features were designed by amateurs, but a number could have been professionally designed by qualified architects and interior designers. I've seen professionally designed buildings and interiors that are completely unaesthetic.
Ryan Deschanel 3 years ago
Many of these pictures have already been seen on this site a lot in the past, and many other are just not that bad.
Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago
All those big, wide, open rooms...they beg to be made into a jam room. They just really need a band and some folks to play for.
Lavender Oak 3 years ago
Why was I picturing people making jam in a dedicated room 🤭
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Louise Martin 3 years ago
These all appear to be either the result of a greedy builder with no skill or a designer who has no talent and way too much cash. So sad when there are people actually going to bed hungry.
RandomBeing 3 years ago
I love the really bizarre ones and would totally live in one of them as long as there wasn't a worry about building quality.
Random Anon 3 years ago
Nearly half of these are really fine and a matter of tastes. There are some really impractical and some downright murderous ones though.
Leonard Yeo 3 years ago
Most readers appear to be assuming that these less than ideal design features were designed by amateurs, but a number could have been professionally designed by qualified architects and interior designers. I've seen professionally designed buildings and interiors that are completely unaesthetic.
Ryan Deschanel 3 years ago
Many of these pictures have already been seen on this site a lot in the past, and many other are just not that bad.
Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago
All those big, wide, open rooms...they beg to be made into a jam room. They just really need a band and some folks to play for.
Lavender Oak 3 years ago
Why was I picturing people making jam in a dedicated room 🤭
Load More Replies... Louise Martin 3 years ago
These all appear to be either the result of a greedy builder with no skill or a designer who has no talent and way too much cash. So sad when there are people actually going to bed hungry.
RandomBeing 3 years ago
I love the really bizarre ones and would totally live in one of them as long as there wasn't a worry about building quality.
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