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.
Challenging Physics, Mathematics, Gravity, Engineering, Space, Time, Nasa, Einstein And The Holy Spirit!
Nope. I Am, However, Impressed That Someone Took This Photo Without Being In It
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.
Home Of Brave
It Looks Like Someone Couldn't Stop Adding Floors
“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.”
This Is So Atrocious That I Just Realized There Are Two Dogs In The Front Yard
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.”
What Should We Do With All This Space? More Toilets!
Isn't that nice. That way you can still spend precious time with your whole family while you're suffering from diarrhea. ❤️😂
Lack Of Alignment
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!”
Accident Waiting To Happen
Murder Vibes
Boob Lights
My Ocd Is Having A Breakdown
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.
Huh. Never Seen A Commercial Toilet Partition In A Single Family Home Before
You mean other than the 12 in/30 cm gap below the door?
Load More Replies...
I'm surprised its not in the kitchen like some of the pictures I've seen on other panda lists like this.
I'd have made it a pay toilet just to piss people off. Put a sign on it that says "I don't give a good s**t for nothing!"
Left corner of the pic you mean? I assume washing machine and dryer stacked.
Load More Replies...
Someone really doesnt like being walked in on while they use the toilet.
It might have been a group home or something. My friends bought a house that used to be a small group home for people getting out of abusive relationships so there was a stall around the toilet for privacy since the bathroom also had laundry.
Exactly... I was in an alcohol recovery home that had a bthrm designed like that several yrs ago...............still sober 🙂
Load More Replies...
Ok but this makes sense,if it’s a big family and someone needs to go to the bathroom and someone needs to brush their teeth or something
The partition makes perfect sense since someone might need to use that stackable washer/dryer unit while someone else is using the toilet. Think, people lol
everybody laughs at the three toilets in a row, then everyone laughs at a toilet partition.
And what looks like washer dryer in the bathroom...which may explain the toilet partition.
Let's count how many people can use this bathroom at the same time & still have some semblance of privacy.
Before my parents remodeled, the kids'/guest bath had a feature like this. It was smoked glass instead of metal and didn't lock (just clicked shut). It looks like they updated the vanity, but I hate the idea of a laundry in the bathroom.
Um, to my knowledge, there are definitely not shared/community bathroom situations in any multifamily home I've ever been in, either.....
This is a good idea for moms. I used to have both kids, my best friend, AND the 2 cats follow me into the bathroom.
I thought on the left that that was a fridge and I was going to say...maybe that's why the bathroom is in a stall. Nothing like having a toilet right near your food. Then I realized it was the washer/dryer lol. Even still, kind of weird. For those moments you want to be in your home bathroom but still want to feel like you're at McDonalds...
Ok but is that a stacking washer/dryer? Or a refrigerator on the left?
Maybe it's not a single family home(?) Idk maybe a gym bathroom? (With the shower) Just a thought HA
We are all just going to ignore the fact that there is also a refrigerator in this bathroom??
Nm. I think it is a stackable washer and dryer. The toilet stall though...I bet the man who owns the house with the three toilets is related to the man that owns this bathroom.
Load More Replies...
I kinda like it. Can't have too much privacy when you're using the toilet lol
Well, this way if son has to go to the bathroom, Mom can continue doing laundry.. Or vice versa. Not sure which would be more disgusting.
This looks like someone's attempt at furnishing a home in The Sims but they're too low on money and can't remember the motherlode or rosebud cheat 🤣
What is the pull bar on the OUTSIDE of the shower for..to hang yourself?😄😄😄
Partitioned toilet stalls but a see-through shower. Makes perfect sense.
Is anybody else remembering that episode of Friends with Chandler trapped in a men's room stall?
for some reason, I like the shower. I do not understand the sinks but at least they are in fact sinks (and not that invisible weird slant with a drain thing).
I had a friend in HS that had 5 sisters. All within a year or so of each other’s ages. Their bathroom had two toilets partitioned off like this so all the girls could be using the bathroom at the same time but still with privacy if u were using the toilet. Worked out quite well.
When you activate hidden Buy Mode items on The Sims, but in real life 🙄
It's a dual room kitchen bathroom combined the refrigerator is looking toward the commode
mom got tired of waiting for them to finish in there before she can change the laundry
Maybe there are a lot of people living there and not enough bathrooms so that way someone can go to the loo undisturbed while someone else can take a shower or get ready in a hurry without waiting for the other to vacate the room.
we had this at our cottage, it was outfitted from a lumber mill that was closing. We had two of everything in the bathroom - toilet, sink & shower.
That's so you cat or dog can join you with you you having to open the door!
Figured You Guys Would Get A Kick Out Of It
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.
Bathroom Carpet
That's not carpet. That's clearly moss growing on the natural water feature. ;-) /s
Eeeek! But Whyyyyy
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
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.
New Construction In Dallas. "Interesting" Roof
World's Smallest Island
Solitary Stove
Too Many Turrets
Multitasking Too Hard
Vault straight out of bed into the tub, then nurse your injuries in the comfy rocking chair
This....
Open Concept Toilet
Kitchen Tub
Wtf Is Up With That Railing?
Addition? What Addition?
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
Universal Design At Its Finest
Silly Shutters
Glad This Is The Back
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
"Available soon: unique apartments at GIRAFFE TOWERS! Book a viewing NOW as this opportunity CANNOT LAST!!"
I Have To Give Them Credit For Utilizing All Of Those Awkward Spaces
The Next Evolution Of Barn Doors Looks Captivating
It's a jail cell door. And looks big enough for kids and pets to get their heads stuck in
A Man's Boat Is His Castle!
This Isn't Ideal
The Only Way This Could Be Worse, I Think, Is If There Was A Sleeping Tawny-Colored Cat Right On The Middle Step
Cult Vibes
I Feel Like The Mason Had A Bad Day Near The Beginning
"Dave, we really shouldn't have let the apprentice work unsupervised. Just knock it down and start again." "Nah, they'll never notice"
If You’re Going To Insist On A Classical Column Wrap, At Least Align The Capital Correctly
Neck Pain And A Head Injury Anyone?
Summoning Infinity
Elevation Challenged
It Might Be A Cyclops
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...
Listed For $1 Million In Austin, Texas (This Is The Front)
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
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...
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!
The entry's peaked roofed is indeed askew and awry. And easy to fix.
Tub On Wheels
Architects In Philly
Note: this post originally had 93 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Nearly half of these are really fine and a matter of tastes. There are some really impractical and some downright murderous ones though.
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.
Many of these pictures have already been seen on this site a lot in the past, and many other are just not that bad.
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.
Why was I picturing people making jam in a dedicated room 🤭
Load More Replies...
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.
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.
Nearly half of these are really fine and a matter of tastes. There are some really impractical and some downright murderous ones though.
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.
Many of these pictures have already been seen on this site a lot in the past, and many other are just not that bad.
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.
Why was I picturing people making jam in a dedicated room 🤭
Load More Replies... 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.
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.
