The world’s ugliest buildings
May 9th, 2012 at 10:53 am by David FarrarStuff has the top ten ugliest buildings in the world.
I’m disappointed the New Zealand Supreme Court building hasn’t been included in the list. It really is appalling, and looks like a 1970s acid relic.
The inside is actually lovely, but the exterior still can induce minor vomiting.
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May 9th, 2012 at 11:01 am
They left out the New Zealand House in London.
I would have also added the Government Life Building in the Christchurch Square but the Earthquake has taken care of that.
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 11:02 am
We have so many uglier buildings – everything built by the Ministry of
Vote:WorksUgly Buildings in the 50′s & 60′s for a start.May 9th, 2012 at 11:07 am
I disagree with a couple of their picks.
But then, we live in a country of utterly forgettable, mediocre buildings, if there were few that were actually ugly would make a welcome change…
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 11:07 am
The Geisel Library isn’t ugly! Te Papa is pretty foul. And the interior of the iMax Cinema on Queen Street appears to have been designed by a four year old on energy drinks. Both buildings are great (bad) examples of that 1990s obession with dark, shiny, disjointed interiors – weird for the sake of being weird.
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Yeah sad to say I agree about the Supreme Court building, I was appalled when I saw the giant wrap-around potato masher going up. I hoped in vain that it was a support structure for something else.
Vote:The inside is amazing though, as you say.
May 9th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Yes, the Supreme Court is truly very ugly. There can’t be too many buildings that would be so expensive but look that bad. It makes the Queensgate Mall look good.
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Agree 100% DPF…not having to look at the monstrosity while walking to lunch is one tiny plus in no longer being an MP…When they started putting up the “grating” on the outside I assumed it was formwork to hang something on…I remember someone once explained the “significance” of it….
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 11:20 am
The supreme court looked good in the architect’s pretty pictures before it was built. I still believe that a bit of lighting (to make the brass cladding “glow” like it was obviously intended to) would really transform it. Either that or sell off the brass panels to recoup some costs, and replace them with painted steel ones (or similar) that might achieve the original intended effect better.
Unfortunately, without that the exterior is just a bit too 1960s Min of Works concrete.
Not that the supreme court of New Zealand should necessarily be a thing of great beauty. But it would be nice if it was….
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 11:21 am
The supreme court is an architectural tragedy. Terrible building and an opportunity lost.
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 11:56 am
I kept waiting for months for the Sky Tower to be completed, until I realised that the bare concrete tower with a temple stuck on top was it.
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
I’m originally from Wanganui where one of the world’s ugliest buildings lives:
Previously called “Terrace House” it currently has no name because everyone is ashamed to admit it exists. It now houses the Wanganui School of Design which, ironically, is one of the best in the country.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Terrace_House.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Terrace_House_Wanganui.jpg
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Wow Ender, that is a seriously ugly building. It’s like the awful parts of Massey (Wellington) overdosed on ugly pills.
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
It’s only really suitable for computer labs etc. due to it being like a cave inside too. Previously housed IRD regional office and Maori Land Court IIRC
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
I’m not sure what’s worst, buildings like the Supreme Court etc that are designed with architectural aspirations in mind, or shopping malls and big-box retail stores that carry no such burden.
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Ender, that is seriously an ugly building alright. It looks like a Soviet era barracks designer went through a brief futurist phase..
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Enders building wins the most ugly award
Vote:It makes me want to jump out the window just looking at it.
May 9th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
There’s a very good reason the Supreme Court wasn’t included – there’s no way to get a proper photo of it because of all the barbed wire around the top.
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
The Supreme Court building is a monstrosity, and we knew it would be from when we first saw the design. Why the hell does Warren & Mahoney seem to get so much work from the government?
I am going to nominate the BT Tower in London. I think it is a real eyesore during the daytime. The nighttime lighting can be cool, though.
And I second the comment above re Brutalist architecture…
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Ender – that is truly horrendous. If you tried to put prisoners in there it would be against the Geneva Conventions!
Vote:May 9th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
The Beehive aint that crash hot either, especialy with that old crap next to it.
Vote:Some architechs are engineers nightmares
May 9th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Ender @ 12.14
Vote:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Terrace_House_Wanganui.jpg
Who the fuck designed and built that POS?
The view man ffs.
Oh, is that where the ‘Big Brother’ Computer was?
May 10th, 2012 at 2:32 am
I got something that beats everything posted here – the monstrosity on the corner of Maheke St and Tamkai Drive in St Heliers. It replaced a reasonably OK 40′s building that blended in with everything else on the waterfront quite pleasantly. The new building is the architectural equivalent of the goatse or the “blue waffle” websites. (Do not Google these unless you have a VERY strong stomach!!! you have been warned.)
Pics are here (of the building, not the aformentioned sites although these aren’t much better)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=234387853290659&set=o.302387413106374&type=1&theater (you can view this fullscreen if you want…. each to their own I guess)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10791666 (Shows a front view, can be expanded if you like that sort of thing)
The pics dont really do justice to just how ugly this thing is. The locals call it the “Maheke Monster” or the “chilly bin”. It epitomises all the worst in modern architecture and the design looks like something that was originally submitted for a Statsi detention centre. It blends in with the St Heliers waterfront exactly like a fat heavliy tatooed P-addled crack-whore that has been living rough in a dumpster would at Ascot or the Remuera Ladies social club….
That said there are a few of the newer house in the area that really aren’t much better. Have thought of doing a site featuring horrible architecture, sort of like People of Walmart (http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/) but for houses etc
Regards
Vote:Peter J
May 10th, 2012 at 2:37 am
You would have to put Wellington College on there too I think. Random concrete high rise in the middle of it that is flanked on all sides by wafting lunch wrappers.
Vote:May 10th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
I’d vote for Te Papa. The staff & exhibits inside are great but the building itself is revolting.
Vote:May 10th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I’ve got some sympathy for Te Papa. It’s reasonably hard to build something that huge and have everyone like it. I think the interior is fabulous and works really well.
Vote: