Let’s face it as good as some architecture is it is often let down by monstrosities of design and build quality that fail on all counts. For those unfortunate to have been brought up in 1960’s Britain they can testify to the concrete jungles that were not fit for purpose or pleasing to the eye.
Many other witnesses around the world can testify to the same periods in their own countries where it has looked like a three-year-old child could have designed better. In this blog we feature some of the all-time biggest architectural gaffs, some you might not have expected.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
This famous engineering mistake is so bad it is a wonder how it has become one of the most favourite places to take a selfie. The top tower is horizontally displaced nearly an amazing 13 feet from the vertical. The tower was constructed nearly 180 years ago, and it began sinking in 1178 due to a main design gaff, the unsuitable subsoil had an even worse foundation placed in it. As the builders erected the Tower the structure started to subside, so the engineers instructed that the next stage of the build had floors that were taller at one end than the other. The building was completed in 1372, but ever since it has had to be propped up as it would simply topple over.
Tuo River Bridge
This Chinese road and foot bridge failed because of crass human error, it crashed down into a heap of rubble during construction when amazingly a one-hundred-and-forty-foot cement and stone frame was removed in order to work on another part of the structure. Investigation into the disaster found untrained migrant workers, shoddy building practices and substandard building materials were all used. Also, there was no steel reinforcement of the concrete whatsoever, the bridge collapse caused 36 deaths.
AT & T Long Lines Building
Actor and movie star Tom Hanks has dubbed the AT&T Long Lines Building as the most frightening building in New York. Architecturally it is an eyesore, but it happens to be one of the world’s most secure buildings. It is designed to be totally self-sufficient and to survive a nuclear fallout. Supposedly there is a link to America’s National Securities agencies to the building which could well dub it Spooks Towers.
Torre Glories
Perhaps it is where this building is that accentuates its garishness, had it been plonked into some futuristic Chinese or Japanese city then the Torre Gories might seem a little more presentable. However, it looms over fabulous Barcelona with its artistic design and fantastic buildings. Some of the best designed buildings by famous artist Gaudi make this wonderful Spanish city a portrait in itself. The atrocity built in 2003 was not a welcome addition to the Barcelona skyline, whoever passed its design was not obviously a follower of good design practice that new buildings have to co-exist culturally with the old.
This selection of dodgy architectural gaffs is either because of bad design or poorly made construction, and the sad thing is that there are plenty more around the world.
