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Facebook Group Gives 50 Perfect Examples On How To Ruin A Home

We’re pretty sure of one thing — no one was born an architect. It takes years of study and practice to become an expert on the art, history, and engineering of the built world. However, some people think that designing a house from the bottom up is something they can do on their own.

Even if we agree that architecture is subjective, sometimes one cannot deny the flaws that people do. In fact, some home designs turned out to be so wrong that they went into the You Should Have Hired an Architect A Facebook group that shows why not hire a professional is a mistake.

From weird roofs to open concept toilets, take a look at some of the pictures we’ve collected from the group, and be sure to vote for the most bizarre ones!

Also, scroll down for our interview with Allison Beer McKenzie, the manager of this Facebook group, where we talk about the mistakes people make while designing a home themselves and the benefits of hiring an expert.

In just a few months, the group has attracted more than 31.2K members, who share some of the strangest design failures on a daily basis. 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 this is a bad idea with occasional examples of why buildings designed by architects may be superior for variety.”

Bored panda contacted the manager, 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 give up hiring an architect.

“One thing is for sure they are cost conscious or think they can’t afford an architect. The other thing, I think, is that they don’t know or appreciate the value that an architect can bring to their house design, ”she explained.

McKenzie continued: “This value can certainly include a beautiful design, but it can also include things like a house that perfectly fits the site on which it is and is ideally designed for the climate on which it is built.”

Whether it’s creating a bad design, exceeding the budget, or not meeting current codes and standards, there are many ways people can make mistakes without an expert.

The architect thinks that many of the mistakes people make when designing homes themselves “come from the fact that most people have trouble thinking in three dimensions without training on how to do it. This often leads to houses with strange proportions or clumsy connections between materials and elements. ”

McKenzie admits that some houses that are designed without the help of architects perform well. “However, building a house is probably the biggest investment you will ever make and will require you to make hundreds of decisions in a condensed amount of time,” she said.

“Having an architect by your side to guide you through decisions ranging from where the house sits on the ground, to room size and location, to what color you want for your bathroom floor can help ensure you end up with a result you love. . and keep your sanity! ”

According to architect Bill Whittaker, hiring a professional might seem like an unnecessary expense for your construction project. However, an expert can bring quality, professional design and project management to “help you complete a beautiful building according to budget and schedule.”

He provides several reasons why you should hire an architect instead of dealing with challenges on your own. First of all, when it comes to design, they help your home to have a consistent flow and comfort.

“An architect provides a professional design that takes into account the client’s preferences, along with building codes and good design practices to create the best possible space for your project.”

Then, experts can effectively manage a construction site and “ensure that everything is completed according to current codes and standards.” The same goes for the budget. It’s easy to get distracted and spend extra for things you don’t actually need, or to hide the mistakes you’ve made.

“Architects help keep communication clear and can direct the project in the right direction to keep costs where they were originally designed,” Whittaker explained.

However, if you are really determined to design your own home, you should consider starting small. Plan and build a tree house or shed, or perhaps a puppet house for the children. And if you notice that there are some mistakes you make along the way, you should probably contact an architect for your larger future projects.

When it was built, everyone was like “ooooh, what a WONDERFUL architecture !!!!”. It is supposed to look like a ship, but all I can see is a rotten slice of watermelon. Then a boyfriend who was an architect called me crazy because it’s ugly. Am I It’s called Hotel Unique if you want to look up and see how strange the rooms look. They have a window between the bed and the bathroom. As for me, I can only see pictures, because it is insanely expensive

Mariana Marinovic Report

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 doesn’t please the eye. Maybe they wanted to distract from the curved porch? They certainly succeeded in that!

Nini Stefanie Report

Van Whit Report

Note: This post originally had 93 images. It has been shortened to the top 50 images by user votes.

Meanwhile, if you want to read more such exciting lifestyle guides and informative property updates, stay tuned to Feeta Blog — Pakistan’s best real estate blog.

Facebook Group Gives 50 Perfect Examples On How To Ruin A Home

Thursday, 17 March 2022 by feeta_admin

Published in 700-page, architect, Architecture, bizarre, Design, engineering, errors, expert, facebook group, Fails, Funny, Furniture Design, hilarious, hire, home design, Homepage featured, house design, Interior Design, mistakes, Pics, professional, Weird

50 Of The Most Breathtaking Forgotten Places, Shared In The ‘Abandoned Beauties’ Facebook Group

There are not too many opportunities to feel like an adventurer in modern times. However, exploring abandoned places and finding unexpected treasures can give you that deep excitement. You may not bring anything physical to show for your endeavors, but the photos you take and the first-hand experiences make for even better souvenirs.

La “Abandoned Beauties” A Facebook page is dedicated to urban exploration (aka Urbex or UE) and shows beautiful images of abandoned places and objects. Both past and present. We have a nice selection of photos of them to share with you today, Pandas, so go ahead and scroll down into the mysterious, unexplored wilderness of Urbex. Vote for your favorite photos and, if you’ve ever researched that yourself, tell us all about it in the comments.

Very strong warning, dear Pandas: your safety is paramount. If you are planning to explore some abandoned places, you need to take the necessary precautions and be extremely careful. I know you are all very capable, but you cannot venture without the proper preparations if you want to stay safe. More on this below.

I held out my hand to photographer Dominic Sberna for some tips on how to keep our camera safe while exploring new areas, how to get the right light for photos in dark settings and understanding how essential camera angles are.

Dominic said Bored panda that camera angles are important when it comes to showing the size of a large building. “A lower angle will enhance the view, just as a high point of view would. The point of view really matters as well. Depending on what you’re aiming for in your shot, you’ll want to have a nice showcase of the scene in front of you when exploring some abandoned property,” he explained. the photographer. You will find the full interview below.

“A wide-angle lens is always a great option for any confined space, but again this depends on the look you’re aiming for and absolutely depends on the scene in front of you. If you’re in a massive industrial warehouse, you could lose some impact. to your image if you have a wide-angle lens, ” photographer Dominic said Bored Panda

“At the end of the day, just like any genre of photography and anything in life, practice is perfect. But don’t beat yourself up if your pictures aren’t ‘perfect.’ You should always try to take them for yourself. If others like them, that’s an added bonus and you’ll stay true to your creative self knowing you’ve done things for yourself, ”the photographer suggested we focus on what makes us happy instead. of trying to please absolutely everyone else.

“The best way to keep your camera safe is to always keep it attached to you. That could mean different things to different people. Generally having your camera strap around your neck is a good thing. But, if you feel more comfortable holding it, so be it. if something unexpected happens, you can move as needed, ”said Dominic.

When it comes to lighting, the built-in flash of your camera may not be enough. He said he would “always recommend” a tripod and long exposure when shooting in dark environments.

The garden includes the ruins of the ancient settlement Nymph, whose name seems to come from a classical era water lily, a temple dedicated to nymphs, located on an island in the small lake.

Robyrabs Report

“If you want a shot in the dark or a more illuminated subject, I would recommend using external lightning or using external light at all,” Dominic suggested. “Depending on how you go, it will depend on your favorite light source.”

He noticed that the lightning on a camera has a fairly harsh and direct light. “You will cause a lot of severe shadows and as a general rule, I would recommend staying away from the camera flash unless you definitely have to use it,” the photographer told Bored Panda.

The project “Abandoned Beauties” has enough membership on Facebook. Large 435.8k people follow the page. It’s easy to see why.

The photos are amazing and evoke a sense of mystery, adventure and the discovery of lost secrets. The photos are also covered in a heavy dose of fear, which makes us uncomfortable enough to keep an eye on.

The founder of the “Abandoned Beauties” project realizes that they credit all photographers for their work. If you notice a beautiful photo without credits, it means that the image is either part of the creative commons license or the page could not find the original photographer.

If you have questions about all of this and want to follow the photographers, but apparently can’t find the original source, try asking the page moderator or the community itself. You never know, you might find someone who knows!

One thing to remember is that, overwhelmingly, the authors of the photos do not add details about the exact locations. This is done very deliberately, to protect the places and objects from vandalism.

Keeping the secret of the place is a very practical approach. While a handful of city explorers visiting an abandoned ship (which is dangerous in itself) may not do much damage (especially if they don’t remove anything like souvenirs), the same can’t be said about dozens, hundreds, or maybe even. thousands of visitors.

They are located on the former Ballysaggartmore Demesne about 2.5 miles from the town of Lismore in County Waterford, Ireland. The structures were built for an Anglo-Irish landlord, Arthur Keily-Ussher no later than 1834.

michaela.able photography Report

Imagine if a huge flood of urban explorers ended up going to a single place. Some of them could be veterans who know how to treat the place carefully, however, others could be amateurs who damage the place willingly or accidentally.

More foot traffic means more wear and tear and that means the risk of injury increases. Someone might have weakened the floorboards in an abandoned shack or someone else may have vandalized the railing, causing a nasty fall.

There are few reminders of the power of nature as beautiful and harsh as the scenes at the abandoned village of Houtouwan, on the Shengsi archipelago right next to the Chinese mainland.

This small fishing village was only uninhabited in the early 1990s, but since then almost every building has been surrounded by some of the densest greenery you’ll ever see.

w.n__t Report

Part of being an urban explorer means keeping a lot of information secret, just sharing it with a small handful of reliable ones. community members. Posting photos is fine; shouting about where you took them is not.

The quarry closed in 1969 due to an industry downturn and after 170 years of work the site re-emerged in rubble peaks sliding into the main pit operation.

petro.hundido Report

Preparation is everything when it comes to Urbex. That means getting yourself a good pair of gloves, a pair of thick shoes, and wearing a quality dust mask. When you go out, you should wear heavy clothes and maybe even some kind of helmet protect your body from any rubbish or in the case of a fall.

Before you go out do some research about the area and the specific location. Contact any local Urbex communities or any friends you know to explore after school or work. Whenever possible, consider starting your adventure with a partner or two by your side. That way, if one of you gets hurt, the other can help! And that means you’re all safely back home, ready to share your amazing photos with everyone on the internet.

Originally, the airport on that site was built in the early 20th century for the Japanese Imperial Army and was named Keton. It consisted of a 1200 m long concrete runway, gravel taxiways and about 20 equipped aircraft parking lots.
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After the Soviet Union regained control of Sakhalin in 1945, Smirnykh Airport (both the village and airport were renamed in 1946 after the battalion commander who died in the battles for the liberation of the island in that area) became home to the 528th. Fighter Aviation Regiment, which performed the tasks of air defense of Sakhalin Island and its maritime zone.
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In 1966, the airport was rebuilt. A new runway with a length of 2,000 m was built, which was later extended to 2,500 m, as well as reinforced concrete shelters for aircraft with a vent to taxiways.
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In 1994 the combat aircraft regiment was disbanded. The aircraft was moved to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where a stock base was equipped, but later all of them were removed. But two MiG-23s, one fighter jet and one fighter trainer, were left in hangars at the Smirnykh, where they remain to this day …

Watch this space for more information on that. Stay tuned to Feeta Blog for the latest updates about Architrcture, Lifestyle and Interior Design.

50 Of The Most Breathtaking Forgotten Places, Shared In The ‘Abandoned Beauties’ Facebook Group

Thursday, 28 October 2021 by feeta_admin

Designers Show How The White House Could Have Looked Different If These 5 Plans Weren’t Rejected

We are all accustomed to the look of the White House, and most of us appreciate its modest neoclassical design. In 1792, the first president of the United States George Washington held a contest for the design of the White House, which an Irishman James Hoban won. But the seat of the world’s most powerful nation might look different. Many architects offered their own versions of the White House, including polyhistorical president Thomas Jefferson, who lived in the same White House nearly 10 years after the contest. But as with all competitions, the winner is long remembered, and the ideas of the losers are almost always forgotten. These rejected plans remained obscure until HouseFresh decided to revive them in digital form and show us what the White House could be like. So look!

Jefferson’s plan for the White House

Thomas Jefferson was Secretary of State at the time, and was closely involved with the management of the competition. But he was also an architect and an enthusiast of classical European design. Experts attribute a losing entry with the name “Abraham Faws” to Jefferson. The “real” Faws sent their own, amateur entry, and Jefferson’s anonymous project was later attributed to Faws due to a clerical error.

Jefferson would move to the White House as president in 1801, describing the mansion as “large enough for two emperors, one pope and the great lama.” However, he couldn’t help but expand it, adding an arcade and other features to form the White House as it looks now.

Philip Hart’s plan for the White House

The competition to design the White House was part of a broader challenge to suggest an architecture for Washington’s powerful headquarters. Phillip Hart was an amateur architect – more likely a professional builder – who submitted proposals for both the president’s house and the Capitol.

Hart’s White House repeats its vaguely absurd capital sketches. The abbreviated upper floor and faux-Renaissance style lacks the style and complexity that Washington wanted from a building that should, “in terms of size, shape and elegance … look beyond the present.”

Andrew Mayfield’s plan

Andrew Mayfield Carshores was a linguist and former British soldier and teacher. Its simple design reflects the pre-revolutionary military architecture, characterized by the colonial period of American buildings Georgian, and English.

Carshore’s steep roofs border a lead footpath, with a rainwater reservoir on the roof of the main block. But the judges lacked a vital spark to his work. According to architectural historian Hugh Howard, Carshore was an ‘amateur gentleman’ and his rejected entrance may be the only building he has ever designed.

Jacob Small’s plan

Jacob Small submitted four entries to the 1792 contest. Author Patrick Phillips-Shrock points out that the designs of the Small White House were inspired by two iconic buildings of that time: Mount Vernon, George Washington’s plantation mansion, and the Maryland State House in Annapolis.

A small one connects the stable and kitchen blocks to the main house with arcades. But its labyrinthine interior of corridors and mysterious stairs would be unpleasant for the president. Interestingly, Little envisioned oval-shaped rooms for the White House – but he failed to integrate them into his broader design in any significant way.

James Diamond’s plan

Originally from Ireland, James Diamond was an architect and builder. The White Diamond House stands around a rectangular courtyard. However, Diamond notes in his project that “the Open Court can be changed to a Picture Gallery and Illuminated from the Top, which would have a great Effect.”

Diamond’s design incorporates complex design elements such as Ionic columns and window frames covered with pediments. But the stairs are located awkwardly away from the entrance, and the overall size is supposed to be too ornate for George Washington’s tastes.

This is what it looked like. Aerial view

An actual white house, front view

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Designers Show How The White House Could Have Looked Different If These 5 Plans Weren’t Rejected

Saturday, 14 August 2021 by feeta_admin

Published in Architecture, buildings, competition, Different, five, full-page, Homepage featured, house fresh, housefresh, jefferson, rejected designs, rejected ideas, Washington, What if, White House

People In This Online Group Share The 30 Most Unpleasant-Looking Cities In America They’ve Ever Visited

From state armholes to middle fingers of the country – some cities in the United States are known for being the least attractive urban settlements. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so not everyone finds NYC or New Orleans pleasurable, and perhaps some negative experiences would influence one’s preferences. But there are certainly a few cities that have no chance of not being called ugly and we hope you don’t live there.

Vega. Although I wouldn’t call it much of a city; it looked more like a set of buildings, neon, and wasted lives all sewn together in the middle of a bumf *** nowhere.

Bakersfield, California – Never in my life have I seen such an acid sight. Oil wells along the eye see that it almost looks heard of motionless ants hunching over the ground.

Gary, Indiana. The whole town was gray. No color. I thought I turned color blind until I got to Chicago.

After visiting Aberdeen, Washington, I felt I understood Kurt Cobain better. The natural surroundings are amazingly beautiful, but in the middle of it is this gray, dark, depressing city built on a swamp that feels like it’s sucking the life out of you. If a city could have feelings, this one would be completely hopelessly depressed.

LA. a depressing concrete hole and I’m glad I visited more beautiful cities in the United States. everyone was so angry/sad there.

Birmingham, Alabama. Half of the city is just banal brown brick buildings from the 80s, and the other half is basically abandoned ruins of banal brown brick buildings from the 80s.

Johnstown, Pennsylvania … You can almost feel the city dying slowly, worryingly dying …

Albuquerque, NM. Let me paint a picture. In a rental car after 14 hours of driving I drive about halfway into the city. And badly need gasoline. I drive to a pretty empty gas station. Only Some oily cardboard sheets are spread out here and there. Trees almost cover 3 / 4s of the sides of the building itself. I am ready to insert my card into the reader when 6 people start to come out of the cover of the trees. Three guys are sitting or lying on the scattered cardboard and three women/girls are in questionable age somewhere between 16 and 40 years old. My stadium approaches my car and tries to mow and chop and cough to get my attention. I withdraw my card, say “aww s ***, reject. F ***.” Get back in my car and hurry away. In my retrospect I see more people coming out of the trees. They did not look satisfied.

Independence, MO. – methamphetamine capital of the United States. Even the buildings look like they smoke stones.

Gary Indiana is the best reason to ever remove fast limits from highways. So you can get in and out of Gary in the shortest amount of time.

You know a city is bad when the local government brags that there have been less than a dozen murders and less than 20 dead babies this month!

Things are looking for Gary, Indiana!

No one mentioned Watertown NY, so I guess I’ll defend it. I grew up in the Watertown area. Since then he has traveled extensively throughout the United States. I’ve seen some really awesome places, but I’ve still seen a place that captures the same kind of energy that Watertown does.

Watertown is unique in that it has the perfect combination of a depressed economy, dilapidated infrastructure and bad weather. It is positively hammered with snow in winter due to its proximity to Lake Ontario and often sets records for snowfall and low temperatures. The winters are brutal and sometimes start as early as October and can last until May. It exists in what was once the bottom of an ancient glacial lake so the low altitude means a constant cloud cover that makes it gray and gloomy during the summer time.

On top of that, almost any art or music is written about the place is about how bad it is. Frank Sinatra’s Watertown album is depressing. Harry Chapin wrote the song “A Better Place To Be” while he was in Watertown. There are also more examples. It’s so depressing that it inspires people to write about how depressed it is.

Albany, NY just feels like a really big Greyhound bus station. In summer it gets a little dirty, but in winter it is a muddy gray spike. Whenever I was there, I felt like I needed to escape from it – probably in an old school bus with a razor wire laced around it with sharp broomsticks sticking out of the windows.

Laurel, MS. The attempt to accomplish it on the HGTV show, but it’s shit. Upgraded to the most violent city in Mississippi last year, if I’m not mistaken.

I can’t believe no one mentioned Rochester NY, Anything Beyond Culver Road. The worst parts are near Lyell and Monroe Ave. Place is sh * t hole.

Spokane, WA. It seems to have been in the late ’80s, when Seattle became a major destination with no vigor or anything appealing about the city in general. Just sets of residential areas with a few luxury eateries to keep it just outside the last place.

Watch this space for more information on that. Stay tuned to Feeta Blog for the latest updates about Architrcture, Lifestyle and Interior Design.

People In This Online Group Share The 30 Most Unpleasant-Looking Cities In America They’ve Ever Visited

Friday, 16 July 2021 by feeta_admin

Published in 700-page, albuquerque, Architecture, Bakersfield, CA, california, El Paso, Homepage featured, Indiana, Johnstown, NM, Ohio, pennsylvania, reddit, Social Issues, Texas, travel, ugly city, USA

72 Weirdest Building Designs

If you ever feel that some architects live in their own fantasy land, you are not the only one. The buildings they create can range from majestic to magical, and they are sure to captivate your buttresses, stoic columns, angelic balconies and formidable facades. However, you may sometimes get the idea that some of these art innovators haven’t fully considered some things – like the fact that people actually have to live and work in the built-up buildings.

We have some dreamy and confusing buildings to show you today, dear pandas, so take off your opera glasses, get yourself some popcorn, and let’s go through the cream of the crop of the ‘Bizarre Buildings’ subreddit. Take a look at some of the most beautiful buildings people may have a hard time living in, vote for the ones you enjoyed the most, and let us know which one you would choose as your home in the comments section.

I chatted nicely about architecture with Dr. June Commissioner of Ryerson University. Dr. Komisar, who is a specialist in architectural design, the history and theory of architecture, and design for urban agriculture, told Bored Panda for professionals to seek inspiration from the “wise” ancient Roman writer Vitruvius. “What he said about balancing goods (suitability of the building too needs), firmness (structural integrity) and joy (the aesthetics of the building and its relationship to site and context) still holds true.”

# 1 This Building In Guizhou, China

# 2 The Interlace – Singapore

# 3 Cat Shaped Kindergarten, Germany

Dr. Komisar has shown Bored Panda that no matter how good an architect is, they will not be able to be prepared for all possible problems and contingencies. “But understanding the local conditions and evaluating other buildings using the same construction techniques and materials can help avoid problems,” she said.

I was also interested to find out how architects can innovate and create originality when sometimes it seems like every idea has already been made. According to Dr. Komisar, the changes do not have to be something profound. Start small.

# 4 The Evolution Of This Building Can Be Seen In Its Masonry

# 5 Pavilion Of Enlightenment, Thailand

# 6 The National Carpet Museum In Baku, Azerbaijan

“Innovation does not have to be radical, but can be an incremental change that will benefit users and society at large. Today we have a huge opportunity to build sustainable buildings that approach or achieve ‘net zero energy cost. Using local and/or sustainable materials, designing for passive and/or active solar and wind energy, designed for very low energy, and renovating and adapting existing buildings, we can help mitigate climate change. ”

Dr. Komisar continued: “Dealing with this environmental crisis is not only an issue we need to address, but it is also a tremendous opportunity for project innovation. Addressing these concerns will undoubtedly introduce a variety of creative solutions.”

# 7 The Department of Fisheries In Hyderabad, India

# 8 Tower “Arbre Blanc” by Sou Fujimoto in Montpellier, France

# 9 Giant 16th Century “Colossal” Sculpture In Florence, Italy Has All Rooms Hidden Inside

Architecture is a hard crack. On the one hand, it is a very functional and rational field of action that literally projects the spaces in which we live, work and sleep. On the other hand, it is an artistic expression form on the same level of importance as function. After all, if you intend to build something (anything), why not make it amazing?

So of course it’s up to the architect to solve an engineer’s constant riddle: how do you innovate and create something iconic, while also making sure your building doesn’t cause a stir and denounce it in the news?

# 10 Turtle Building

# 11 600-year-old Clock Located In Prague Is The World’s Oldest Astrological Clock Still Working!

# 12 Original 1930s Shell Gas Station

No 99 Designs draw attention that buildings should be pioneering, showy, and come out of their surroundings. And that means bending the rules and capturing (at least some) conventions.

Paradoxically, however, the architect is also very aware of the surroundings of the building, using them as a complementary background. You can still have your modern masterpiece if you pay homage to the more traditional surroundings of the building with the details, colors, etc.

And it is in relation to the surroundings that your choice of materials and the way you shape your project comes in – they are deeply expressive decisions that you should consider as soon as you start outlining your ideas for your project.

And always always remember that even though you are creating a work of art, it must be practical. Otherwise, what is meant by architecture, when sculpture would give you the full freedom to express yourself?

# 13 Wonderful Building In Chile

# 14 Austria

# 15 When You Are An Architect Whose Brother-in-Law Owns A Struggling Window Shop

The community r / bizarre buildings celebrated its 5th birthday just a few months ago, in March, and it’s strong. Currently, the subreddit has over 131k members and we can see that number growing in the future.

Be sure to visit the community if you enjoyed the photos on this list. Come in for a quick ‘hello, how are you?’ or consider also posting a strange-looking yet utterly amazing building.

“If it’s a bizarre building, it belongs here. No, not pictures of buildings with a bizarre Christmas [look]. We want unique Unicope buildings! “The moderators of ‘Bizarre Buildings’ shared what their online group is all about.

You heard it here, folks – your regular holiday decor bizarre just won’t cut it. You have to go for bizarre. Start the weirdness until eleven, so even Alice thinks she’s still in Wonderland. Just remember that when you innovate, you also have the ability to make a good climate too!

# 16 Walden 7 in Barcelona, Spain

# 17 When You Have the Money But Not the Earth (Batié, Cameroon)

# 18 Treehouse (Demolished), Okinawa

# 19 Content House In The Desert

# 20 The Sheep Building (Tirau, Waikato, New Zealand)

# 21 Japanese Moka Railway Station In The Shape Of A Locomotive

# 22 Tianzi Hotel, China

# 23 The Stockholm Telephone Tower With About 5,500 Telephone Lines, 1890

# 24 Unique Residence In The Netherlands

# 25 When Your Growing Family Needs An Upgrade But You Love That Comfortable Cottage

# 26 Here Is The Proposed Crescent Tower For Dubai

# 27 “My Home Is Off the Highway”

# 28 This Is What Happens When The Owner Of Half Of City Hall Refuses To Sell

# 29 Technical University University Building Sydney (UTS)

# 30 Abandoned Potato Sorting Station In Ukraine

# 31 This Single Pixelated Facade On The Mahanakhon Tower In Bangkok, Thailand

# 32 Living Like a Caverner With Modern Pleasures

# 33 This Little House

# 34 Chestnut Tower Sun By Fundamental Architects

# 35 Bizarre Chicken

# 36 The Largest Hotel In The World, With A Scanning 10,000 Rooms Currently Under Construction In Saudi Arabia

# 37 The New Louis Vuitton Store In Tokyo

# 38 “Local Man In Altus, Eight Arrested After Shooting From Trebuchet To A Group Of Girl Scouts. His wife was quoted as saying ‘I wish I hadn’t yielded to him begging that devilish castle tower when we built the house, he’s mentally fixed in the Middle Ages since 1981 ‘”

# 39 Plot # 1282, Residential House In Beirut Designed By Bernard Khoury

# 40 Inverted Pyramid House In Spain

# 41 Shop Front In Kyoto

# 42 The Frame In Dubai – Lift Up Along, Walk Across Glass Floor, Lift Down

# 43 Shenzhen International Airport Looks like a Giant Airplane

# 44 Spiral House, Ramat Gan

# 45 Spanish Embassy In Brazil

# 46 700 Sq Ft House In My ‘Hood Soldus Sold For $ 1 Million

# 47 Modernist Home In Venice, California

# 48 Saemoonan Church In Seoul, Korea

# 49 Seafood Restaurant? An Institute for Marine Biology? Or Headquarters For Crab People Hiding In A Flat View?

# 50 Hyatt Regency San Francisco De John Portman (1974)

# 51 People Living Near Helicoid Street In Chongqing

# 52 The Peachoid, A 135 Feet (41 M) High Water Tower In Gaffney, South Carolina

# 53 I Don’t Know About You, But I For One Always Wanted To Live In A Black, Characteristic Monolith

# 54 House in Katayama, Japan

# 55 This House In Sochi, Russia

# 56 Residential House In Egypt

# 57 Cleveland Clinic- Lou Ruvo Center For Brain Health In Las Vegas, Nevada

# 58 Rare Vision Of Two Wild Buildings Interacting

# 59 Is A Huge Open Market In The Netherlands With Housing Inside

# 60 Often Called “The Great Wall Of Russia” Or “The Lying Skyscraper”, This Is One Of The Longest Buildings In The World

# 61 Side House

# 62 Basketball / Soccer Patio On The Roof Of Some Houses Next To Old City Walls In Dubrovnik

# 63 Grand Castle Apartments, Grand Rapids, Michigan

# 64 The Tallest Leisure Building In The World, The North Korean Hotel Ryugyong

# 65 House From The Beach View, Laguna Beach

# 66 House On Pole, Japan

# 67 Postmodern Garbage In Kahramanmaraş, Turkey

# 68 Ie In Chongqing

# 69 St.Joseph’s Hospital, Tacoma, United States

# 70 Unique Window Design On This Building

# 71 Basf Tower In Berlin, Germany

# 72 The Interlace, Singapore

For more information on the real estate sector of the country, keep reading Feeta Blog.

72 Weirdest Building Designs

Wednesday, 23 June 2021 by feeta_admin

Published in 700-page, Architecture, architecture madness, bizarre buildings, bp-excplusive, Design, Dr. June Komisar, eco buildings, genius designs, Homepage featured, interesting designs, one of a kind buildings, r/bizarrebuildings, strange buildings, unique buildings, weird design

Homeless Man Gets To Live In A 3D-Printed Tiny Home

70-year-old Tim Shea has progressed a lot since his time as a homeless heroin addict. In what looks like a 180-life transformation, in September, he moved to the outskirts of Austin to live in a 400-square-foot home built by a 3D printer from the company’s Icon.

“I could never have imagined where I came from that I would ever have this beautiful apartment,” Tim told the press recently and called his new home a “miracle”. Before living to live in the Community First! A village, a 51-acre site that houses 500 homes for the chronically homeless, Tim lived in a camper van.

Icon 3D homes printed with a Vulcan II printer have one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen, a living room and a large porch, and give hope to many people with no place to call home. The company’s CEO Jason Ballard said their mission was to “make decent housing accessible to everyone, everywhere” and with Tim being the first proud resident of the 3D house, the future looks brighter than ever.

Formerly homeless man 70-year-old Tim Shea transformed his life when he became the first resident of a 3D printed house in a community in Austin, Texas, in September

Prior to this new permanent 3D home, Tim lived in the community in an RV. Previously, he struggled with drug addiction and like many seniors in the United States, was unable to maintain affordable housing.

Tim’s 400-square-foot 3D house was built with a Vulcan II 3D printer by the company ICON, which specializes in advanced construction technologies.

In an interview with NY Poster, Tim said his previous lifestyle made him hide from the world. “I think from my personal experience of my previous way of life that I developed a shell. I didn’t feel safe, and whenever I had the chance, I would hide or isolate myself. I never really wanted to interact with people. “

Tim is said to be the first occupant of one of the 3D printed house

But after moving into her new home in September, at the Community First! In the village, he had his life completely changed. “Everything I do is quite the opposite, and I have a lot of activities every day with others,” he said.

The house is located at Community First! A village is known for its high-level vision of homeless housing

At first, Tim couldn’t believe he would be the first person living in a 3D printed house like this. “When I found out I was going to be the first person in the United States to move to a 3D-printed home, I thought it was pretty awesome. The people I used to run away from, I run. If you’ve been on both sides of the fence, you know some people just need a little bit of encouragement and support, ”he said. NY Poster.

After moving to a beautiful 3D house, Tim’s life changed drastically

Tim’s 3D house is located in the Community First! A village that helped homeless people with shelter, community and support. Alan Graham, a real estate developer and founder of the village as well as the project called Mobile Phones & Fish, is helping others find a place to call home over the past two decades.

ICON has so far developed six different 3D homes, all with different layouts

According to Graham, “Home is essentially a place of connection and of life-giving and basic relationships.” His goal is to “make everyone feel at home, ultimately inviting those who live along the edge of society, into your heart.”

Tim says “it’s just a miracle to me that I live there in such a beautiful house”

Tim’s 3D printed home isn’t the only one in town. ICON has built 6 3D homes, all with different layouts for different needs to shelter the homeless on the site. Tim chose an open floor layout because he has arthritis.

His 3D house has one bedroom, one bathroom, full kitchen, living room and porch

The project was made possible by an ongoing partnership between ICON, the construction technology company, and Austin’s nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes.

Alan Graham, the founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, commented on the project: “Vulnerable populations like the homeless are never among the first to access new things, but now here in Austin, Texas, they are among the first in line, who will live in some of the most unique homes ever built – and we think that’s a beautiful thing. “

To find out more about this amazing project, Bored Panda contacted Brooke Bauguess, vice president of Communications and Public Affairs at ICON. ICON is an Austin-based construction technology company using 3D robotics, programs and advanced materials to change the paradigm of home building.

ICON believes that “3D printing will be the preferred method of homebuilding in the future and tends to be a pioneer of the technology that has the potential to end homelessness,” Brooke told us.

“The United States needs 3.3 million homes a year and is currently building 1.3 million. 3D printing construction can help deliver robust, sustainable, decent housing across the United States and the world. “

Tim, who overcame drug addiction, chose an open floor plan because of arthritis

ICON has delivered two dozen 3D-printed homes across Mexico and the United States, including social housing projects with nonprofit organizations, major housing developments with developers and more.

The ICON printer is controlled by a tablet remotely and takes a crew of four to six people to build a house

“We appreciate the opportunity to see our technology deliver homes for those in need in Mexico and serve those who have experienced homelessness in central Texas,” Brooke said and continued, “Tim Shea in particular is the first person to ever live in an ICON 3D printed home. We worked closely to design and select furniture in this project in particular and are thrilled to see him thrive in his new home. “

A special concrete formula was used for the project and applied by a 3D printer, which is basically just a concrete nozzle at the end of a giant robot arm.

“ICON at its heart is an innovation for a better future,” said Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO of ICON. We will have to risk some if we want a better world for ourselves, and the team at Mobile Loaves & Fishes shares a similar vision in their efforts to empower the community around them in a lifestyle of service to the homeless. We need a radical rethinking of the way we approach solving troubling problems in our society such as homelessness. Ultimately, this is about people and about human dignity. “

Many people praised the project and its ability to help those in need.

Watch this space for more information on that. Stay tuned to Feeta Blog for the latest updates about Architrcture, Lifestyle and Interior Design.

Homeless Man Gets To Live In A 3D-Printed Tiny Home

Sunday, 20 June 2021 by feeta_admin

Published in 3d printed houses, 3d printers, 700-page, Architecture, Austin, Community First Village for the homeless, Homepage featured, homes constructed with 3D printer, icon, Icon's 3D Printer, People, Technology, Texas, the first homeless man to live in a 3D printed house, the future of housing, Tim Shea

Lithuania And Poland Built A ‘Portal’ Connecting Two Of Their Cities And People Are Loving It

Society is evolving and we have gone a long way from slavery and women not being able to vote. But we still have room for improvement: stop discriminating against different people, accepting people who think, dress, speak differently than we do.

Separation between people is a problem as old as the world, but it needs modern solutions. The internet is now everywhere in a “portal” open in two European cities, Vilnius and Lublin, which was built just to shorten the distance between us and them. Not only is the meaning behind this project amazing, but it also looks so cool and futuristic.

The city of Vilnius in Lithuania and the city of Lublin in Poland are now linked by a portal in which they can see each other.

The portal has a circular shape that symbolizes the wheel of time, and in science fiction, it represents space and time that link back to the circle as a portal. This virtual bridge between the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, and one of the oldest Polish cities, Lublin, is the first of its kind. In Vilnius, the portal can be found next to Vilnius railway station. Meanwhile, in Lublin, he resides on Plac Litewski.

These 2 cities have a historical connection, as the Lublin Union was signed on 1 July 1569 between Poland and Lithuania in that same city. This union created a single state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest countries in Europe at the time. Bored Panda contacted the PORTAL team and asked if this was planned. Apparently, it was an unexpected coincidence. They contacted various cities abroad that would collaborate for this project and the circumstances lead to that city being Lublin. It is truly symbolic that these two cities are spreading the message behind the project, which must be unified and not separated.

This circle with a screen that looks like a portal to another dimension actually allows you to see people in the other city and wave at them

The ‘portals’ both have screens and cameras to broadcast the other city live. The view you see on the screen is similar to what astronauts see looking at the world below.

It’s called a “surveillance effect” and astronauts experience it when they see Earth in space, so little, so delicately in this big world.

Hazzaa Ali Almansoori, the first person from the United Arab Emirates in space, said “It’s amazing how space brings everyone together. No matter what country you come from, no matter what your religion or background, it unites everyone … Our goal is one: it is for humanity. ”

The portal is now silent as it would be technically difficult to have a sound 24/7, however, it is possible and for special events, it will be done.

Despite this, the creators of the project believe that people will find a way to communicate. They’ve noticed people waving, sending kisses or doing push-ups, so they’re still involved.

The team told us that “it seems that with physical measures like the PORTAL the internal psychological barriers disappear and people enthusiastically participate in the activity in front of the portal and are friendly to each other. Most of them do not need encouragement and access the portal with curiosity or maybe they just crave a human relationship during this pandemic. ”They think that starting a conversation with complete strangers only on the street would present difficulties and it seems that the portal makes people more relaxed.

The message behind the PORTAL project is to make people forget about the separation between us and them and just see our planet united

The main goal of the project is to connect people. On the official website, they say “Surrounding ourselves only with those who are close and speak the same language gives us comfort and a sense of stability. It also limits the worldview to our narrow inner circle. Slowly it becomes a perfect space for awakening insecurities to outsiders and a perfect excuse to be careless about the world that belongs to them. Every day there is less room for dialogue, empathy and compassion to feel and be united in our home – a tiny spaceship Earth rapidly decaying because of too many of them and too few of us. It’s so easy to believe we’re all a wave and forget we’re an ocean too. Let’s transcend this sense of separation and be pioneers of unity. ”

It almost seems like we welcome aliens to Earth, but sometimes we treat humans as if they’re not from this planet and don’t deserve to be here. The person behind the idea, Benedict Gylys, says many of the potentially deadly challenges humanity faces, such as polarization and climate change, have been caused by a lack of understanding of others and of the world at large. So the PORTER must unite people and it is an invitation to rise above the illusion of division that we ourselves have created.

This cool idea was shared on Reddit and the post received 140k likes in less than 24 hours

Although it is not a portal that we see in movies or read in books, it is nevertheless the closest to teleportation and it is so cool that you can only communicate with random people on the street who are hundreds of miles away.

It caught the attention of Redditors like the post about it got 140k votes in less than a day. People joked about Stargate and that if you go through it, you will end up in Poland. It seems that people liked this idea, but others shared that something similar happened where they live, but it didn’t last long as people started abusing the portal.

The project had its challenges, “First, it was a challenge to draft a project for the PORTFOLIO, which is minimal and simple, but able to fit all the complex electronics inside and prevent vandalism and negative environmental impact.” Then the project had to be carried out and after many tests, it was chosen to use “concrete, stainless steel and tempered glass to build these 11 tons wide two meters by two meters.”

It all came true because the people at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Creative and Innovation Center “LinkMenų manufactures” were crazy enough to believe in the idea and were able to realize it.

The brain behind the project is Benedict Gylys and it took 5 years to realize the idea

The project was completed during a pandemic, when travel within the borders may have restrictions, so travel to other countries is hardly disputed. The creators of Vilnius Technique have been working on the portal for 5 years and now was the best time to introduce it publicly when everyone is so isolated and eager to taste something new a bit.

There are plans to open more of these portals in various cities in the world and connect even more people

The portal between Vilnius and Lublin was the first in the world, but it will not be the last. The creators of the project hope to connect dozens of cities around the world and two new ones are expected to open soon: one in Reykjavik, Iceland and another in London, United Kingdom.

The team revealed that Reykjavik was chosen because of the very important historical story that links it to Lithuania: Iceland was the first to recognize Lithuania’s independence in 1991 and Lithuanians appreciate it and want to continue the partnership between the countries. Also, Reykjavik contrasts perfectly with Vilnius.

London is important to them as they begin a friendship with another international initiative.

Image credits: Benedict Gylys Foundation

Now Vilnius is linked to Lublin and will last until August. Then it will move to another city. The project creators think that maybe in the future the portals will change cities every 10 minutes more or less because they are open to anyone who would like to join.

Although the cities will have a limited connection time, the project has no time limit, “the project will continue until the destruction of the planet or the end of the problems that cause the separation between people.”

What do you think of this idea? Would you like to see such a ‘portal’ in your city? Let us know your thoughts on this project in the comments.

More than 2k people shared their reactions to this “portal” on Reddit and most of them thought it was a cool idea.

Meanwhile, if you want to read more such exciting lifestyle guides and informative property updates, stay tuned to Feeta Blog — Pakistan’s best real estate blog.

Lithuania And Poland Built A ‘Portal’ Connecting Two Of Their Cities And People Are Loving It

Tuesday, 01 June 2021 by feeta_admin

Published in 700-page, Architecture, Art, Benediktas Gylys, Design, Homepage featured, Lithuania, lublin, News, News & Updates, News and Update, People, Poland, portal, portal between cities, project portal, reddit, stargate, Technology, vilnius, virtual bridge

40 Architecture Examples That Look So Bad, People Just Had To Shame Them

Some buildings will absolutely captivate you with their amazing projects, ingenious architectural decisions and the power of their aesthetics. This article, however, is not about such buildings. No! See, not all buildings are the same, and the “bad guys” should be publicly embarrassed so that others don’t copy their projects. So we will focus exclusively on simple terrifying architectural decisions.

Remember to vote for your favorite photos you love to hate and be sure to follow the arrogant Facebook group if you like their stuff. They are a growing community with awesome content.

Bored Panda talked about what separates good and bad design, the need to democratize access to strange projects on private property, and also the roles that architecture plays with an expert in Sweden’s field that has a background in urban planning. You will find our full interview with her below.

1. I Dunno, Slim Doesn’t Seem To Be Digging This Situation

2. This Pillar Was Straight Last Week. This Is The First Floor Of A Seven-Floor Building

3. I Do Not Give A Damn How Well It’s Cantilevered Or How Strong The Struts Are. I Do Not Have The Kind Of Luck It Would Take To Set Foot In This House

The Swedish planning expert with Bored Panda explained to Bored Panda that while public spaces must meet safety and accessibility standards, aesthetic standards can be much more fluid for buildings. The expert spoke to Bored Panda on the condition that she remain anonymous. (Remember, just because you’re an expert at something and want to help doesn’t mean you always like fame … as opposed to a weird architecture that just asks you to look at it!)

“Most often the elements of the built environment must be in harmony with each other and with the environment. However, sometimes something more daring and ready can form an attractive contrast, “she said. However, the urban planning expert shared with Bored Panda that, in her personal opinion, our built environments should engage us, as well as stimulate our minds and senses. In fact, she believes that the ability of architecture to make us think is one of its most powerful aspects.

**4. The Cactus Is *chef’s Kiss**

5 . This Is Not Photoshopped

6. That Gives Me Anxiety

“There are circumstances when architecture has to create a sense of calm and security, yet there are cases where it’s not bad if the architecture provokes us and makes us think, ‘Why don’t I like the look of this building?’ ”

The city planner said we need to give people the freedom to express themselves the way they want when it comes to designing their private property. As long as they have the resources, almost anything is allowed, in her opinion.

7 . Opera And Ballet Theatre Of Cheboksary (Russia)

8. A Friend Of Mine Cross-Posted This And It Made Me Think Of Y’all

9. I Might Like This If Those Were Slides

“Strange architecture comes from our innate desire to prove our uniqueness. However, not everyone who has the resources has a medium taste for aesthetics. However, if it’s for the people who live or use their private space, I mean why not? “she told Bored Panda that as long as you don’t actively harm anyone, no matter how bad your projects are, you have to be as unique as you want to be. Even if it lacks objective aesthetic standards.

10. Who Remembers Those Gerbil Enclosures That Look Like This?

11. This Looks Like A Place A Villain Would Live

12. I’ll Meet Your Brutalism, And Raise You This

However, the expert acknowledged that others in the industry may not see things the way she sees. Others, she said, believe private property should harmonize with the surroundings.

“But I don’t think we should cross that thin line where architecture becomes reserved only for the rich and for those with good taste ’(whoever decides that). I’m only talking about the private property here. When it comes to public space, there has to be a consensus between public and professional on the design, ”she said, as the rules for the private and public spheres are very different.

13. Um… What Is This?

14. Art Nouveau On Psychedelics

15. I Wonder Who Thought This Would Be A Good Idea

The town planning expert also had some design tips. “First, although I often advocate for unconventional-looking buildings, I do not purposely encourage provocative architecture. The building must be designed with the intention of housing and protecting society. It should create a sense of security but not be boring, ”she told Bored Panda that we need to balance uniqueness and service, expression and community.

16. “Sharkitecture”

17. Can We All Just Take A Moment And Acknowledge That Prince Produced Some Great Music, But He Lived In A Water Treatment Station

18. The “Snail House” In Bulgaria Actually Does Look Like A Snail

In addition, the expert from Sweden pointed out that accessibility, inclusiveness and empowerment should also be key features of any architectural project. “I also prefer somewhat complex but systematic projects. Minimalist and box floor plans are good in some cases when easy access is needed (e.g. hospitals) however they can be completely untrue while more complex floor plan plans are more stimulating (e.g., good for schools, in my opinion). ”

19. Toilet-Shaped House (Named Haewoojae), Built By Sim Jae-Duck, The Chairman Of The Organizing Committee Of The Inaugural General Assembly Of The World Toilet Association

20. Interesting Concept

21. A House I Used To Drive Past In A Little Iowa Town. All I Ever Heard From Locals Was That This Place Had A Terrible Leaking Problem When It Rained

At the time of writing, the ‘Here It Is, I Shaming Architecture’ community had 64.1k members. However, it is growing so fast that when you read this, dear Pandas, that number could be much, much higher. In the last week alone, the group has grown by more than 7.3 thousand members. And they have created more than a thousand posts in the last month.

22. They Drew The Line At A Fountain In The Kitchen

23. You Too Can Have Your Own White Castle

24. I Will Haunt Your Dreams! Residential Building In Belgium

Because of this rapid growth and the problems with it, the manager of the “Architecture Shaming” group, Oregon-based Matthew Brühn, addressed the community and the changes that took place in April. Basically, the rules are now much more structured.

25. I Think Syndrome From The Incredibles Lived Here

26. Bangkok’s Elephant Building. The Tusks Are A Bowling Alley In My Imagination

27. Why?

Matthew pointed out that the administrators were tired of the “massive influx of negativity,” which came with more and more members joining the community. While the manager expressed his admiration for how amazing many members are, he also noted that the group will start filtering out too aggressive posts.

28. Saw This On A Walk Today. A Table Lamp, In A Glass Box, Hanging From The Roof Of A Carport

29. This Is Plane Awesome

30. Spotted This Gem In Tel Aviv

“Don’t take it personally; we’re just trying to create an atmosphere where we can all have fun and be kind. Now is the equivalent of a small town of us all here now, so that will be harder, “Matthew pointed out. He added that mentions of politics and religion will be removed, while all potential new members will have to answer some questions before entering. at the end of the day leads to a friendlier and happier community that, we are sure, abound of you pandas will want to join.

31. Kind Of Reminds Me Of A Church (Granted, A Strange One) But It’s Actually A House With A 6,000 Sq. Ft. Garage… And Its Own Car Wash

32. Surrealist Neighborhood

33. Forbidden Waffle In Santiago

34. This Building Has My City In A Uproar

35. Please Don’t Take It Too Seriously, Just A Surprised House

36. This Place Is All Curb Appeal

37. The Glorious Flower Of Communist Brutalism That Is The Former Central Post Office In Skopje, Macedonia. Some People Want It Preserved

38. Just

39. I’ve Been Looking At Homes Trying To Get Ideas For When We Move In A Few Years And I Came Across A House That Was Perfect In Every Way Except One

What’s in the ever-living fudge – one step is, eh, but this one has three different levels plus the added detriment of the world’s worst architectural details around it. Please have someone else tell me that you hate this as much as I do. I know it’s probably more interior design, but it’s so ugly.

40. Car Dealership Trying For More Of A Classy Look!

Watch this space for more information on that. Stay tuned to Feeta Blog for the latest updates about Architrcture, Lifestyle and Interior Design.

40 Architecture Examples That Look So Bad, People Just Had To Shame Them

Sunday, 23 May 2021 by feeta_admin

Published in 700-page, Architecture, bad architecture, bad design, blueprints, bp-exclusive, building plan, Design, design fails, designs that stand out for all the wrong reasons, Fails, Funny, good and bad design, Homepage featured, Pics, quirky architecture, shaming architecture, That's It I'm Architecture Shaming, weird buildings

Graphic Designers Show What 6 Asian Castles Looked Like Before Falling Into Ruins

You definitely want to travel before this point, so the best we can do is offer you a way to discover something new and exciting without leaving your home. This time it is the largest and most populous continent, Asia, with its 45 million square kilometers of deserts, mountains, plateaus, plains and jungles that carry the history of ancient civilizations. Budget Direct has decided to digitally rebuild 6 castles that have become ruins over the years across five countries in Asia. The architectural wonders of Asia restore their former glory right before our eyes.

This is the newest project in the series of reconstructions by Budget Direct: the team has previously revived European castles, Ancient Wonders and UNESCO-protected heritage sites.

“In 2020, millions of people around the world will be stuck at home, and even in 2021, there are many travel restrictions still in place. To support those looking for inspiration on a travel chair, Budget Direct has decided to bring back some of the most awesome castles from all over Asia. The team started by making a long list of castles in Asia and then limited these to those that had resources available for us to digitally readjust.

They then chose the castles with the most architectural marvel from across the continent to rebuild. The team has been working with researchers, architects and digital designers to bring these ancient castles into the 21st century. ”

So sit back, relax, and start the virtual journey! And hopefully, you’ll find out something new along the way today.

Alamut Castle, Alamut Valley, Iran

In 1090, Imam Hassan-i Sabbāh allegedly conquered the castle without shedding a drop of blood. The new state secured its power through targeted attacks on enemy leaders. Those who carried out these attacks were contemptuously called “Hashashin” (“tumultuous grass”), thus giving birth to the word “Assassin”. Ironically, Alamut’s fame caused its demise; its various conquerors demolished the castle while searching for a legendary assassin.

Alamut Rock is a popular day trek that offers a lookup view of the surrounding country. However, not much remains of Alamut Castle itself; its few surviving stone clouds are covered in scaffolding while the Iranian government tries to partially restore it for tourists.

The Old Summer Palace, Beijing, China

Yuanming Yuan – known in the Western World as the Old Summer Palace – was not a single building but a 3.5 square kilometer complex of palaces, lakes, gardens, towers and sculptures. The pride of the Qing dynasty, Yuanming Yuan, was largely destroyed by British and French troops in retaliation for the death of a British envoy during the Second Opium War. Further destruction occurred during the Boxer Rebellion and the Cultural Revolution.

We chose here to rebuild Haiyantang from the Yuanming Yuan (The Palace of Calm Seas). In front of a two-story Western-style palace, a water clock surrounded the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Today, the Martian ornament of the fountain sits within the contour of its former depression, backed by a spaced view of fallen palace columns.

Hagi Castle, Hagi, Japan

The Mōri Samurai clan lost to Tokugawa in the Battle of Sekigahara, and as a result, had to rebuild their capital in the small seaside town of Hagi. The Mōri got their revenge, however. The castle became the capital of the Chōshū Domain, which was instrumental in the final overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Ironically, the castle was dismantled by the new government in 1874 as part of a policy of centralization and modernization.

Hagi was very awesome at the time. Multiple galleries and walls protect the surrounding land, many of which are still visible. The main wooden fort has been dismantled, but its stone base and part of its moat stand. Higher up the mountain, the remains of a reserve fort can be found.

Ghazni Citadel, Ghazni, Afghanistan

The former slave Sebüktigin received the governorship of Ghazni in 977, but he promptly rebelled against his ruling Iranian rulers to found the Ghazni Empire. Ghazni became the war point of Afghanistan, sought after by the VIP conquerors from the history of Timur (Tamerlane) to the Mongols. When the citadel was famously conquered by the British in 1839, Afghan leadership had to flee Kabul. It was also used as a U.S. military base after 2001.

The remains of the citadel rest on a central hill above the walled city. However, neglect, war and weather severely damaged Ghazni. 14 of its original 32 towers have collapsed, one recently as 2019. Today, Ghazni’s walls, towers and citadel are in danger of being lost permanently to the weather winds.

Raigad Fort, Raigad, Maharashtra, India

Although parts of the structure date from 1030 AD, the already imposing fortifications of Raigad were expanded by Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati (“Umbrella Lord”) here in 1674, establishing the Marathan Confederacy as opposed to the Mughal Empire. The Confederacy ruled Raigad until its destruction by the British East India Company in 1818.

The main entrance to the castle is 820 meters above sea level – a climb of 1737 steps. (Luckily now there is an aerial tramway.) Visitors can still look at the remains of two of the three watchtowers, several reservoirs, stone trading booths and a famous wall called Hirakani Buruj.

Takeda Castle, Asago, Hyogo, Japan

Takeda was built in the 15th century by “the Red Monaco” – a man partly responsible for plunging Japan into the century of chaos known as the Sengoku period. The fort was later conquered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during a reunion. After Hideyoshi’s death, the new shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu accused the final lord of the castle of arson during a pivotal battle. From here Takeda decayed.

Today the ruins of the castle sit 353 meters above sea level. Although no buildings remain standing on the mountain itself, a row of temples has survived at the base. The stone foundations of the castle are well preserved, having undergone minor restorations in the late twentieth century. Due to a seasonal fog that fills the valley, some mornings Takeda seems to float above the clouds.