Anonymous
Post 12/09/2024 08:44     Subject: Re:What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:McMansion Hell does a really good job explaining why certain houses are ugly. It's mostly to do with proportion - proportionate height vs width, use of visual "blocks," and proportion of windows to each other and the house.

To a lesser extent she points to symmetry, and to mixing architectural styles badly. I don't always agree with her on these - for example, I love Victorians, which are typically asymmetrical (but still proportionate and visually balanced, if done well). Her issue with mixing styles seems to mostly be about features that had a function in their original style, but putting them in a place that negates that function. So for example, gables on a roof that doesn't need them; unusable porticos that pop out like warts, huge tall foyers that need a catwalk-style upstairs passageway to get around.

I am not a fan of colonials, btw - and I love a Sears house. But when you look at what McMansion Hell points out and compare to an actual mansion, you see the difference.


Well said.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2024 08:43     Subject: Re:What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:This is not a great picture, but this lovely 1940s house near us sold for $2 million about six weeks ago, and, as of today, the site has been completely reduced to rubble.

We were pretty shocked that anyone would do this and are awaiting with trepidation what they will put up on the site. Some solace that to make it worthwhile, the new house will have to sell for at least $5 million, so good for our property value I guess.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5070-Millwood-Ln-NW-Washington-DC-20016/436547_zpid/


That was a very pretty home, and I generally hate the new styles being built. But, I understand being frustrated with older electrical, plumbing, insulation, etc. At some point it is more efficient to scrape and replace.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2024 08:15     Subject: Re:What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:This is not a great picture, but this lovely 1940s house near us sold for $2 million about six weeks ago, and, as of today, the site has been completely reduced to rubble.

We were pretty shocked that anyone would do this and are awaiting with trepidation what they will put up on the site. Some solace that to make it worthwhile, the new house will have to sell for at least $5 million, so good for our property value I guess.

That is an absolute crime. Those older homes were well built with unique details.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5070-Millwood-Ln-NW-Washington-DC-20016/436547_zpid/
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2024 08:13     Subject: What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:I love Frank Lloyd Wright, Eichler, Queen Anne folk Victorian, Sears bungalows, American four square, Neutra, Eames Case Study, etc., etc. There are a lot of great architectural styles out there. I find center hall colonials mostly boring.

Same. And for the record, my teens agree. Those new builds are hideous. Part of the problem is lot size, some homes are too big for their lots and have beautiful big windows they look out onto - the street?!
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2024 08:09     Subject: Re:What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:This is not a great picture, but this lovely 1940s house near us sold for $2 million about six weeks ago, and, as of today, the site has been completely reduced to rubble.

We were pretty shocked that anyone would do this and are awaiting with trepidation what they will put up on the site. Some solace that to make it worthwhile, the new house will have to sell for at least $5 million, so good for our property value I guess.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5070-Millwood-Ln-NW-Washington-DC-20016/436547_zpid/


That is sad. Unless there was something truly un-fixable about the house.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2024 23:20     Subject: Re:What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:We’re in CA now and realizing just how ugly so many of the DMV suburb styles are compared to other areas. I love the actual craftsman houses out here and they look nothing like what is called craftsmen in the DMV. I also like the Spanish style houses out here which look nothing like the Mediterranean mini McPalaces in the DMV.


Yes, I'm from CA and I miss the architecture. The hacienda style (my favorite) wouldn't make a ton of sense here but the bungalows and 70s-era splits are great and it stinks that we don't have them here. Notice there are almost no colonials out west.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2024 21:47     Subject: Re:What is NOT ugly architecture?
We’re in CA now and realizing just how ugly so many of the DMV suburb styles are compared to other areas. I love the actual craftsman houses out here and they look nothing like what is called craftsmen in the DMV. I also like the Spanish style houses out here which look nothing like the Mediterranean mini McPalaces in the DMV.
Anonymous
Post 12/07/2024 12:13     Subject: Re:What is NOT ugly architecture?
This is not a great picture, but this lovely 1940s house near us sold for $2 million about six weeks ago, and, as of today, the site has been completely reduced to rubble.

We were pretty shocked that anyone would do this and are awaiting with trepidation what they will put up on the site. Some solace that to make it worthwhile, the new house will have to sell for at least $5 million, so good for our property value I guess.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5070-Millwood-Ln-NW-Washington-DC-20016/436547_zpid/
Anonymous
Post 12/07/2024 09:28     Subject: What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Check out “McMansion Hell”. It’s hilarious and does a great job of explaining why certain builds just look completely incongruous and others are “beautiful.”


It is mostly just a snarky website where a woman insults houses.

Many people cannot afford an architect and custom home builder. Many people do not care about these things. Many people just want enough space for their kids to have a bedroom and somewhere to play.

The woman who runs the website is just being a jerk.


I disagree. She’s pretty educational on why some houses look “off” to the eye and you cannot figure out why. Or why some are considered aesthetically pleasing.

She’s also pretty funny. Sometimes she’s being a bit of a jerk, but never in a malicious way. She’s like “yes this is a mess- here’s why. There are 1000 different architecture styles on this one wing.”
Anonymous
Post 12/07/2024 08:30     Subject: What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:poll quesiton..what do you like better 1 or 2

1: https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/6116-30th-St-NW-20015/home/177097681

2:
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3724-Northampton-St-NW-20015/home/9970640

I am beyond curious if anyone ever picks 1 over 2


They're both bad, but #1 is worse, of course.
#2 initially seems proportionate, but the pediment not centered on the columns and neither of them centered on the door gives it away.
Anonymous
Post 12/07/2024 08:11     Subject: What is NOT ugly architecture?
Pp (new poster above) again.
This quality building includes the smaller “townhouses” or row house in many eastern cities. Many of the brick working class townhouses have materials and building quality that would be hard to find in 2-3 million dollar new houses. Maybe aspects of that quality show up at higher price points.
Anonymous
Post 12/07/2024 08:06     Subject: What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I love Frank Lloyd Wright, Eichler, Queen Anne folk Victorian, Sears bungalows, American four square, Neutra, Eames Case Study, etc., etc. There are a lot of great architectural styles out there. I find center hall colonials mostly boring.


I don’t even think you like the sears homes or the four square. You just think it’s cool to say that. Those homes are like the uggs of the time. They were literally factory made. You’re trying way way too hard.


NP- there’s a quality in materials and craftsmanship (FlWright aside) that is almost never built anymore. Lots of light, high ceilings, but not the crazy energy inefficient double high ones, beautiful wood moulding. It feels good walking into these spaces.

A lot less off-gassing and formaldehyde too.

All houses need more work and maintenance than most of us think about when purchasing. The difference is with attention, the older well-built houses last over a century. Twenty first century houses are junk. What doesn’t burn will melt in a fire.
Anonymous
Post 12/06/2024 16:13     Subject: What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Check out “McMansion Hell”. It’s hilarious and does a great job of explaining why certain builds just look completely incongruous and others are “beautiful.”


It is mostly just a snarky website where a woman insults houses.

Many people cannot afford an architect and custom home builder. Many people do not care about these things. Many people just want enough space for their kids to have a bedroom and somewhere to play.

The woman who runs the website is just being a jerk.


No, there are actual architectural principles explaining why some houses are ugly or not, and she does a great job explaining them. For example:
https://mcmansionhell.com/post/148605513816/mcmansions-101-what-makes-a-mcmansion-bad

You don't have to agree with her on everything (I don't) but it is overall an educated and principled approach. It's just easier to read than a textbook.

Most people buy houses that aren't custom, which is why poor design is so inexcusable. A builder or professional architect should understand these principles, but so many don't even try. It's not the buyer's fault.


She is super snarky.


She’s a class-ist a hole.


You live in a McMansion, don't you??


That PP definitely lives in a McHouse.

PP is insecure about it given that the aren't defending the aesthetics of McDesign but rather ad-hominem-ing anyone who offers valid criticism.
Anonymous
Post 12/06/2024 16:10     Subject: What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:See- the architectural snobs can't provide examples of anything that is attractive aside from colonial.


Mid century modern house.


This is not a home style. I would say in our age of ubiquitous west elm that it’s not even a style


Dp

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/midcentury-modern-architecture-everything-you-should-know

"Midcentury-modern architecture is a style created by architects in the middle decades of the 20th century. Influenced by the optimism of the post-World War II boom and by the exploration of a range of materials, including steel, concrete, and newly available insulated glass, the mainstays of midcentury-modern architecture remain appealing to this day. Though the architects we associate with the style varied in their preferences and creative decisions, there is undeniably a spirit of creativity that unites their creations."
Anonymous
Post 12/06/2024 15:17     Subject: What is NOT ugly architecture?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:See- the architectural snobs can't provide examples of anything that is attractive aside from colonial.


Mid century modern house.


This is not a home style. I would say in our age of ubiquitous west elm that it’s not even a style