Ugly Buildings Round the World Part 7

 

Above, here, is the incredibly ugly site of the 'Kaden' Building.

According to Wikipedia, this monstrosity is a 15-story office building in suburban Louisville, Kentucky. The building opened in 1966 and was originally named Lincoln Tower. The building is notable for its cantilevered structure and its suspended lacework facade.

I think it looks like a standard office block, with unfinished scaffolding bolted on. The scaffolding looks as if it's about to fall off. It's truly hideous!

I aim to put another one up soon, so enjoy!

Ugly Buildings Round the World Part 6

Hi All,


I have decided to include the Shard in my latest posting because it is, in my opinion, not very nice to look at.
According to Wikipedia it's 309.6 metres tall and has the title of tallest building in Europe. and is also the second-tallest free-standing structure in the UK. It's in London.

It looks a bit like an unfinished, tall greenhouse. It doesn't even look as if it's closed at the top.Good luck to anyone living in it. They'll definitely need to buy some thick curtains!

Ugly Buildings Round the World Part 5

Today it's the turn of the First World Hotel, Pahang, Malaysia.

As you can see from the picture, this building looks as if a child has been given totally free reign with various coloured crayons. The overall picture this gives the hotel is that of looking like a multi-coloured beach umbrella.

First World Hotel, Malaysia

It may (or may not) surprise you to learn that according to wikipedia this hotel has over 6000 rooms, was until recently the largest hotel in the world. Currently, it's the 4th largest. There are 28 floors and below the hotel is the First World Plaza, a complex of shopping malls, a casino and an indoor amusement park.

Why anyone would want to stay in a building that you need to wear sunglasses to look at is beyond me, but I guess people do, because it's still going strong.

Until next time.

Ugly Buildings Round the World Part 4

Cebu Doctors' University, Philippines.

Hi All,

I only managed to post an update a few weeks ago, so this week you get an extra picture! Lucky you. I have decided to continue the worldwide theme, and the picture is posted above this time.

It's Cebu Doctors' University. This was founded in 1975 and it was granted university status in 2005. This one isn't especially ugly, as such. Unfortunately, nobody seems to have noticed that this buiding was built with a striking resemblance to an air conditioning unit.

Until next time.

Ugly Buildings Round the World Part 3

Hi All,

I have another amazingly ugly building for you. It's the 'Antilia' from South Mumbai in India. I know it's not in the Latin American world, but it deserves a mention because, when viewed from a distance this, this one is a horror.

Antilia, Mumbai, India.

This building (according to Wikipedia) is 27 floors high and is built on a plot of 4,532 square metres. The most amazing thing about this, is that it's reported to have cost between 1 and 2 billion dollars. That makes it the most expensive building in the world. It's also been described as the 'Taj Mahal of 21st century India'. Are they even looking at the same building?

The fact is, it looks like an unfinished greenhouse, combined with a multi-storey car park. To be fair, the building isn't fully finished yet, but I'm not sure it'll look a great deal better when it is finished. Here's hoping it will be.

Until next time.

Ugly Buildings Round the World Part 2

Hi All,

Continuing the theme of the previous week, I enclose another picture of one of the ugliest buildings in the world. This time it's the turn of the Edificio Mirador (Gazebo Building) from Madrid. I can't really describe this one that clearly. It's such an assault on the senses. It looks a bit like a multi-coloured, drunk, and rather unattractive elephant.

Edificio Mirador, Madrid. Unbelievable.

According to Wikipedia it was built in 2005, and is, shockingly, a residential building. I most certainly wouldn't live in it. It's approximately 64 metres in height, with 21 floors. The apparent 'highlight' of this particular beast is the large central hole that is about 37 metres above ground. It contains a large look out area that provides the residents (inhabitants) with a garden and a space they can view the rest of the city. I can't imagine it'd be much of a garden, but I reckon the views of the city are OK.

I admit that after the shocker of last week, this one isn't quite so bad. It's a newer building for one, just imagine what it'll be like in 10 years. It doesn't bear thinking about. Again, if anyone has any more pictures of horrific buildings please let me know.

Until next time.

A quick post

Hi All,

Just had a good listen to my buddy Matt singing in his new(ish) band 'The Outlines'. They are a good group, and if you want to listen to some of the music they have come up with then check out the following link:

http://theoutlines.bandcamp.com/

I had a listen to Let's Work Together' and 'She Belongs To Me'. They are both great tunes. I understand that 'The Outlines' are available to hire for parties etc etc, so feel free to look at their website and check them out.

Another friend of mine (Paul) is also in a group. I haven't listed them here because he's actually in about 5 bands and that seems to change every 5 minutes so I can't list them here. If Paul wants to send me a link to his latest group I will certainly add the link(s) here.

Until next time.

Ugly Buildings Round the World Part 1

Hi All,

As you may or may not know, I have started a campaign against some of the ugliest buildings in the world. I started this a while ago, but no-one sent me any pics to be included here, so I'm having another go at it.
I'm going to kick it all off with the following absolutely hideous structure.

Arguably the ugliest building you will ever, ever see.

If you have ever been to Buenos Aires and seen the 9 de Julio (9th of July) main road that runs through the centre of downtown then you will have undoubtedly seen the building above. It's apparently something to do with the Argentine Ministry of Health and it's absolutely shocking. It isn't in any way subtle, and dominates the entire road, and it's a big road.

In my opinion they should just knock this horror down and replace it with something a bit more pleasing on the eye, such as, a piece of excrement. Anyways, if any of you have seen any really shocking buildings and happen to have photos of them, send them over and I'll add them here.

Thanks for reading.

It's been a while since my last post but....

Hi All,

I understand it's been a bit of a break since my last post, but lots and lots has been happening since then. Firstly, I have been out on a jetski and that was a pretty terrifying experience I can tell you. It was fun, but they are extremely fast and obviously, being a kind of boat, they have no brakes, which means that it's either power 'on' or power 'not on'. they go quite a speed as well.

Also, I have been to Dubai and I had a great time there. I finally got the chance to go up the world's tallest man made structure, the Burj Khalifa as it's known. It takes a good minute or 2 to get to the 'top'. It's a bit unfair really saying that you go to the top, you don't you go to a point about 430 odd metres in the air.it's high, but it isn't near the top. It goes up for another 300 odd metres above you at that point.

Later that day I went and saw the fountains that are in the lake at the base of the tower. In the evening they put on a light and music show and it's quite spectacular. I might well be in Dubai over the next few weeks as well. I managed to find this cheap place (relatively) to stay in, so I'd use the place again if I decide to go back.

Other than the above things are still ticking along teaching wise and I m not sure what will happen early next year once my contract finishes. I'll have to wait and see what happens.

That's all for now.

A blog for a new year and a new challenge

Hi,

It's been a while since my last post, and to be honest it's been a bit difficult to think about where to go with this blog. Last year I attempted to do a daily update, but just didn't have the time to do it. This year, I have decided not to be so ambitious, which is why it's taken me a few weeks or so to post anything for this year.

I have decided to use the blog this time to post up any stories or events that happen to me here in Abu Dhabi, or in general, in life, and I'm also going to be using the blog to post ugly building of the week (or every few weeks). You know, the kind of architectural monstrosity that makes you think 'eeeeeek, what were they thinking when they built that pile of cack?'.

So, I need your help, I need as many pics of ugly buildings as I can find, and I shall be putting picture one of the 'ugliest buildings in the world' up in the next week or so. I hope you will all join me in this, as we attempt to bring people's attention to these horrific things that someone thought were a good idea!