The 11 Ugliest Buildings in the World: When Architecture Goes Too Far

Around the globe, architects, sometimes with genius, sometimes with madness, have created structures so bizarre, they leave both tourists and locals speechless. From dystopian concrete jungles to unintentionally comic design, here are the 11 ugliest buildings in the world and the strange stories behind them.

1. Wotruba Church – Vienna, Austria

Built in 1976 by sculptor Fritz Wotruba—not an architect—the Wotruba Church is made of 152 irregular grey concrete blocks, stacked as if they crashed from the sky. Intended as a modern Catholic sanctuary, it shocked parishioners with its bunker-like appearance. Wotruba claimed inspiration from the Chartres Cathedral in France. The result, however, looks more like construction debris than a place of worship.

2. ZiZkov Television Tower – Prague, Czech Republic

This 216-meter-tall broadcast tower has loomed over Prague since 1992. Locals hated it from the start, not only for its futuristic intrusion on a historical skyline, but also because it was partially built over an old Jewish cemetery.

In 2000, controversial artist David Cerny added giant black crawling babies to the structure, pushing its weirdness into overdrive. Czechs now refer to it as the «rocket» or «Prague’s problem child.»

3. Mirador Building – Madrid, Spain

Meant to beautify the city’s dull suburbs, the Mirador Residential Complex shocked residents when it opened in 2005. Designed with 156 apartments spread across 21 floors, it features a gaping square void in the middle. While meant to symbolize open space, it gives the impression of a giant apartment block missing a bite. Planned gardens were never completed due to budget cuts.

4. Boston City Hall – Boston, USA

An infamous example of Brutalist architecture, Boston’s City Hall has been criticized for decades. Completed in 1968, it resembles a concrete fortress or modern-day ziggurat. Ironically, it served as inspiration for Moscow’s Lenin Mausoleum. Locals joke that it feels more like a prison than the center of democracy.

5. Royal National Theatre – London, UK

Built in 1976 on the South Bank of the Thames, this massive concrete structure was Prince Charles’ least favorite building—he compared it to a nuclear power station. Designed by Denys Lasdun, the theatre’s heavy gray geometry alienates more than it inspires. Though a cultural landmark, it’s often called one of the ugliest buildings in London.

6. Ivry-sur-Seine Residential Block – Paris, France

Looking more like a leftover from a dystopian sci-fi set, this Parisian housing complex was the brainchild of architect Jean Renaudie. Built in 1975, the apartments feature awkward angles that make standard furniture unusable. Despite the building’s unique character and rooftop greenery, locals have spent decades puzzling over how to make the interiors livable.

7. Grand Hotel – Tunis, Tunisia

Overlooking Lake Tunis, this hotel from 1973 was meant to boost tourism but quickly became a joke. Designed to resemble a cruise ship, it’s been mocked as one of the ugliest seaside hotels in the world. Even its current owners are looking to tear it down. Still, some visitors see charm in its retro-futurist look and decent service.

8. The Elephant Building – Bangkok, Thailand

Also known as «Chang Building,» this 32-story elephant-shaped skyscraper has become a reluctant symbol of Bangkok. Designed in 1997 by architect Sumet Jumsai, the building contains apartments, offices, and shops. Many locals feel it’s time to replace the concrete elephant with a more graceful cultural structure—like a temple.

9. Russian Embassy – Havana, Cuba

This bizarre tower-like embassy, completed in 1987, earned the nickname «the Transformer» due to its resemblance to a robotic battle station. Built by architects Alexander Rochegov and Maria Engelke, its brutal exterior was supposedly meant to accommodate Cuba’s tropical climate not impress passers-by.

10. Habitat 67 – Montreal, Canada

Praised by some and mocked by others, Habitat 67 is a residential complex made of 354 stacked concrete cubes. Designed by Moshe Safdie for Expo 67, it was meant to revolutionize urban living. Instead, critics say it now looks more like a glorified Lego set. It’s a striking example of how even futuristic visions can age poorly.

11. Buffalo City Court – Buffalo, USA

Possibly the most intimidating courthouse in America, this 1970s government building has no windows on purpose. City officials reportedly wanted no distractions for judges. Tourists often confuse it with a crematorium or maximum-security facility. Either way, it wins no awards for beauty.

When Architecture Pushes Boundaries and Common Sense

These architectural outliers may not win any beauty contests, but they offer fascinating insights into the risks and quirks of design. Whether they were created with noble intentions or grand artistic visions, each one challenges our ideas of what buildings should look like.

So if you’re planning your next trip and looking for more than pretty landmarks, consider visiting one of the ugliest buildings in the world. You might just walk away with a new appreciation for bad taste.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also tells the story of Uzbek «Monster Building» in Samarkand.