45 Times Giant Suburban McMansions Were Shamed By This Online Community

Homes are much more than just a few walls with a roof. They also have many little details, such as an intricate color scheme, a thoughtfully created floor plan, and eye-catching flower beds. Sadly, some contractors start looking for creative shortcuts for their projects. In the US, this was particularly popular during the 1980s, when mass-produced, cheaply made, hodgepodge buildings started popping up in suburban neighborhoods. Their quick availability, high-end location, and spaciousness attracted many buyers from all over the country. These homes continued to be all the rage up until the 2007 housing crisis and eventually even earned themselves the title of McMansions.

A decade later, Kate Wagner created a whole subreddit where people could share pictures of these pseudo-luxurious structures. It’s called ‘McMansions Hell‘ and it has evolved into a virtual museum showcasing questionable decisions that probably should have stayed in the blueprints.

More info: mcmansionhell.com |Instagram

#1 This May Be The Worst I’ve Ever Seen

#2 Is This House Pregante?

After witnessing a McMansion, it’s typical to start asking yourself how such architectural miracles came to exist. Its origins can be traced back to California in the 1980s, a time of free-flowing capital. New, larger homes were intended to act as pretend mansions for upper-middle-class residents who wanted to show off their financial status. In reality, many buyers took out high-interest mortgages to purchase them, acquiring massive debt and accelerating the housing bubble which burst in 2008. Many people lost their homes or saw their property value drop massively.

Nonetheless, their prevalence set an example on what was desirable in a middle-class home. All of a sudden, sharing a bathroom seemed ridiculous, and 1,200 square feet of space became claustrophobic. The size of houses continued to grow, reaching its peak in 2015, when the average square footage of a home increased to 2,687 square feet.

#3 Has 10 Bedrooms And Costs $1 Mil, Somehow Still Manages To Look Like A Mobile Home

#4 Does Anyone Else Absolutely Loathe The Dugger Estate?

Still, McMansions haven’t gone anywhere. These resilient homes are still thriving in many suburban neighborhoods. Here’s a short guide to assist you in your next McMansion sighting:

Notice an abnormally large house and an unproportionally small yard – you’re probably looking at a McMansion.A house you’re looking at is full of random exterior features and has roofs for days – that’s a McMansion.Passing by a new build that’s already started to crumble – you can consider yourself lucky; you’ve got yourself a McMansion!

Architectural peculiarities aside, they’re also harming nature by being energy inefficient and eco-unfriendly. Some other specific features to look for are misaligned windows, asymmetry, oversized garages, and various wall materials.

#5 ‘slightly’ Overdesigned House, Wildwood, Nj, Can This Be Mcmansion?

#6 Garage Mahal

#7 Went Mcmansion Hunting On Zillow Because I Couldn’t Fall Asleep And Found This In Texas

To raise awareness about suburban homes, the subreddit “McMansionsHell” kicked off in 2017 and has already attracted over 190k members. It is described as “a subreddit about large, cheaply built, suburban homes with design flaws and a lack of architectural integrity also known as McMansions”. Kate has successfully gathered a niche community where design skeptics can share and discuss their findings about puzzling homes.

The main purpose of sharing and discussing McMansions is education. During her TED Talk “I hate McMansions – and you should too”, Kate discussed how these mansions are damaging to our environment as well as our society. She aspires to encourage others to criticize architecture and build a more beautiful society by showcasing such homes through humor.

#8 “I Told The Developers To Go F**k Themselves”

#9 My First Attempt At This

#10 The Air Control Tower Is A Major Selling Point

Even though McMansions aren’t exactly stylish, they are in demand. With the rising popularity of house flipping in the US, people are once again buying them, remodeling and trying to grab buyers’ attention with upgrades that simplify and modernize the home.

#11 “You Ever See One Of Those Ramada Inns? Yeah, Make It Look Like That”

#12 The Most Literal Example Of A Mcmansion I’ve Ever Seen – 1,122 Sq Ft

#13 I Shake My Head Every Single Time I Pass This Bad Boy

After going through many ups and downs, the future of McMansions is foggy. Due to growing house prices, some people are concerned that a new housing bubble may be developing. This could mean that McMansions may face a decreased demand in the upcoming future.

#14 Loganville Georgia. Spec Built, 19,000 Sf. Initially Listed By Builder For $2.6m, Foreclosed & Sold For $374,900

#15 Meanwhile In Germany

#16 Houses Like This Always Bugged Me And I Never Could Figure Out Why Until I Saw This

In the meantime, an evolved kind of McMansion is appearing. Inspired by modernism, McModerns are using the same design logic as its predecessor. The only difference is the exterior, which follows the straight lines of contemporary architecture. McModerns overall have a more simplistic, cohesive design that attracts rich millennials. Fans of McMansions should not worry, as these modern homes have spacious rooms, garages that resemble entire car parks, and extra spaces for other activities such as working, lifting weights and making popcorn in your own home cinema. It’s all a matter of taste, but it seems that they are here to stay too.

#17 Joel Osteen’s Horrendous Mess Of A Dupe-Cash Funded Mchellhole