McMansions an architectural point of view

For those that haven't heard the podcast 99% invisible, i cant recommend it enough! Its centered on topics of architecture/design. They have recently done an episode on McMansions, there design, what defines a McMansion, construction and also touching on McMansions as investments. The link contains the podcast and also some interesting examples.

McMansion Hell: The Devil is in the Details - 99% Invisible

 

I was expecting some commentary on the Australian McMansions. Those hideous 2 story buildings with no eaves that popped up all over western Sydney in the nineties and noughties.
Are people still building those?

 

Sadly yes. One of the reasons I always put eaves at a minimum on the front facade no matter how budget I'm going.

 

I have probably built a lot of these houses. Not in the nineties but 2001-02 was a truck load of them. We have built a few big McMansions before.

I would never build my own house or live in a house with no eaves. They are very ugly homes without eaves.

 

Got all the way to the end of the page and realized I hadn't read any of the text, just laughed and shook my head at all the picture comments. Probably wouldn't notice half of them myself.

TDIL; Shiplap is a type of wooden board used commonly as exterior siding in the construction of residences, barns, sheds, and outbuildings. Shiplap.

Just one question... is the first pic considered a McMansion? I quite like it

 

My wife liked it also, she commented that "its the kind of house the Kardashians would live in".

 

Not really Aussie spec McMansions though.

 

IMO nothing makes a house look cheaper than no eaves!

 

Yep unless it's a modern boxy facade with parapets etc.

For traditional homes eaves are a must.

 

I'd say yes. There's no unifying style. Eg the windows are different styles. And there are silly baubals - eg that little tower over the carport.

 

Surely the Melbourne version of this is the faux French provincial style, that's cropped up all over the Inner East?



I really don't like these sorts of houses: They're generally built to the edges of the plot, making them oversized for the street; the design is a pastiche, and quite ugly; and they're not particularly well constructed.

I suspect that the blog post is correct in asserting that they exist as a way of conspicuously advertising wealth, along with "adding value" to a site.

The other problem I have is that quite often the "underdeveloped" sites are occupied by a more interesting property, which is flattened for one of these monstrosities.

 

Youd think they could atleast trim their hedges and maintain thier lawn

 

Same. Tenants have a bad habit of leaving windows open during rain also.

 

Glenvill/Englehart?

 

I agree, they are just so big and 'slabby', there is no flow to the design at all.

I know the classic triple fronted Bell Park style home is not that fashionable, but the design just flows so well...they are beautiful! Please tell me I am not the only one who loves this style!

 

I don't mind the triple front also, my favorite design would have to be the single fronted north Adelaide workers cottages.

 

Here's an example of what I'd consider a more interesting house that made way for a French Provincial McMansion. It was at 34 Heyington Place, Toorak.



It was a relatively modest place, but the original plan had a neat courtyard garden set-up. I don't think that it was actually built this way, but I like the proposed garden design.

 

Council swamped with McMansion complaints.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/realest...s/news-story/b5e27010fe20cd904a746012488b9cba

 

I cant stand people who think they should be allowed to tell people what type of house they should have to build, what size garden they should have, how many trees etc etc. Yes I think they are ugly as hell and I would probably never choose to live in one, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. If they want lots of trees and a big garden they are quite able to do it with their own house

 

An interesting article with some informative charts on house sizes.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/bus...s/news-story/9b106fb27d7d1c31707933a25199ce72