McMansions 101: What Makes a McMansion Bad Architecture?
This article explains the architectural principles behind 'McMansions,' focusing on the misuse of massing and voids. It argues that these homes often fail due to poor balance and an overabundance of competing architectural features.
Why it matters
It provides a framework for understanding residential design and the cultural critique of suburban architectural trends.
Sometimes people ask, why is xyz house bad? Asking this question does not imply that the asker has bad taste or no taste whatsoever - it means that they are simply not educated in basic architectural concepts. In this post, I will introduce basic architectural concepts and explain why not all suburban/exurban/residential houses are McMansions, as well as what makes a McMansion especially hideous.
Subjective aesthetic critique presented as an educational guide.
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