What Makes a McMansion Bad Architecture?
The lack of balance, proportion, controlling lines[1] and symmetry are all bad aspects of nearly <i>all</i> modern (in the chronological sense) architecture, not simply McMansions.<p>My primary issue with McMansions specifically (beyond the fact that they lost the thread on western architecture, which should be blamed on the academy[2]) is that the materials and workmanship are terrible: ugly gaps, quick to stain stuccos and metals, slapdash construction and very little craftsmanship.  The flip culture that the mortgage-debt bubble of the last 15 years created has exacerbated this issue to almost comical levels.<p>[1] - <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Old-Way-Seeing-Architecture-Magic&#x2F;dp&#x2F;039574010X" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Old-Way-Seeing-Architecture-Magic&#x2F;dp&#x2F;...</a><p>[2] - <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Bauhaus-Our-House-Tom-Wolfe&#x2F;dp&#x2F;0312429142&#x2F;ref=sr_1_1" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Bauhaus-Our-House-Tom-Wolfe&#x2F;dp&#x2F;031242...</a><p>EDIT: After reading another post[a] of his, it is worth mentioning another chronic problem with modern (again chronological, not stylistic) building: the buildings often look like they are about to fall over.  A particular pet peeve of mine is the flashing gap found at the base of many houses and buildings, which introduces a disconcerting negative gap <i>right where a soothing, wide foundation should be</i>.  Visual insanity.<p>[a] - <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;mcmansionhell.tumblr.com&#x2F;post&#x2F;148935246684&#x2F;mcmansions-101-columns" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;mcmansionhell.tumblr.com&#x2F;post&#x2F;148935246684&#x2F;mcmansions...</a>