The new blog McMansion Hell takes a deep look at the large single-family homes built between 1980 and the real estate crash of 2008 (although they are still being built). They filled subdivisions with expensive-looking but poorly-designed houses. The huge common rooms were perfect for socializing, but were placed in neighborhoods in a way that discouraged socializing. They incorporated trendy features that don’t work over the long haul. And they look affluent, although I just learned that they are often constructed poorly compared with older homes.
The blog features deconstructions of specific homes, question and answer posts, and a few that get to the heart of what’s wrong with McMansions, like an explainer on their architectural design, a post on attached garages that dominate the house, and a closer look at the front door. No matter how you feel about McMansions, you’ll learn some fascinating things about architecture. -via Metafilter