Rowan Moore's Top Five Architectural Follies

Wednesday 24th Oct 2012
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We asked Rowan Moore to pick his top five architectural follies, and here they are - an eclectic mix from around the world and across the centuries.

What do you think is the world's biggest architectural folly? Tell us in the comments section below to be in with a chance of winning a signed first edition of Rowan Moore's brilliant new book Why We Build.

Post your answer below - you've got until midday on Monday 29th October 2012.

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Ceauşescu’s Bucharest Palace of the Parliament, Romania

Construction of the 1,100 roomed 'People's Palace' began in 1983. In order to make space for the building, 19 Orthodox Christian churches, 6 synagogues and Jewish temples, 3 Protestant churches (plus eight relocated churches), and 30,000 homes in two neighbourhoods were demolished.

1 million cubic metres of Transylvanian marble were used in its construction, and, 3,500 metric tonnes of crystal make up the 480 chandeliers, 1,409 lights and mirrors that were manufactured.

It is rumoured that 20,000 labourers worked in 24-hour shifts, seven days a week to complete the palace - though by the time of the People's Revolution in December 1989 the finishing touches were still being added.

Photo: urbanlegend

Photo: urbanlegend

The Millennium Dome, London

The Millennium Dome, designed by architect Richard Rogers, opened to the public on 1st January 2000 and closed on 31st December the same year. The twelve yellow support towers represent the twelve hours of a clock's face, or the twelve months of the year. 

Photo: mtarvainen

Photo: mtarvainen

Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire

Commissioned by William Thomas Beckford in 1796, the Abbey was designed by architect James Wyatt. The tower, which stands at 90m, collapsed twice before it was finally built in stone. It collapsed again in 1825, but by this time Beckford had sold it.

Photo: Helder da Rocha

Photo: Helder da Rocha

The Olympic Stadium, Montréal

French architect Roger Taillibert designed this for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montréal. There is a lift inside the tower to three viewing platforms. It's taller (the tallest of its kind, in fact,) than the other, more famous leaning tower.

Photo: spcbrass

Photo: spcbrass

Deans Gardens, Atlanta

This 32,000 square foot 'mega mansion' was completed in 1992. Two years later, owner Larry Dean, who made his fortune in software, wanted to sell. It promptly sat on the market for seventeen years, until entertainment mogul Tyler Perry bought it in 2010 for $7.6 m dollars. The original asking price was $40 m. It has fifteen bedrooms (most themed by country or region), an eighteen hole golf course, and a Hawaiian art gallery. It is rumoured that Tyler Perry plans to rase the house to the ground and build something more environmentally friendly in its place. 

Don't forget to tell us what you think is the world's biggest architectural folly for your chance to win a signed first edition of Rowan Moore's book Why We Build. Just post your choice in the comments below by midday on Monday 29th October 2012.

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DollyDelightly
DollyDelightly posted a comment
Wednesday 24th Oct 2012 05:02
The Brazilian National Congress.
 
awatura
awatura posted a comment
Wednesday 24th Oct 2012 05:04
Peterson’s Tower at Sway in Hampshire. An ugly concrete blot on the landscape
 
CuteBadger
CuteBadger posted a comment
Wednesday 24th Oct 2012 08:47
The MI6 building in Vauxhall, London. A jumble of different parts that don't go together - like a Lego building made by a small child after too many E numbers.
 
jseaman
jseaman posted a comment
Saturday 27th Oct 2012 10:48
The Museum of Liverpool, what were they thinking?
 

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