7 Contemporary Architecture Fails from Around the World

"The world is full of grand plans that were never completed-or eventual disappointments once they had been Both in Spain and around the world, some of the most interesting landmarks have degraded into contemporary architecture fails. In some cases, bold new projects have ended with buildings being returned to their previous states and uses, others remain uncompleted, and an unfortunate few have been condemned to be demolished."

"commonly known by its Spanish acronym. The ambitious project extended over 700,000 square feet and included nine cultural facilities, as well as various studios and other spaces that could function independent of the center. When the 2008 financial crisis hit Spain alongside the rest of the world, a lack of funding brought the project to a halt, and eventually abandoned. It was only 70% complete."

"It was only 70% complete. Over time, the building has been offered to actor Richard Gere, who considered using it to create a large Buddhist center; to the NBA to use as a campus dedicated to basketball; and to the Spanish Olympic Committee to house a university of sport. No decision about its future use has been finalized at this time."

Several high-profile architectural projects in Spain were left incomplete, abandoned, or repurposed due to financial and logistical obstacles. The Centro de Creación de las Artes Alcorcón (CREAA) began in 2004 as a 700,000-square-foot cultural complex with nine facilities and independent studios, but the 2008 financial crisis halted construction at 70% completion. Proposals for reuse included a Buddhist center, an NBA campus, and a sports university, but no final decision has been made. The Parque de la Relajación in Torrevieja, designed by Toyo Ito, began construction in 2000 and planned three buildings around a large wooden shell next to a nature park. Globally, other ambitious landmarks have degraded into architectural failures, with some returned to prior uses, some unfinished, and a few demolished.

Read at Architectural Digest