Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

Golf ball living at Bolwoningen

Posted by Alex Turnbull, Friday, 26th September 2008

The Bolwoningen golf-ball-shaped buildings are an early-80s housing project reminicent of the previously featured “Kubuswoning” cube-housing.

The stupendously-ugly (and presumably incredibly impractical) homes were designed in the late 70s by an architect going by the name of Dries Kreijkamp.

Mr. Kreijkamp doesn’t seem to have done much else of note during his career, and by the sound of things, was a little obsessed with his balls.

All of which begs the question, what is the ugliest building you’ve ever seen? (If enough of you post a comment with a link then we’ll post a roundup of the best ones over the weekend.)

Thanks to colapunk.

Countries: Netherlands

Posted in: Buildings

10 Responses to 'Golf ball living at Bolwoningen'

1. IngerD says: September 26th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Look carefully through the woods… (where the motorcyclist seems to be looking…)
Is that one of the most ridiculous houses in the world? Or is it a SPACESHIP?!?

Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
2. Keith T. says: September 26th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I am surprised (disappointed?) that none of the owners have painted them to look like death stars.
3. Paul W says: September 27th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Reminds me of the radar balls at Menwith Hill: Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
4. Michi il Disperso says: September 27th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Aliens…
5. Izzy says: September 27th, 2008 at 11:03 am
The ugliest building I have ever seen is Appleton Tower Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

I can back this up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appleton_Tower#Criticism

We all want them to knock it down.
6. cookie monster says: September 27th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Am i the only person who doesnt think these are ugly but are actually really cool?
7. Geoff says: September 28th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Not at all - I think they look really cool too. Would love to see what they look like inside
8. dr.R. says: September 29th, 2008 at 10:31 am
This page has some pictures of the interior. Ugly or not, at least they’re original.

In the UK, these buildings here were nominated as worthy of demolition. If I’m not mistaken they had a similar poll in The Netherlands a couple of years ago but the Bolwoningen were not even included in the list… Which probably means there are plenty of other buildings that are even worse!
9. Izzy says: September 29th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hmmm… as an Edinburgh resident, I’d say that while the Parliament buildings here are not attractive, they haven’t been around long enough to say definitely whether they are ugly or not. (See dr.R.’s comment)
On the other hand, Appleton Tower has been around for ages (see my earlier post). It was gonna get Grade 2 listing [protected building status], but there was so much protest that it got blocked. Sadly it didn’t make C4’s final shortlist.
Yeah, I really hate Appleton Tower. I used to study there.
10. Alex says: September 29th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I’m with you Izzy, unfortunately I can see the Appleton Tower from my front window…