Architecture and design are complex and fascinating topics that have a constantly changing discussion about the balance between form and function. We’ve written about the importance of symmetry and the homogenization of design and tackled the issue of aesthetics versus safety. We believe both are important, but should aesthetics trump safety?
To help you think about this question, we’ve curated some of the best posts from r/ArchitectureForAdults, an online community dedicated to sharing beautiful architecture and engineering designs. The members of this community are also passionate about sharing their thoughts on safety and aesthetics.
At the time of writing, there were over 3,700 members of r/ArchitectureForAdults. We hope the community will continue to grow and expand over time due to the variety of content they share. It’s also an excellent way to prepare for your upcoming trip.
You can’t expect the same safety standards in every area. For instance, you must focus on the small steps in front of you, the railings that don’t come up to your knees, and the double-decker buses you can ride on.
According to the subreddit, these designs are “unsafe for morons but safe for everyone else.” However, I think that it’s ridiculous to have low railings. I believe that both beauty and safety should coexist. That design should not be sacrificed for the sake of practicality. Also, while having unique and beautiful designs is possible, it doesn’t automatically make them more attractive.
We’re asking you to upvote your favorite photos from this gallery to see which one you liked the most. I’m sure that you’ll agree that this is a great time to collect yourself some more. If you’re a person who fears heights and falling, then please go ahead and hang on to your hats.
01. Mural On The Back Of Acme Incorporated
jabbett02. Almost Pulled A Michael Scott While Delivering Groceries Today
Samxvalle03. You Don’t Need To Be Drunk Anymore
Zerfallsgesetz04. “Stairs”
05. This Staircase
whitae06. A Pool connects all of These Houses
Starlord07. Bruh
abyigit08. In The ’20s, Fiat Had A Test Track On Top Of Their Production Warehouse
piefordays09. Don’t Swing It Side To Side Too Much
TraumaticAcid10. Construction Of The Hindenburg- Yes, Those Are Ladders
TheBirdman11. What Was Their First Idea, Stairs Made From Piles Of Rusty Nails?
jonmpls12. These Obstacles Are Almost Invisible On The Bike Lane
reddit.com13. The Storseisundet Bridge In Norway
petershaw_14. This 1930s Design Let You Hang Your Baby Over The Side Of A Building In A Cage
Honeyontoast15. Meteora Monasteries, Greece
fleebinflobbin16. Step Out Of A Bathtub Down A Flight Of Stairs, Anyone?
TheLoneGinger17. This Architect Accidentally Built A Death Ray That Melts Cars And Fries Eggs… Again
badsalad18. Yes, It’s A Door
19. The Cannonball Loop Waterslide, A Slide So Dangerous It Was Shutdown Almost Immediately After Opening
metricrules20. Hope You Don’t Drop Anything
IrishPubstar21. On The Floor Of the Doctor’s Office. If You Trip On It, You’re In The Right Place
Chriss89922. A Footbridge With Knee-High Sides
MaxPowerzs23. Indian Stepwells | The Construction Of Stepwells Is Mainly Utilitarian, Though They May Include Embellishments Of Architectural Significance, And Be Temple Tanks
wikipedia_it24. Oh, No
Chriss89925. Stairwell In A Hotel I Stayed In
Hun10dog26. I Don’t Even Know Where To Begin
drillbit1627. Wavy Stairs To Make Going Downstairs More Fun
mugbee28. Window That Turns Into A Balcony
TheGr8Canadian
29. Hammock Bathtub
LagoonRoom30. Looks Too Easy To Slip And Fall
desra31. This Infinity Pool In Singapore
DaPizzaDoctah32. Emergency Exit Looks Like Emergency By Itself
33. What Kind Of Stairs Is That Even????
Lolammo34. I Always Wanted A Treehouse
deadburgerboy35. Skyslide At OUE Skyspace In Los Angeles, CA | An Outdoor Glass Slide Attached To The Exterior Of The U.S. Bank Tower. The Skyslide Is 45 Feet Long, About Four Feet Wide, And Made Entirely With 1.25-Inch Glass. Visitors Glide From The 70th To The 69th Floor. Now Permanently Closed
wikipedia_it36. Train To Machu Picchu With A Balcony
robotevil37. Internal Staircase For People Who Like Every Trip To Be An Adventure, And No Longer Have Children
MightyTribble38. These Urinals Where You Can Look Out To The Street. Windows Aren’t Tinted At All, So You Can Also See In. Even Has A Sink On Top Of Each One
Starlord39. The Statue Of Liberty’s Torch, New York, NY
The torch has been closed since the “Black Tom” explosion of July 30, 1916, which was one of the most significant acts of sabotage to our nation before the event of pearl harbor on December 7, 1941 wikipedia_it
40. Adult Transportation
pinkflyingpigs41. God Forbid You Have A Baby Or A Little Dog
NeogeneRiot42. Couldn’t Get A Good Seat? Risk Your Life Trying To Watch The Game!
tdalbert43. The Hanging Temple In China, And Its Thigh High Guard Rails
Komex_44. Montagne De Bueren Staircase In Liège, Belgium | In 2013, It Was Ranked As #1 On The Huffington Post’s List Of Most Extreme Staircases
wikipedia_it45. I Can See Many Kids Falling
DoritoPup46. Imagine Going Down On These Stairs
burcbuluklu47. Hudson Yards Vessel, In New York City, NY | Often Debated On Its Construction For Being Too Easy For Imbeciles To Jump/Fall Off
wikipedia_it48. Accident Prone
HibbityBibbityBop49. Somebody Told Me To Post This Here
IsItKandar50. Paternoster Lifts At Prague City Hall
robotevil51. Ponte Dei Salti A Bridge With Knee-High Sides In Ticino (Southern Switzerland)
AimlessCK52. Let Me Show You Around The House. Wait, Don’t Go There!
depressionandregret53. They Put A Trampoline In The Sky
reddit54. This House Near Goose Creek, Alaska
Cw2e55. It’s Fine, Nothing To Worry About
The-Doulingo-Owl56. Zen Yikes
ricochetblue57. Massive Retractable Windows On This Train In Switzerland
SirConnorMa58. 1880 Switchback Railway At The Hotel Arcadia, Santa Monica
NaotoNakada59. Night At The Drive-In
illegal_brain60. Just Hop On And Off The Back As The Bus Slows Down
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![Wabi-Sabi Hallway Design by @selami.arq [IG]](https://scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/327261876_5428577127246694_7325753967570554285_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=NeDhUhD4yhkAX_JM-8v&_nc_ht=scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfDniCIMfI0_hd12fCIlTJnn5cL2Cf67GT7X55pdzzKZDw&oe=63E36221 "Wabi-Sabi Hallway Design by @selami.arq [IG]")
![Wild House in #palmichal, #costarica by @mazpazz_arquitectura [IG]
More Info: www.garcialachner.com](https://scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/328507434_918068679326310_237975811769222132_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=KaPfljbP4H8AX-mIHqZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfD0ttBItB4b8KuRP8NWBXMbyeAncF5WjnnlZO9-iPzCuw&oe=63E4D7E3 "Wild House in #palmichal, #costarica by @mazpazz_arquitectura [IG]
More Info: www.garcialachner.com")
![Wabi-Sabi Bathroom Design by @selami.arq [IG]](https://scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/327181450_2438576349632062_1107911639692970947_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=KFy_mBzEawMAX_zwUBp&_nc_ht=scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfAJfAyFybb-ifQPKI8LAc11W0cScpNqPlXQaJ7XavUDuA&oe=63E362D0 "Wabi-Sabi Bathroom Design by @selami.arq [IG]")
![Project : Emulating the natural, cultural and historical importance of #Malinalco, #Mexico, home to one of the world’s three monolithic pyramids, the Mague House integrates the sanctity of the natural terrain into its architecture.
Mexican studio @mcxa.group [IG] designed the home’s volumes to carefully avoid any disturbance to the trees and flora of the sloping plot, resulting in an architectural space that meanders its way through outdoor spaces and abundant foliage.
Local materials such as wood, stone and the Mayan version of stucco, chukum, form a dwelling that is decidedly contemporary yet well within a pre-Hispanic cultural context. Slatted wood walls and large portions of glass take turns in forming a façade that simultaneously welcomes natural light into the space while offering its inhabitants their privacy.
The different rooms are distributed along both sides of a cemented footpath that cuts across Mague House’s rectangular floor plan. Certain rooms were designed to be multifunctional and flexible, easily shifting from an area of rest to work.
A number of exterior terraces and patios dot the property, culminating in the main outdoor area which hosts a swimming pool, a monolithic stone bonfire pit, and a wooden pyramid-inspired structure.
Photos by: @diegopadillama [Ig]](https://scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/327314732_546931130543769_717538051681131690_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=ZEQv8c-YUBMAX870LgP&_nc_ht=scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfB9jeG7vGMT1X2I27Y8wb8cEb4cykTLoQg5Lx52KyYhqg&oe=63E43C3A "Project : Emulating the natural, cultural and historical importance of #Malinalco, #Mexico, home to one of the world’s three monolithic pyramids, the Mague House integrates the sanctity of the natural terrain into its architecture.
Mexican studio @mcxa.group [IG] designed the home’s volumes to carefully avoid any disturbance to the trees and flora of the sloping plot, resulting in an architectural space that meanders its way through outdoor spaces and abundant foliage.
Local materials such as wood, stone and the Mayan version of stucco, chukum, form a dwelling that is decidedly contemporary yet well within a pre-Hispanic cultural context. Slatted wood walls and large portions of glass take turns in forming a façade that simultaneously welcomes natural light into the space while offering its inhabitants their privacy.
The different rooms are distributed along both sides of a cemented footpath that cuts across Mague House’s rectangular floor plan. Certain rooms were designed to be multifunctional and flexible, easily shifting from an area of rest to work.
A number of exterior terraces and patios dot the property, culminating in the main outdoor area which hosts a swimming pool, a monolithic stone bonfire pit, and a wooden pyramid-inspired structure.
Photos by: @diegopadillama [Ig]")
![House in minimalist Wabi-Sabi style by @selami.arq [IG]
In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature.
Characteristics of wabi-sabi aesthetics and principles include asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy, and the appreciation of both natural objects and the forces of nature.
"If an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi."
"Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."
Based on this philosophy, I wanted to design a house in the style of wabi sabi, which is widely used in architecture. What are your thoughts?](https://scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/328233421_874614937142322_5203363276096319843_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=NotFxPAzyv8AX-TcUMj&_nc_ht=scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfCZcScW2h1T58cnFvxfcYJf5-vFOWS0AGoGNme4INzDGw&oe=63E39563 "House in minimalist Wabi-Sabi style by @selami.arq [IG]
In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of appreciating beauty that is \"imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete\" in nature.
Characteristics of wabi-sabi aesthetics and principles include asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy, and the appreciation of both natural objects and the forces of nature.
\"If an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi.\"
\"Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.\"
Based on this philosophy, I wanted to design a house in the style of wabi sabi, which is widely used in architecture. What are your thoughts?")
!["A Place in The Universe" by @selami.arq [IG] 🌿🗻](https://scontent-ams4-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/329107771_584012336532591_3904901571419078596_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=7BS6ZBMXkfAAX8YfDNp&_nc_ht=scontent-ams4-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfADFsrvuNb9eUBAzKOgLh0M5RC6DLXsh2JdN2oPrde_8Q&oe=63E50355 "\"A Place in The Universe\" by @selami.arq [IG] 🌿🗻")
![Beautiful Old Town of Assisi, Italy 🌺
Photo by: @banueroncel [IG]](https://scontent-ams4-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/329033303_2483909381760866_1650629221650051961_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=Si0F9DOtMgEAX-Pm9Gh&_nc_ht=scontent-ams4-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfA2Uip4mSg1LyYJ4BG9R8lNJg6mi0qAX37i3bHxVWrG1g&oe=63E4FCB7 "Beautiful Old Town of Assisi, Italy 🌺
Photo by: @banueroncel [IG]")
![Elegant Dark Apartment Interior Design by @kyde_architects [IG]](https://scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/328692831_703350034865719_7139653039274647405_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=fGvyIwbxgAsAX83jNR8&_nc_oc=AQk3OIyqUSoFy98Hxvz33KaocPd-P-YZ4_rr6_mIhepyWGabZReL-PAlvG8Sx-gAKBs&_nc_ht=scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfAbF5cNPUXnDmDrAS91SsWgmNoEH-LgikQQ2QBMvoEBHA&oe=63E4CD0B "Elegant Dark Apartment Interior Design by @kyde_architects [IG]")
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