Why are “hip” Houston condos so butt ugly?

[Zoo2000]

I like how inner loop Houston is slowly pushing up/taller as the area population gets bigger. Without the guidance of zoning and a master plan, Houston is developing in the same vein as other big cities.... without much of the red tape. Sure there are losers (i.e. Ashby high rise neighbors) but so too are their losers in cities with tighter regulations (i.e. Why Portland Oregon is so expensive )
I think some of the new townhouse are pretty and others ugly... but even here in the newer suburbs I think that there are some pretty new builds and some ugly ones (too much stucco in both places!!!). But even in my old neighborhood --- built in the late 1970s--- there were good looking houses and ugly ones... i.e. What was up with the kitschy faux Tudor fad back then ?

[A.Typical.Girl]

Originally Posted by elnina

I saw them build literally next to railroad, and so close to each other - you can shake hands with your neighbor across.

Some ugly samples here...

I used to work for a homebuilder, so am familiar with all kinds of designs. Never saw anything like those. Some are sorely lacking in design. They almost look as if the builder didn't know what to do style wise... so mismatched a few types of bldg designs together, like the saltbox flat fronts sans awnings paired with industrial looking garage doors instead of a nice porch. All I can think about is in that TX sun, those metal doorknobs must be lightning hot in the summer, without anything to shield the door.

Once a car dealer tried to sell me a new, worn-out-shoe brown Toyota with butterscotch yellow plaid seats. It was more hideous than it sounds. He said it was a special order, but the person didn't buy the car & he'd give me $1K off the price. Aside from the 11-yr old, lime green Fiat I drove as my 1st car, I'd never seen anything as ugly. I told him I couldn't possibly feel good about paying a monthly pmt for years & then come out of my house each morning to look at that monstrosity. If a realtor tried to sell me one of those homes, I'd have the same feeling... unless the interiors are sensational & I'm guessing they're modest with low end fixtures & awkwardly built. Those types of homes feel unsettling when inside.