I guess everything is relative. I have often looked wistfully across the pond from Canada at the architecture in the UK. Ugly? Our typical building is unimaginative post war concrete (and I like concrete). But then again I have only to look south of our boarder to experience worse architecture ... as I said, everything is relative. So I wouldn't be overly critical about the state of architecture in the UK, it could be a whole lot worse.

Michael, Toronto, Canada

I wholeheartedly agree with Tom Dyckhoff's assessment of the state of recent architecture in Bristol. The city's planners seem to abide by a five story limit that makes most new buildings appear squat and uninspiring. The use of colour in these developments is truly calamitous. Reminiscent of a teenage boys bedroom or a Italian ice-cream parlour these gaudy palettes illuminate an already flawed design. Bristol has so much to offer as a modern city. So, to see it visually stunted by a lack of ambition and vision is deeply depressing.

marcus jefferies, bristol, england

we should add all council estates (which have not become privatly owned and are still run by councils) , which have designed by patronising architects wanting to "make people life better"...well they should have been forced to move in there as well!

Bi, London, GB

Uglyiest? Whilst your happy putting the knife into many buildings that have dared to be different, what about this papers very own horror in Wapping? News International's blighted the area for years with something akin to a self-storage warehouse with barbed wire.

Gavin, London,

Leeds has some depressing new tower blocks, one is called Bridgewater Place and needs to be knocked down already. How do the builders and architects get away with it? Fearfully unimaginative.

Roger Kojan, Leeds, UK

The Orion Building is a disaster. The architects, BBLB, seem to have designed for one view only and that is from Centenary Square looking down Suffolk Street Queensway. They failed to acknowledge the poor aesthetics when it is viewed from the opposite end or when it is viewed from New Street Station/ Navigation Street. The construction hardly proved to be a massive success as the rendering on the facade will deteriorate over time as it traps pollution. The windows are very unusual looking with some looking a little out of shape. You can also clearly see the joinings of the large plates on the outside. One thing that this article has failed to pick up on is the dodgy colour scheme. There are patches which have been painted in an entirely different colour to the rest of the building. Lets hope the new phase of the build is so much better otherwise the only redeeming feature is that it should be demolished within the next couple of decades - just like the buildings of the postwar era.

Tom, Birmingham, England

At a very recent alumnus of the University of Leicester, I couldn't help but frown at your mention of Opal Court. I never lived at these halls of residence but I heard very many positive reviews of the building, including the excitement of those who first clapped eyes on it, contrary to your rather glib interpretation.

Roger, Yamagata, Japan,

Actually I rather like St Georges Wharf but I take the point that "like Topsy, it grew!" I love the willie ( gherkin) and the testicle ( London City hall) facing each other and also enjoy the surprise of going inside some boxy structures to a version of heaven inside: Trump Tower ( the first one) Battery Park City, and other havens of peace in New YorkCity.
I'd love to go inside the Lloyds building, but would I, a mere pleb be allowed to the top floor where the view is? Apart from the big wheel (long may it stay!), The Monument , the Oxo tower and the walkways at Tower bridge, there is nowhere to go up and actually see that the Earth is curved from a tall building. We not only lost the Twin towers and lives at the World Trade Centre. We lost a place to go and for me that was the greatest loss of all.
People cannot go up and see vistas of our city, without eating in expensive restaurants, revolving or not. Canary Wharf is closed to the public by big business. Try Paris for vistas!

Carlyle and Len Braden, Croydon, UK

I recently arrived from New Zealand to show my NZ wife my beloved Norwich Market - to find the old market (the candy striped awnings around shabby wooden huts) replaced with the clinical boxes as described by the author of the article. Clinical, hygeinic, boxy, boring. None of the character of a market was there - just pseudoshops for people who cannot afford to buy a real shop. Even the old concrete floor has been replaced making it resemble supermarket tiles. Before and after photos would have been good; as would photos of all the buildings the author was discussing.

Rob Martin, Auckland, New Zealand

This article needs pictures almost as much as the last one "World's 10 sexiest 18 year-old girls"....

Richard, Camridge,

I think you talk rubbish about Broadgate. It's a fantastically clad, step into the future building you could ever get. When you compare this 'box' to those in Canary Wharf it is 10 times better.

James Downie, London, UK

Why is their a picture of the amazing base of the stunning (and proposed) BISHOPSGATE Tower under the name and description of the Under Construction BROADGATE Tower? I think you got a bit mixed up. I agree with some of your choices though. However, I can't believe some people here find Swiss Re (The Gherkin) ugly. Well, each to their own I suppose. I guess I can take pride in the fact that it is considered one of the most admired new skyscrapers in the world, and is leading to ever taller and better highrise proposals in the city.

Les Ferris, Newcastle, England

Yes, this article needs pictures!

barbara, San Francisco , CA

In your mult medis pics The Broadgate Tower looks magnificent!!

Fred, Perth, Australia

John Thompson attacks George Ferguson. How about defending Bristol Harbourside?

Andrew Lynch, Bristol, UK

the gherkin wins hands down. a contemptible edifice.

coffeesnob, melbourne, oz

We have equally ugly buildings in America. There is nothing of note which would cause future generations to marvel or appreciate. When the architects begin to design lasting structures with historical continuity, then we will have true architecture. We now have pre fab, string and paper, tubing and wire, glass and plastic structures that look like toys instead of places of commerce. Legos, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, Robotix, Erector Sets, and Transformers do not a building make.

Linda Burgess, Fairfax, VA, US

One has to wonder how much of this architecture will still be around in 2,000 years.
I think this will certainly be regarded as the Age of Mediocrity.
We need another Christopher Wren for sure.

Phill Barlow, Heswall, UK

I agree with your Antipodean correspondent. Lacking photos of what you think the worst, I took a look at what you consider the best and could only shudder in horror.

These loud tantrums demanding instant attention represent, to mind mind at least, the terminal decline of architecture from the art of building to merely the servicing of a passing fashion.

Contrary to what was written in your article, "on time" and "on budget" are not impediments to but rather the results of good design. The unstated assumption in your article seems to be that design consists of the eye-catching trivia, what Vanbrugh called, with some scorn, "the great expensive bits, such as columns &c." (paraphrase, not quote) rather than the rational satisfaction of programme requirements.

You quite rightly denounce surface "bling", but your 10 best selection leaves me wondering if you have any understanding whatsoever of the profession.
Cheers

Brian Allardice, Shenzhen, PRC

The Welsh Assembley Building in Cardiff Bay is horrible. It's like some kind of petrol station bloated to match the egos of the residents.

Andrew, Cardiff, UK

It's such a shame that Architects who pitch for work and then don’t get it spend the rest of their lives moaning about it and knocking fellow Architects.

In the case of Bristol you have listened too much to George Ferguson, himself a very average egotistical mouth piece who runs a very mediocre practice.

Why do people who come second complain about those that beat them and don’t put their effort in trying to do better work in future?

John Thompson, Cardiff, Wales

Let me nominate the bullet (if I'm to be kind) or, rather the giant phallus (if I'm to be truthful) that rises above 30 St. Mary's Axe in London. I don't have a picture -- not that you could print one in a family newspaper anyway. The worst part is that my own company has offices in this monstrosity.

PaulTC, Richmond, Virginia/USA

Bad as much of it is the recent wave of building is less depressing aesthetically than what was built in the 1960's and 1970's. There are many more beautiful buildings now.

Marek, London,

Surely Britain's ugliest building is the truly monstrous carbuncle Palumbo erected at 1 Poultry? This blancmange of a building is rendered doubly hideous by the memory of the beautiful Wappin & Webb building so disgracefully destroyed to make way for it. I have yet to meet a single person that doesn't detest it.

Christophe Gregoire, London, England

Good article but rendered useless without photos.

Tony, Halifax, Canada

I was once told that the sign of uninteresting architecture was the sign of a weakening economy as companies batton down the costs in times of desperation. As a former resident of one of your buildings above (The Orion Building), I can say the shoddy workmanship and cramming of flats into a boring building is pretty telling tale. The water wall in the entrance is a nice touch but my landlord was charged through the teeth for it on the lease.

Al, Birmingham,

With all of histroy to look over, the modern crop of large design projects, show architects have learnt nothing. the glass laden miss judged constructions are amazing, planning departments will not allow an old lady to have a small tree cut down, but will let a giant multistory light eating bunion to be built. I want accountability of the people who allow these disasters to put there names and faces to them so when people realise that it has ruined there local area someone looses their job just as i would if i make a monumental mistakes.

rob, london,

What about the Scottish Parliament? Hideous!!
And came in at £400 million as opposed to the initial estimate of £40 million. Cheers Donald!

Paul, Glasgow, Scotland

I'd just like to vote the New Wembley Stadium as the ugliest of them all. I went to my first footy match there last Sunday, having regularly attended games at Wembley from 1967 until the very last match in 2000. The old stadium was hopelessly outdated in many ways, but it still had character, warts and all, from its twin towers, Empire Exhibition setting and intimate atmosphere. It always felt like visiting an old friend, elderly and infirm and rambling maybe, but a rewarding experience.

I'm afraid the New Stadium offers nothing at all apart from its pretty arch. Ok the seats are good and facilities ok, but there is no atmosphere at all. My son felt it was like an airport terminal, (NOT a Madrid that's for sure), whilst I felt that it had all the charisma, in terms of style and ambiance, of a shopping mall. This does seem to be the way stadia architecture is going generally, but surely Norman Foster could have done better with this prestige international project

Patrick Coffey, Heathfield, England

I wouldn't so much mind 'modern architecture' if they knocked down other not-so-modern architecture to build it. But continuing to destroy our finite stock of old, character, buildings such as the Mappin & Webb building at Mansion house, is unforgiveable. It is not enough to save individual gems - even the finest old building is diminished without its surrounding context of similar age.
And if large houses in the suburbs must be demolished to build nasty little breeding boxes, let it be 60s houses and not the fine examples from the 20s and earlier that are being crassly destroyed in the thousands.

Ivor Duarte, Shepperton, UK

I happen to like St George Wharf in all it's shiny green glory. But then thanks to the wonder of shared ownership, it is my home.

Besides, I thought architects were complaining about "timid, dreary" architecture? Can't accuse SGW of that, even if you happen to think it's an eyesore.

I like it in all it's CSI-Miami style over-the-top glitteriness, leave it alone!

Kate , Vauxhall!,

can't I put forward the University of Essex campus? those tower blocks blot the beautiful essex skyline. Their only use is to appreciate the view of East Anglia.

what's worse is that lined up in a row, they create a bitter wind tunnel every winter.

Chris Bridge, London,

I kept looking for photos too. Not video, just pictures. Otherwise, a good article.

h saffell, canyon lake, texas usa

Where are the photo's?!!!

Alex, London,

The Lewinski Arts Building recently constructed at the University of Plymouth tells us all that is bad about the institution itself. A monstrosity of glass and already corroding copper It bullies and overwhelms the classical civic museum and library opposite. All part of the master plan to crowbar out the old and functional whilst jemmying in the new and excruciating.

Chris Rendle, Devonport, England

Try the link below where its says "multimedia" - Pictures: Britain's ugliest buildings indented in the article!!

Jeff, reading,

Government planning policy is clear that design is a material planning consideration in the assessment of applications for planning permission. Planners have it within their power to be far more demanding when it comes to the design of the buildings put before them. Unfortunately too many council planners approach the profession with a jobsworth attitude, failing to recognise how key their recommendations are to the aesthetic appearance of the built environment.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

The new Wembley looks fantastic. The Crescent in Bristol will add to the vibrant waterfront in that City. Drake Circus looks exciting in the photo and St George's Wharf stunning in the photograph. OK Lidl is awful, but then as the caption says there is no architect involved. Perhaps Mr Dychoff needs a holiday. I note he hasn't been further north than Leicester in his scientific study of Britain's buildings!

Martin Dudley, North Somerset,

I actually really like the apartments in Vauxhall, they're very classy!

SK, London,

Although not new, surely one of the most hideous buildings in London is New Zealand House, trumpeted in 2005 by The Twentieth Century Society as “London's most distinguished 1960s office block.” There is a photograph of the exterior and several more of the interior, including courtyards which are palmed off as “gardens”: see http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/building/newzealand.html . It sticks out like a sore thumb and is completely out of balance with its immediate neighbours. If any building cries out for de-listing, this is it.

David Cunard, Los Angeles, USA

Competence in an architect would permit him or her to design a building that was good to look at, useful, on time and on budget. Why can't they do this?

Some new buildings may be as dull and lumpy as cold porage, but they will never attain the crushing, demoralising nastiness of the Concrete Age.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

You forgot to mention Tesco Stores, all of which seem to be loosely based on the style of Stansted Airport - and that is not a compliment! Smaller Tesco stores at least used to try to blend in, with a coy attempt at a clocktower and a weathervane, but now they are huge, ugly and de-humanising!

Lynne Williams, London,

I sympathise with the general tone of the article; with good examples of the dire state of architecture in this country.
There are gems; the high profile cultural & small private projects or those in high profile locations such as the TBC towers in the City. However these are by their very nature very few and far between.
Yet the UK is undergoing a necassary building boom with ever larger sums of money being spent and even more being made from this demand. Unlike the postwar economic climate there is little excuse for the shockingly disproportionate volume of cheap, short-termist architecture and design.
This is a dangerous mindset that we have slipped into; urban design and architecture affect us directly and indirectly with man-made structures and layouts that will be interacting with us socially as well as spatially for decades to come.
UK planning needs to become much more holistic along the line of bodies such as CABE backed up by an enlightened law.

Ben Marshall, London, UK

The Scottish Parliament building must be mentioned, not only as the ugliest but also the most expensive piece of garbage created this decade.

Ed, Edinburgh, UK

Drake Circus Plymouth - best seen from the inside, outside it's ugly, no change that to hideous, and unworthy of being labelled "architect design" Looked at with the church in the foreground shows a total lack of thought to integration with the surroundings.
Also have a look at the Princesshay deveolpment in Exeter - total lack of design and imagination and the view of the Cathedral from certain points is now spoilt.

ROGER TURNER, HOLSWORTHY, DEVON

this top 10 is pretty pointless without images surely? a picture tells a thousand words after all.

gary neville, manchesetr,

GEE, I don't know, but perhaps a story about visual ugliness might actually be accompanied by some VISUALS?????!!!!!

davis j. tomasin, Washington, dc , usa

What about including the 'nearly rans'? You know, the ones architets and town officials / councillors actually seriously considered and were one meeting away from reality, until they were forced by local voices to abandon it?

Chris, Northampton,

See the box out: Related links/multimedia

Paul Kellaway, London,

Good point Ashley - Are we supposed to know what these buildings look like off by heart??? Pointless article without the pics.

joseph Evans, clapham,

Definitely have to agree that St George's Wharf must be one of the ugliest buildings in Britain. It is overwhelmingly awful and a terrible shock to the system as you leave The Tate over the other side of the river. It reminds me of a colony of gigantic evil insects with huge eyes staring out over the bridge.

Jackie Andrews, Walton on Thames,

I'm sick of Norman Foster type ego trips with acres of glass hung together with miles of metal support and random steel cables to hold it all together. What is the warped concept that envisaged that buildings in the 'city', with cables and pipes on the outside, in any way enhance the skyline? In what way is the Millenium Bridge an architectural masterpiece? It wasn't even functional initially.
The 'ego trip' form of 'architecture' should be confined to theme parks where they could be admired by the pseuds and laughed at by the more discerning. City planners should learn from their country cousins and ensure that what is good is conserved and other nearby development is architecturally compatible.

M Langer, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire

Any chance of some photos to accompany the article?

Ashley, Sydney, Australia,