Do people in other Balkan countries also cut corners by painting only the facade of the building, leaving the rest of it looking like a barren brick wall? Saw these buildings in Albania and I find them extremely unsightly.
Posted by Substratas@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 52 comments
I_Run_For_Pizza@reddit
You can Tell there will be a future addition there because there are no windows. What appears like Windows It's usually a bathroom window area that will be an empty cavity that will allow fresh air to come in but with no direct sunlight
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Where will they make the addition here?
ofive1@reddit
Do you see those private villas next to it? Won't be there for long 😉
Substratas@reddit (OP)
https://i.redd.it/vjzw5jo7hdxg1.gif
Reasonable_End_5741@reddit
It is usually what they dream for. They will get several apartaments in the new building.
I_Run_For_Pizza@reddit
If there was no plan for addition there, there is no point to not add Windows
StRaHoTnIq@reddit
Unless they're trying to buy additional land next door, in order to expand the building, I can see it as "cutting corners" or something similar.
Ujemegaz@reddit
Nah, he utilized the space to maximum and probably will build another building attached to it.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
There’s no space left to attach anything to this.
ReasonResitant@reddit
Well no, likely because there is a long running legal battle regarding the ownership of the adjacent lots, or one of 15 owners hates the other one and is blocking a sale from going trough.
I've seen a few of theese, usually what causes that. Or some other misc. legal bull.
holyrs90@reddit
Spot on.
gushi1-@reddit
Yea there is look at the lower building has rods going out the roof. That for another floor.
Ujemegaz@reddit
Because negotiations with the owner of that small building are not over yet.
cesam1ne@reddit
Another building will be built next to it
JimbosBalls@reddit
I hate those red bricks man....
SuedeJacketMonster@reddit
In Bulgaria this happens often with village houses and I can't understand how you can afford to build a house but not paint it. This is such a lack of taste.
NoSync22@reddit
Yeah, lots of them in Croatia too (and some in Slovenia just as well). Incomprehensible.
Silver_Ad8@reddit
Work in Germany entire life
Spend all money you worked on buliding a palace in random village in rural -insert country-
Also don't paint it
That's universal for Balkan
ImamTrump@reddit
Siding is expensive. Stucco is expensive.
This version is better than painting is black tbh.
It’s very common. Even in North America, the back and sidefacing areas can be left brick.
Big-Waltz5204@reddit
On apartment building, if builder is taking shortcuts like this, it's a red flag. Never seen it in my country. When it comes to houses, if you do it yourself it's not that expensive. My cousin did exterior of his house alone. He got some styrofoam insulation, did plaster, and painted it. Don't think it costed him much.
ImamTrump@reddit
Congratulations
Big-Waltz5204@reddit
Oh. Idk what exterior finish is most popular or suitable in Cyprus. I know in middle east most buildings look raw, just concrete shell, maybe painted. I guess insulation is not a must in that environement since moisture is less of a problem, I guess. If I was building I'd probably go for mineral wool or multipor (aerated lime boards, better then just styrofoam) but idk what's best there.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
I think so too! In Albania, most of these residential buildings are paid for with drug money.
These ones in the pictures are in ultra trashy & cheap suburbs nobody wants to live in, so the cost is also cheaper to build I assume. Which might explain why there are so many of them.
Lydeeh@reddit
It's called a blind wall and it's left like that because another building will be built adjacent to it. There is no point in prepping the facade there. However, yes, it's an eyesore until it get's covered up by the other building.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
These show up all over Croatia (unfortunately). As others have said, I think it’s due to some stupid tax issue. Need some tax reform here.
Serious-Ad-5275@reddit
Eastern black sea region is full of those houses
seco-nunesap@reddit
And south Agean region. I suspect the whole country is
Substratas@reddit (OP)
invalid95@reddit
New buldings no, but some people in the country side never put a facade so they could avoid getting taxed
SuedeJacketMonster@reddit
This is a ridiculous tax system.
No-Championship-4632@reddit
It is taken to the extremes in Egypt and the result is brutal.
SuedeJacketMonster@reddit
Please tell us more
No-Championship-4632@reddit
Just need to visit a residential neighbourhood there. Most buildings have no roof.
RebootAndPray@reddit
No-Championship-4632@reddit
They do it sometimes, in case the neighboring plot is expected to be built up soon, no need to waste money on something that will be destroyed soon anyway.
mearcliff@reddit
Old Chicago tradition as well, though now they use cement blocks for buildings
NoScreen54@reddit
it definitely is an eyesore, but those who do this aren't doing it because they like it, maybe they have financial problems.
Big-Waltz5204@reddit
This is most Balkan thing ever. Exposed brick house. I think it has to do with some regulation/tax thing, where if you don't finish facade you don't have to pay something but idk. As kid I thought it was because people are poor but it's just bad culture, not wanting to make your surrounding look presentable. Shitty mindset. In any normal country you would get fined.
Happy-Hour88@reddit
The UK and the Netherlands are knowns for their exposed brick facades so it's not just here, although the reasons there are probably due to the humidity paint gets ruined fast.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Yupp, it’s called brick expressionism.
Big-Waltz5204@reddit
Brick Deco
Big-Waltz5204@reddit
In UK and Netherlands, it's type of construction, it's not exposed because it's unfinished. Porotherm (what is used in Balkans) is not meant to be exposed, at least not visually.
Ujemegaz@reddit
Not in Albania. We tax the volume.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
NoConsideration4696@reddit
Neighbpr buldings can be rise slowly...
PaulCrafting@reddit
No, I've never seen this in my country.
General-Anywhere7168@reddit
The sides are for the new building to cover those bare sides.
sul_tun@reddit
By looking at it, it definitely makes you think it is a unfinished house under construction 😂
RebootAndPray@reddit
I often see private suburban houses like this, but I haven’t seen it on many apartment buildings.
gushi1-@reddit
I also think it look fine.
gushi1-@reddit
He left it for future addition.
Pidrshrek@reddit
Albania looks good! Look at those roads and trees