Ugly Houses – Voenix Rising

My dad worked as principal designer for Hallcraft (later NuWest) Homes from around 1972 to 1980. During that time, some of the company's most iconic developments were built in the valley.

Unfortunately, in the decade before he took over, Hallcraft had another designer who—IMHO and I'm admittedly biased—came up with some of the ugliest designs the company ever built.

These were generally homes that fell in the upper price range, which might explain their rarity In the various subdivisions. Of course, the other reason might be because they're butt-fugly.

One of the worst offenders. The rusted out car seems a perfect companion to this POS.

Same floor plan as the one above. Just as ugly. (Which is too bad, because the plan itself was interesting.)

Another ugly Mansard Roof atrocity. The French doors are not original to the house. At one time it had a proper front door.

Another interesting plan with a dreadful facade. This one had an inner courtyard that in the Phoenix climate was designed to be a cool respite from the heat.

Another interesting plan (this time a tri-level) with a horrible "Spanish" facade.

Same great plan as I spent my high school and college years in (but not with this "Spanish" abomination out front.

This was actually a really nice design when first built. It was a very unique floor plan (another tri-level; it was the 60s/70s after all), but the exterior has been destroyed by subsequent alterations.

I wish I still had the brochure for this house. I was probably 5 or 6 years old when we toured this development, so my memories are cloudy, but I do remember it was a wild tri-level design with a 2-story living room (hence those windows).

And lastly, I think this was some sort of bastard variation of the house above built on two lots, allowing for the once-upon-a-time garage to be moved off to the side and later converted to more living space. But goddamn…BUTT FUGLY.

If you're in Phoenix and would like to see these for yourself (why?!) they're in neighborhoods on the southeast and northwest corners of West Bethany Home Road and 43rd Avenue. The area, like most, has gone through ups and downs, and I think it's all in a very depressed mode at the moment.

Like this:

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