Architecture and design are fascinating topics. There’s a seemingly never-ending discussion about the right balance between function and form, and we’ve recently written about the importance of ordinary beauty, as well as the disturbing trend of design homogenization. So naturally, we believe that aesthetics and artistic expression are definitely worth protecting. Here’s the issue though: should aesthetics trump safety?

To help you ponder this question, we’re featuring some of the very best posts from the r/ArchitectureForAdults subreddit (and a select few from elsewhere). It’s a niche online community that has a very unique perspective on the world. The members share photos and videos of truly gorgeous architectural and engineering designs that flirt with the line between safe and unsafe.

Scroll down and upvote your fave pics! Let us know which of these designs wowed you the most… and which scared the bejesus outta ya! If you’re anything like me and have a not-so-subtle fear of heights and falling, then you might want to hang on to your hats, Pandas. You’re about to get a big dose of vertigo. Go on ahead, I’ll be right with you, I just need to collect myself for a bit.

#1 "Stairs"

Image credits: Mod-Bait69

#2 Bruh

Image credits: abyigit

#3 You Don‘T Need To Be Drunk Anymore

Image credits: Zerfallsgesetz

At the time of writing, r/ArchitectureForAdults had exactly 3,761 members. We hope that the community grows and expands over time because the content they share is very interesting. It’s also good mental prep for when you go traveling abroad!

You can’t expect every single place to have the exact same safety standards that you’re used to. You have to focus and not wander about daydreaming when you’ve got tiny stone steps in front of you, railings that don’t even come up to your knees, and double-decker buses that you can just hop on by grabbing the pole.

#4 What Was Their First Idea, Stairs Made Made From Piles Of Rusty Nails?

Image credits: jonmpls

#5 Yes, It’s A Door

#6 Emergency Exit Looks Like Emergency By Itself

From the perspective of r/ArchitectureForAdults, we shouldn’t have to sacrifice beauty and ingenuity for the sake of safety. The subreddit claims that all of these designs are “unsafe for morons but safe for everyone else.”

Though, personally, I feel like it’s ridiculous to have railings too low. Safety and beauty can coexist, you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice one for the other, I feel. And, to be honest, just because a design is unique doesn't automatically make it beautiful.

#7 Indian Stepwells | The Construction Of Stepwells Is Mainly Utilitarian, Though They May Include Embellishments Of Architectural Significance, And Be Temple Tanks

Image credits: wikipedia_it

#8 Step Out Of A Bathtub Down A Flight Of Stairs, Anyone?

Image credits: TheLoneGinger9

#9 This 1930s Design Let You Hang Your Baby Over The Side Of A Building In A Cage

Image credits: Honeyontoast123

Whatever your feelings towards safety, you can’t deny that there are certain minimalist trends sweeping the world. Designs are starting to look and feel homogenized. Not just in architecture and in corporate art but also in urban spaces, as well as corporate logos. Everything’s starting to feel a bit too functional, with less emphasis on the form.

#10 A Footbridge With Knee-High Sides

Image credits: MaxPowerzs

#11 On The Floor Of Doctor's Office. If You Trip On It, You're In The Right Place

Image credits: Chriss899

#12 All These Houses Are Connected By A Pool

Image credits: Starlord2047

Consumer psychology specialist Matt Johnson, a professor at Hult International Business School and Harvard University, very recently explained to us why we’re seeing a certain level of design homogenization, especially in terms of brand logos. He saw a few reasons for this trend that has led to fewer unique designs being used.

“The first is that as we move towards a more digital environment, there’s a need to make brand logos as legible and as easy to identify as possible. The consumer’s attention is strained even more in the online world, so logos can’t afford to be disfluent or challenging to process,” he told Bored Panda earlier.

#13 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

Image credits: Starlord2047

#14 The Cannonball Loop Waterslide, A Slide So Dangerous It Was Shutdown Almost Immediately After Opening

Image credits: metricrules

#15 Skyslide At OUE Skyspace In Los Angeles, CA | An Outdoor Glass Slide That’s 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

Image credits: wikipedia_it

“Secondly, there also may be a growing realization of the ‘fluency effect’: the relatively robust behavioral science phenomenon that the more fluent a font is written in, the more likable and trustworthy the message. As more brands become familiar with this phenomenon, they may want to test new, more fluently written logos to capitalize on this effect,” the professor told us.

#16 This Infinity Pool

Image credits: DaPizzaDoctah

#17 Hope You Don’t Drop Anything

Image credits: IrishPubstar

#18 Hudson Yards Vessel, In New York City, NY | Often Debated On Its Construction For Being Too Easy For Imbeciles To Jump/Fall Off

Image credits: wikipedia_it

“While this logo trend is seen across a wide array of industries, there may be only one or two within each industry that may make this change, since if everyone did, they would not be differentiating as well. There may be a broader implication of this: if companies begin to recognize that consumers, at least in digital environments, prefer more basic logo designs, brands will rush to be the first in their industry to do so to plant their flag first. While all brands want to be at the razor’s edge of consumer preferences, no brand wants to be seen as the copycat of their competitor,” Professor Johnson noted.

#19 Stairwell In A Hotel I Stayed In

Image credits: Hun10dog

#20 I Always Wanted A Treehouse

Image credits: deadburgerboy

#21 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 largest acts of sabotage to our nation prior to the event of pearl harbor on December 7, 1941

Image credits: wikipedia_it

“I imagine the general trend will persist, especially in the digital environment. If it turns out to be the case that more basic, legible logos are more suitable for online preferences, we may also move to a system where each major brand has at least two distinct brand logos: one in the digital world, and one for the physical world. This is already happening to a certain extent since many brands that have gone to a more basic font haven’t completely jettisoned their originals and retained them for specific uses,” the consumer psychology specialist said.

#22 Paternoster Lifts At Prague City Hall

Image credits: robotevil

#23 In The 20’s, Fiat Had A Test Track On Top Of Their Production Warehouse

Image credits: piefordays

#24 Just Don’t Swing It Side To Side Too Much

Image credits: TraumaticAcid

“Since branding is fundamentally about differentiation, there will be an upper limit to how much brand logos can homogenize and go together on a single dimension. It’s great to adapt to new consumer preferences, but if every brand does that in the same way, it fails to differentiate in a significant way. This is why I think there is a ‘race’ within each industry to be the first to do so, which then makes things more difficult for their competitors: should they persist in making their logo more basic, at the risk of looking like a copycat? Or should they cede that positioning and devise a way to differentiate by some other means?” he mused.

#25 Almost Pulled A Michael Scott While Delivering Groceries Today

Image credits: Samxvalle

#26 Oh No

Image credits: Chriss899

#27 This Staircase

Image credits: whitae

Professor Johnson said that there are various ways that brands can differentiate themselves from the competition, aside from their logos. “For example, brands may double down on fluent soundmarks, tighter taglines, or speaking product features that are trademarked and exclusive. In this way, we may see a much richer adaptation to the online world, which goes above and beyond the legibility of brand logos.”