McMansion Hell

McMansion Hell is a website which humorously critiques "McMansions"; large suburban homes typically built from the 1980s to 2008, known for their stylistic attempt of appearing wealthy using mass-produced architecture. The website is run by Kate Wagner, a graduate student of acoustical studies at the Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory and architectural writer.[1][2]

The blog has acquired many fans since it started in June 2016.[3][4] Wagner has been interviewed for Paper, The Washington Post, Slate, Business Insider, The Hairpin, and Der Spiegel in Germany, and has appeared on the 99% Invisible podcast.[5] She has gained wide name recognition in architectural circles[6] and has published in the Architectural Digest,[7] The Atlantic,[8] and Jacobin.[9]

Besides critiquing the homes themselves, the website also criticizes the material culture of wastefulness McMansions can represent.[10]

The website gives anecdotes of situations when McMansions have been a poor financial investment.[11]

In June 2017 Zillow threatened a lawsuit against McMansion Hell for critiquing the homes depicted in photos which Zillow customers had uploaded to their website.[12] Various lawyers committed to defend the website as a matter of free speech and social justice.[13] However, after a few days Zillow chose not to pursue a lawsuit.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Farivar, Cyrus (June 26, 2017). "'McMansion Hell' used Zillow photos to mock bad design—Zillow may sue". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  2. ↑ McCabe, Bret (Summer 2017). "The Blogger behind 'McMansion Hell' Tackles American Consumerism, One Oversized Foyer at a Time". Johns Hopkins Magazine.
  3. ↑ Dickey, Colin (3 October 2016). "The Literal Hell of McMansions". Slate.
  4. ↑ "Kate Wagner (brief bio)". curbed.com.
  5. ↑ McCabe, Bret (Summer 2017). "The Blogger behind 'McMansion Hell' Tackles American Consumerism, One Oversized Foyer at a Time". Johns Hopkins Magazine.
  6. ↑ Britto, Brittany (28 July 2017). "Building a following: Peabody student is making a name for herself in the world of architecture by taking McMansions to task". Baltimore Sun.
  7. ↑ Wagner, Kate (26 July 2017). "Bye, Bad Drop Ceilings! These Charming Acoustic Designs Are Changing the Game". Architectural Digest.
  8. ↑ Wagner, Kate (20 February 2018). "City Noise Might Be Making You Sick". The Atlantic.
  9. ↑ Wagner, Kate (9 November 2017). "McMansion, USA". Jacobin Magazine.
  10. ↑ Collins, Penn (7 June 2017). "A Brilliant Website Teaches Us Exactly Why McMansions Are So Terrible (And It's Not Just Their Looks)". GOOD Magazine.
  11. ↑ Abbey-Lambertz, Kate (13 October 2016). "The Type Of House You Should Never Buy". Huffington Post.
  12. ↑ Keller, Hadley (27 June 2017). "McMansion Hell Blog Faces Lawsuit from Zillow". Architectural Digest.
  13. ↑ Roberts, Jeff John (27 June 2017). "McMansion Hell Hit by Zillow Copyright Claim". Fortune.
  14. ↑ Garun, Natt (June 29, 2017). "Zillow ends its dumb legal crusade against McMansion Hell blogger". The Verge. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
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