Why are American cities so ugly as compared to European cities?

[Anonymous]

Average European city versus average American city

[purplepoppy]

Not every European city is pretty, some are awful and the newer ones are the worse. Quite often it's the ones that were rebuilt after the war that are the worse.

Take these two examples, here's Chester, you've a mix of Roman, medieval, right to to modern times all nestled together.

Now here's Swansea. Swansea got flattened during the war and was rebuilt by soulless architects obsessed with concrete

Because America doesn't have a great deal of history it's cities have never had the chance to merge different periods together like old European ones.

If you compare European towns founded around the time American was founded you find they don't have much character. Here's Milford haven in wales that was originally founded by American whalers in 1790. A

Unless a town is very old or has a lot of money thrown at it then regardless of location it will usually look naff.

[DryGermanGuy]

Very true. We have to thank Hermann Göring and Bomber Harris for that.

[BoopBoopBeep]

Despite having no idea what naff means or tastes like. I am BoopBoopBeep, and I support this message.

[purplepoppy]

Naff is a mild posh swear word that can either mean shit or fuck according to context. "that dress looks a bit naff (shit). "why don't you naff off." but you can would never say ". Bend me over and naff my brains out" or "I've taken a big naff on the carpet."

I hope you've enjoyed this naffing lesson.

[WindAtMyBack]

Most of the US was built after the invention of cars. The country is very large, with lots of room to expand. It grew very quickly and the emphasis was on fast growth more than aesthetics. The size and things being spread out is also why public transportation doesn't work well in most of the country.

Canada and Australia are similar for the same reasons. Lots of room to spread out, combined with starting with nothing, then growing rapidly.

[Astarlessnightsky]

American cities were soley built for cars (gigantic ones)

European cities were built for people, even though the cars are slowly taking over.

[normalice]

All the money that would have gone to making cities look nice is in te bank accounts of rich people.

[Anonymous]

European cities are very old, American cities are new and made for cars.

[ThrillSeeker01]

European cities have history

[Staximus]

Old buildings versus modern