Ever have a home improvement project that you just couldn’t seem to finish? Well you don’t have to feel so bad because there are quite a few unfinished buildings all around the world. As you are reading through our famous unfinished buildings list, maybe it will inspire you to get that home improvement project done.
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral is one of the most well-known churches in England. It’s also one of the most unfinished ones. Work on the church began back in 1985. As time went on it seems that it has been just too expensive to finish. The entire interior is still undecorated and visitors see nothing, but unfinished brickwork. This is quite different than the many other catholic churches in the area that all tend to be quite fancy in appearance. Supposedly work is still ongoing, but there’s no expected completion date.
Siena, Cathedral, Italy
This cathedral was originally completed in 1263. Expansion of the original structure started in the 14th century. However, it got put on the back-burner because the city was hit with the Black Death plague. It seems as if there are no future plans to finish it as the unfinished floor has turned into a parking lot and museum and various walls stand incomplete.
La Sagrada Familia
Despite being incomplete, La Sagrada Familia has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The pope also proclaimed it a basilica. The famous architect, Antoni Gaudi started building the church in 1882. Work on the church slowed down in 1926 when Gaudi passed away and it was less than a quarter complete at that time. Today the church is about half way finished and is expected to be completed in 2026.
New Zealand Parliament Buildings
The New Zealand Parliament Buildings were first completed in the late 1800’s. There were plans to expand it in 1911, which would consist of two phases: a chambers and then a library and a Crown Law Office. Because of many things going on at that time, including a war, the construction did not get started until 1914 and the first phase wasn’t completed until 1922. The actual second phase was never built. However, today there’s a different buildings that are being used for the office and library. There are currently no plans to finish the building.
After reading about all these unfinished buildings do you feel a little bit better about your home improvement projects that have been sitting there for a while? The next time someone brings up that unfinished project you can always change the subject by talking about one of the buildings mentioned above.
