The World's Most Notorious Unfinished Buildings

[@jonjohnson2844]

Reminds me of the foundations I put down for a garden shed 6 years ago, still no shed. Hopefully I’ll make it into part 2.

[@francisbell1961]

Same here mate

[@SkunkApe407]

Just throw a few busted garden pots about, cover it all with dirt, and tell Tony Robinson you think there are Tudor ruins in your garden. If nothing else, we might get another season of Time Team.

[@jonjohnson2844]

@@SkunkApe407 ha ha, excellent idea. Although I’m determined to build that shed :D

[@bozo5632]

Drone landing pad. Totally finished.

[@jonjohnson2844]

@@bozo5632 ha ha good one

[@Andrewatlanta]

The Pantheon is in Rome. The structure in Athens is the Parthenon.

[@allensams1773]

Agree! Had to look to see who else caught the misstatement. I believe the Scottish Monument most closely resembles the Parthenon which WAS finished and, thanks to entropy, continues to be even more finished, everyday. . .

[@DrivermanO]

@@allensams1773 Parthenon may have been finished in ancient times, but was used by the Ottomans as an arsenal. Which then behaved as many arsenals do, and exploded, thereby unfinishing it!

[@MaegnasMw]

I came here to point out just this! Here, dear sir, take my "like" :)

[@charlesharper2357]

He tends to make these dumb mistakes...he should talk less and research more.

[@fjellyo3261]

@@allensams1773 the Scott's technically build a ruin for there national monument, you could call it the national ruin 😂😂

[@kingjulien2452]

Fortunately, the Berlin airport has just been completed otherwise it would probably also be on the list. 😂

[@jonjohnson2844]

I wonder if it is actually finished though and that they haven’t just said, “that’ll do, just open it”

[@YeeSoest]

Only took us 9 years longer and 5 Billion € more than expected ^^

[@whateves5369]

One of the craziest and funnest construction debacles I've ever seen

[@C152SharjilJafri-hd5tq]

To say nothing about California State high speed train under construction since 2008.

[@C152SharjilJafri-hd5tq]

@@YeeSoest To say nothing about California State high speed train under construction since 2008.

[@sunslap]

Simon has some unfinished business with unfinished buildings.

[@unknownPLfan]

Actually the pool isn't there anymore and Moscow's Christ the Savior was completely rebuilt in its original spot.

[@rjweb2]

As is often the case: Simon actually made a video about that. XD

[@unknownPLfan]

@@rjweb2 you're right, though I can't keep up with the scope of Simon Whistler lore on YT.

[@noodengr3three825]

Yes I learned that on a Simon video too. I also was at the sight in Sept 2015 and took pics of the reconstructed church.

[@ninjastomp1]

Thank God, it ia horrible to destroy a place of worship

[@schwig44]

@@ninjastomp1 depends if people use it

[@YeeSoest]

We made a school trip to Edinburgh back in 2004 (God, I'm old) and stood next to that "National Disgrace". The guide simply told us what it is, waited for the laughter to quiet down and then turned around and told us about the amazing view over the city...

[@jeyzeus]

I was there just over a year ago and I had no idea that this is unfinished project. I was wondering what its purpose is, but didn't bothered to check. I learned my lesson.

[@kimberleyjanemcnab5343]

It’s a much loved “National Disgrace” by the people of Scotland!

[@barrythomson899]

It is called Edinburgh’s Disgrace.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

2:05 - Chapter 1 - Takeo temple 3:55 - Chapter 2 - The palace of the soviets 5:55 - Chapter 3 - The national monument of scotland 8:00 - Chapter 4 - La sagrada familia

[@ryansenft3315]

Video: Says that the cathedral in Spain is scheduled to be fully constructed by 2026, assuming no more delays. 2020: Hold my cerveza.

[@goneutt]

Cathedrals were always multi generation projects, so 150 years is in the realm of tradtion

[@grahammartin6396]

York Minster took 1000 years and 4 attempts

[@momokochama1844]

@@grahammartin6396 or cologne cathedral - started 1248, finished 1880 surprisingly quick (for a cathedral) was Notre Dame - 1163 - 1345. and lets not forget the Sagrada Familia. started 1882, planed to finish till 2026

[@bobfg3130]

With modern construction techniques finishing one in a few decades is to be expected. That being said, the Church isn't that important anymore and there are far better use of money so large churches or cathedrals won't be funded anymore.

[@MatthewChenault]

One thing that has to be addressed about the Palace of the Soviets: The site they chose to try to build it on was originally the site of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which had been completed fifty years prior. However, in 1931, the cathedral was completely leveled by order of Stalin and the Soviet Regime as the beginning of a second religious purge on the Soviet Union. Today, the site of where the Palace of the Soviets would have been was reclaimed and a recreation of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was rebuilt on the site, following the same plans and designs as the original. It’s both a tragedy, but a poetic piece of Christianity’s ability to survive and thrive. As a Russian Orthodox Priest once said, even after the church was beaten and persecuted, the Church of Christ will always rise again from the ashes and rubble and be rebuilt once again.

[@ihaztehSNIPAH]

The algorithm LOVES to recommend me the ryugyong hotel video. It has a much higher frequency in the recommendations of unrelated videos compared to your other videos. I feel like if I leave autoplay on while working there's a ~100% chance it plays within the hour. Once a video becomes popular, it seems to be so heavily favored in the recommendations that it is essentially guaranteed to continue having a high view rate.

[@jesusbeloved3953]

Thank you for that excellent information! I dare say I would never have noticed. Good observation!

[@stormbowman7148]

Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria is also a very interesting building. Which, against popular believe, was actually never finished and has been a museum its entire existence.

[@evilwelshman]

"Buildings are a testament (to).... the labour of workers, crafts people and engineers to raise stone, marble and many other materials into the sky" Proceeds to show footage of Petra - ancient architecture famous for being carved INTO THE EARTH. 😂😂

[@victoriaeads6126]

Thank you, Simon!

[@allensams1773]

The unfinished Cathedral of Beauvais is a 13th century monument to man's reach exceeding his grasp. It was/is the tallest Gothic Cathedral made and it's vaults were not faring well during the extended construction. . .

[@thejudgmentalcat]

Need a follow up on Neuschwanstein Castle. Outside is done but only a dozen or so rooms were finished.

[@charlierice5756]

I have been to La Sagrada Familia. We went twice to Barcelona in the mid and late 80s when I was stationed in Germany. It is absolutely beautiful.

[@cassandrafoxx4171]

There's the Holy Name Cathedral in Brisbane, Australia. They built the crypts but nothing else, and it's now a large apartment complex.

[@nicholasmeyers1806]

You should do a video about the seven wonders of the ancient world and what happened to them

[@Bhallamek]

Do the hagia Sofia. It’s history through time fits perfectly for this channel.

[@alfiecad5423]

Would love to see Canada's aircraft carrier made of ice for ww II Called project Habakkuk

[@shaunlenton8865]

I agree with you. I've never heard of Canada's ice aircraft carrier, that would be a really interesting video.......

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

Three things you’re wrong about: one it was British, two shut up it was a meme even back then considered for about 5 minutes and then tossed for being ridiculous, third it was pycrete not ice

[@kyle857]

@@MaxwellAerialPhotography they made a pretty large prototype barge.

[@kennetheckman9765]

You should do a video on the unfinished St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York City. It’s an impressive structure with a fascinating history. It, in of itself, is an ongoing mega project!

[@nancyroberson9312]

Thank you for educating me on all of this stuff and I hope you can keep letting me know the skinny on all of this. You are awesome. ❤

[@tamasmarcuis4455]

The National Monument in Edinburgh according to the actual drawings was completed. They can been easily found on the internet. I saw them when I lived in Edinburgh. The claim that a grand building was the initial plan is a myth. If a full Parthenon was intended from the beginning what was actually built is in the wrong position. At the time of building the contours of the hill would have required a massive podium on one end larger in work than the building itself. It should also be pointed out that the architect William Playfair designed and completed the Royal Scottish Academy building on Princes street at the same time. The portico being the exact same design. So it would seem the National Monument was more to do with recent political conditions after the 1820-21 uprisings. A fairly crude way of implying general support by the wealth class of Edinburgh to the British State. Once it had performed it's political function of "here look we are so loyal we are building this grand monument to your victory against the French" it was promptly ignored. The important point of being able to say "we are building" is much cheaper than "we have built". Giving you the political message at a faction of the cost. While you actually spend vastly more on grand buildings around the city with "Scottish" or "of Scotland" in the name. But the myth of unfinished monument always proves attractive to English men like this bald man. Allowing them to tell a story of incompetent poor Scotland. Hear his sneering " the small country ".

[@kimberleyjanemcnab5343]

And it is much loved by the people of Scotland, both to look at and look from, on what would otherwise be a boring hill in the middle of town!

[@michaelhood5221]

I'm wonder how good a video on unfinished spacecraft or space structures would be 🤔

[@mark568126]

The Chicago (Calaveri) Spire

[@mgk920]

Right now a deep hole in the ground along Lake Shore Drive by the Chicago River. Was to be the tallest building in the city and the tallest all-residential building in the world.

[@nathanbulla1]

How is he “Antoni” on MegaProjects, yet “Antonio” on SideProjects merely a week later 🤣

[@--enyo--]

Different writers.

[@wombatua]

Catalan versus Iberian Spanish.

[@TonyA552]

An interesting list for sure but when you make a follow-up video be sure to talk about the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. That may be worth a video all on its own.

[@noodengr3three825]

Yes that could easily fill a video. It took a half day to tour part of it.

[@graemedoctor7266]

I'm Scottish and had no idea that the monument was unfinished. I always assumed it was supposed to look like a ruin or something. I think it's exceptionally pretty nonetheless but only 9th or 10th prettiest landmark in the city centre!

[@Bubbaist]

Check out the Mingun Pagoda in Burma. There’s one heck of an unfinished building!

[@mattb2382]

Suggestion: the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada 👍

[@--enyo--]

Side projects requests: How the stock market came into being, British/Dutch East and West India companies.

[@Illvester42]

I think the 'Hotel of Doom' bit brought in some views to that, also people seem to be fascinated with North Korea in general. Just saying. I'm here for anything... ultimately because my existence is a barren limbo of nothingness, but still.

[@misterscaz6011]

ReadSetData I was sure it would have been in this video.

[@williamclarke8732]

You also live in a barren limbo of nothingness too? I don't remember having a roommate....

[@Mozkonauta]

In Mexico City, our Monument to the Mexican Revolution was originally planned to become our Congress House but the construction was stopped by the Revolution itself.

[@davesmith6059]

I don't know if it could be stretched into an episode, but I've always been curious about zepplins. Specifically the planned dock at the tip of the empire state building. Just an idea

[@peterwilliams6289]

On a slightly similar topic, it would be good to cover Cologne Cathedral, built over 800 years including a 300 year hiatus in which the half-finished building was in use. Also tallest building in the world for 70 years.

[@marco77ar]

Simon...you have a " side projects" ,and a " today I found out", both came out 8 hours ago...... Simon, the hardest working man on youtube. I appreciate it brother......and yes I need to donate.🤙✌️👍

[@decker6959]

Love your content Simon is the homie

[@davidschwager1153]

Also notable: the Fountainbleu Hotel in Las Vegas. The tallest building in the city (not counting the Stratosphere observation tower) remains unfinished.

[@twocvbloke]

The Edinburgh one looks like a half-arsed version of Penshaw Monument, basically the same sort of structure, only the one in Penshaw was finished... :P

[@katelynmarie8069]

It’s so funny when I see an interesting thumbnail I click on it and it’s always Simon on one of his channels 😂 i guess i like all his content lol

[@mgk920]

More recently, the unfinished Chicago Spire was planned to be the new tallest building in the world, all residential, along Lakeshore Drive by the Chicago River until the foreign developer ran out of money, leaving a partially built foundation behind in its partially excavated hole.

[@CT-8024]

The backgrounds of your videos have made me add to my Amazon wishlist a few times lol.

[@snarkytrucker6995]

If you do a sequel, the Chicago Spire should be considered. It was constructed for almost a year before getting shut down by the Great Recession. As of 2008, it is a $93 million, 76 foot deep hole in the ground. I rode mass transit several times during a vacation just to get a good look at it(yeah, I'm a middle-aged geek). There is frequent discussion about restarting the project. The "giant drill bit" could be a good episode all by itself.

[@echodelta9]

Deutsche bank and Trump? That one?

[@snarkytrucker6995]

@@echodelta9 It is next to Trump Tower. Trump opposed the Spire project saying "it will be a terrorist target" because it was going to be the tallest building in the western hemisphere..........and right next to his building. Legitimate safety concerns or an ego thing? I hope they build the Spire so we can find out.

[@PrimeGodist]

The Chimer truly were a great people. Sadly the House of Troubles was the reason as to why that temple was never built. Mehrunes Dagon and Molag Bal had a catfight, over it, even.

[@marksinthehouse1968]

You want to see the island site in Hammersmith Broadway that was never properly finished either

[@sportscardprofessor]

How about bandaged buildings like Beauvais Cathedral, unfinished but patched together?

[@markransom9198]

San Petronio in Bologna, Italy is a pretty cool "unfinished" church

[@haggishighways]

My first kiss was on the Scottish monument. Brings back happy memories 😂

[@stephenkwasek1933]

Well done. Cool info.

[@haggishighways]

I live in Cambodia. Angkor Wat is completely empty these days. It's surreal walking through the temples and seeing nobody

[@marlboro9tibike]

As the Finish people often say : "FINISH HIM!!!".

[@ameyaparanjpe6179]

I was half expecting the guy to say, " Hey Vsauce, Michael here! "

[@ancientelixir1311]

You should do a video on the biggest and dumbest projects that had no point to them.

[@crazyfrenchman9533]

Simon, enough channels. Your videos are flooding the webs!

[@KA4UPW]

You missed the I4 eye sore. Orlando Florida! Hahahaha

[@sakerocket]

The mile high club in gta5 takes the cake for me.

[@thekingminn]

sad that Mingun Pagoda was not included. Its huge, unfinished and has a great back story.

[@Tingobill]

Please do a video on Aricebo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico. We are about to lose a great tool of discovery and the most important observatory of our time. Eclipsed by Hubble, and other instruments maybe. But it is the most accurate and largest radio instrument we have is Areicebo. And its time to use your skill to share this tragedy with the world. Third request. You.. Im sure get many requests and suggestions. But it just was damaged and cannot be repaired.. Its current events.. Love your channels....

[@J3scribe]

The Sagrada Familia has been around so long that parts of it require restoration while the building process continues.

[@GustavoValdiviesso]

"Simon Whistler" Is the answer to the question "who is the person with the largest number of channels on KZbin?“

[@odinson1448]

Lets be honest this man has so many channels its memeable, but you gotta admit he talks about cool shit and history

[@N.S.A.]

It wasn’t so much the lightning strike at Ta Keo Temple that ended construction but the rift that opened afterward. Many workers were lost, taken by those...things.

[@avarym.4515]

The cathedral of Cologne is finished today, but it took several centuries to do so. A national monument today it was once called a disgrace by personalities such as Göthe because of its unfinished state. It might be worthwhile looking into.

[@swarley39]

I like how 40% of all channels on KZbin are run by the same guy. Not only are they great to listen to, but I don't have to worry about one channels host being better or worse

[@beachboy0505]

Excellent, video

[@BMWE90HQ]

Heritage Tower - Fort Mill S.C. USA built in the 80s by mega church PTL club con artists and about 95% finished in the late 80s. Jim and Tammy Bakker went to prison and work stopped. The area became suburbia and there is this great hulking unfinished tower in the middle of all of it. Every couple of years the current owner says they’re going to finish it but they never do.

[@SpargeTheBand]

Another great video. Missing Sathorn Unique in Bangkok!

[@DereineBrotmann]

Hm... Talking about unfinished buildings and not even mentioning the content of my profile picture: Cologne Cathedral. Building started in 1247/48/49, depending on what calender you use, officialy finished in 1880, but even befor the day of opening the first restaurations stated and are ongoing ever since. Hit by about 70 bombs during WW II it took almost 60 years to repair all of that damage. And with stones as old as 750 years in every corner the "Dombauhütte", the organisation existing since the beginning of the building, will have work forever.

[@jakestatefarm3477]

Simon Whistler whistled wistfully whilst wondering, what?

[@QBCPerdition]

How about planned but never created amusement parks? I know Disney owns a bunch of land in Northern Wisconsin, which was supposed to be a winter wonderland, but it never went beyond the idea and land purchase. I was thinking the success of Frozen might spark renewed interest, but apparently not. Another idea is planned space ports. There is the one in Mohave, but there was also a plan for one in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (you can probably guess where I live) because Lake Michigan would be a good place to abort a launch if necessary. But again, this seems to have fallen through

[@liamhulme3505]

The site of the Palace of the Soviets is a carbon copy of the cathedral that was originally destroyed, not a public pool anymore

[@goodoldbubba6620]

Eye-sore on I-4...Near Orlando. THAT is "notorious".

[@Yorosero]

Another example is the Yangshan quarry. They gave up after realising it was impossible to install a gigantic stele of almost 30 tons of rock in three pieces over 20km.

[@vittoriafiorentini8276]

thank you so much for your videos!!!! SOMETHING ABOUT CAMBODIA????? PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!FOR GEOGRAPHICS!!!!!!!!!!

[@carlfromtheoc1788]

Technically, Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California, is unfinished, but for tax reasons. Back in the 1920s and 30s tax laws in California were such that an unfinished building was taxed at a lower rate than a finished one. So, William Randolph Hearst never (technically) finished it, saving a boat load of taxes each year. I have been to the National Monument of Scotland and there is a great view of Edinburgh from there.

[@michaelnash1067]

Simon could describe the story of licorice and I'd fancy myself pressing the like button just because he's likable... but with some hot tea... got to have hot tea with a whistling kettle.

[@cannedmusic]

And here I've been misinterpreting, misspelling, and mispronouncing the phrase Gaudi wrong for almost 50 years. (I learned it to mean garish, expensive, clashing with its surroundings, over aimed, and overstated, not knowing the basis being a beautiful design that is never quite finished) Thanks for the vocab lesson.

[@jamesclendon4811]

I hope you're kidding. Despite what some lazy reporters might state, the word "gaudy" has nothing whatsoever to do with the architect Gaudi.

[@cannedmusic]

@@jamesclendon4811 ok, thank you for correcting me www.google.com/search?q=is+gaudy+derived+from+gaudi&rlz=1C1DVJR_enUS828US828&oq=is+gaudy+deri&aqs=chrome.0.0i457j69i57.12846j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 so, yeah, I am wrong

[@privacyvalued4134]

This video reminds me of Luke 14:28-30: "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.'"

[@wickedwitch1392]

Future topic: Why is the border between the Netherlands and Belgium so crooked? What about the Belgilinums who live completely enclosed in the Netherlands? How are they effected?

[@thedarkdragon1437]

With all these doodly ads on youtube..i could imagine simon doodling :D

[@RandomAmerican3000]

I would have thought for sure Winchester Mansion would be on this list.

[@spunkythedingo9859]

Hello Simon, I love all of your channels; please do a vid on the Gravely Hill interchange, spaghetti junction, Birmingham UK; I saw a snippet of it in a video; I'm American, and I think you pronounce everything wonderfully, and I have dealt with it.

[@tdyerwestfield]

I was watching a documentary on Gaudi's cathedral in Barcelona and the head of the project said it was likely to take another 30 years to complete.

[@avidin0901]

Love your channels try to do a video about Shaniwarwada & Peshwa Bajirao

[@fmj_556]

The swimming pool does not exist anymore. A new church was built on the site and resembles the original church that was torn down.

[@markheaney]

You might want to do a thing on the Hearst Castle.

[@Apankou]

I know it's been said before, but I'm happy Simon finally found an umbrella channel name for all his lovely interests.

[@Textile_Courtesan]

Awww. No honorable mention of the 'Tower of David' in Venezuela? I know Simon already made a full 20ish minute presentation on it but it would have fit this category, too.

[@wesadams5128]

Could you do the huge oil platform in the north west atlantic? I can't remember the name but it the biggest thing ever moved across the ocean

[@kutter_ttl6786]

Are you thinking about Hibernia? It's in the Atlantic, just off the shore of Newfoundland, and is the largest (by weight) offshore platform in the world.

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@Shimarenda]

I was hoping to see the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York on the list. Started in 1892, it remains unfinished.

[@soly-dp-colo6388]

Dear Simon, could you do a video on the Millau viaduct, please? Not enough people know about this masterpiece from my beloved country :)

[@jamesfrego8754]

Do you have steam or do you spend 24 hours a day doing research lol you have so many great shows

[@allenatkins2263]

Scotland runs into Singy MacTightwad.

[@dogsoupblues]

Thankful for Simon! 😂

[@LaylaSpellwind]

Just finished watching Ryungyong. That's a weird coincidence. =D

[@jonjohnson2844]

That’s the KZbin algorithm for you lol

[@LaylaSpellwind]

@@jonjohnson2844 Not so much, I get a notification whenever a video is uploaded. So it's back to coincidence. =D

[@fokendikhed]

I would like to see a video about the many hundreds of Simon Whistlers channels...and one specifically of Simon... whistling.

[@user-hf6vy8xc4i]

Idea for a top tenz vid… what about top 10 longest time from concept to construction of buildings to be erected?

[@ericbrennemann7474]

In my opinion, the Cologne cathedral is missing!