If the façade is complex and interesting, it affects people in a positive way; negatively if it is simple and monotonous
Humans prefer humanistic architecture, with fractal visual complexity and natural materials. Modernism tossed it all out, then the post modernists recognized that that was a horrible mistake, but decided it was too uncool to just go back to what people actually liked.
If you are interested in a short US-centric read on how the whole thing went down, read this:
I'm sorry to see you get down voted, but I share your sentiments and agree that it was something that could be reasonably called a conspiracy. Unfortunately it has become part of the intellectual furniture of left-wing ideology, which makes a lot of otherwise perfectly nice people support extremely inhumane building patterns.
Some books on the topic that I have read, if you haven't are:
The lack of balance, proportion, controlling lines[1] and symmetry are all bad aspects of nearly all modern (in the chronological sense) architecture, not simply McMansions.
My primary issue with McMansions specifically (beyond the fact that they lost the thread on western architecture, which should be blamed on the academy[2]) is that the materials and workmanship are terrible: ugly gaps, quick to stain stuccos and metals, slapdash construction and very little craftsmanship. The flip culture that the mortgage-debt bubble of the last 15 years created has exacerbated this issue to almost comical levels.
https://www.amazon.com/Bauhaus-Our-House-Tom-Wolfe/dp/031242...
Humans prefer humanistic architecture, with fractal visual complexity and natural materials. Modernism tossed it all out, then the post modernists recognized that that was a horrible mistake, but decided it was too uncool to just go back to what people actually liked.
If you are interested in a short US-centric read on how the whole thing went down, read this:
https://www.amazon.com/Bauhaus-Our-House-Tom-Wolfe/dp/031242...
Post WW2 architects have a lot of human unhappiness to answer for.
Some books on the topic that I have read, if you haven't are:
https://www.amazon.com/Bauhaus-Our-House-Tom-Wolfe/dp/031242...
https://www.amazon.com/Old-Way-Seeing-Architecture-Magic/dp/...
https://www.amazon.com/Geography-Nowhere-Americas-Man-Made-L...
A funny side story: I realized I was some sort of reactionary my freshman year at Berkeley, when I was standing in the memorial glade, swinging my gaze back and forth between Doe Memorial Library and Evans Hall.
My primary issue with McMansions specifically (beyond the fact that they lost the thread on western architecture, which should be blamed on the academy[2]) is that the materials and workmanship are terrible: ugly gaps, quick to stain stuccos and metals, slapdash construction and very little craftsmanship. The flip culture that the mortgage-debt bubble of the last 15 years created has exacerbated this issue to almost comical levels.
[1] - https://www.amazon.com/Old-Way-Seeing-Architecture-Magic/dp/...
[2] - https://www.amazon.com/Bauhaus-Our-House-Tom-Wolfe/dp/031242...
EDIT: After reading another post[a] of his, it is worth mentioning another chronic problem with modern (again chronological, not stylistic) building: the buildings often look like they are about to fall over. A particular pet peeve of mine is the flashing gap found at the base of many houses and buildings, which introduces a disconcerting negative gap right where a soothing, wide foundation should be. Visual insanity.
[a] - http://mcmansionhell.tumblr.com/post/148935246684/mcmansions...