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abandoned buildings

Photography

Stages of Decay: Gorgeous Photographs of Destroyed Theaters

By Emily Temple on

In Julia Solis’s newest book, Stages of Decay, the renowned photographer of ruined buildings and underground spaces collects gorgeous, unsettling photographs of over 100 stages in the US and Europe. Taken over several years and including everything from the stages of community centers to once-grand movie palaces, these photographs are haunting and lovely — an ode to what once was, but also an ode to what is. … Read More

Photography

A Photographer’s Nude Self-Portraits Revitalize an Abandoned House [NSFW]

By Judy Berman on

In this time of rampant urban decay and home foreclosure, there are plenty of photographers capturing the desolate beauty of abandoned buildings. But few juxtapose these left-for-dead spaces with visions of life, as Australian photographer Jana Maré does in a new series of nude self-portraits taken in a deserted home. “To perform in front of camera – to appear sculptural and at times lifeless – makes me feel alive, especially inside forbidden environments with limited time to photograph,” she says in her artist’s statement. “The work is intuitive with a sense of urgency and spontaneity.” View a selection of NSFW shots from the series, which we discovered at Beautiful/Decay, below, and visit Maré’s website to see more of her work. … Read More

Photography

Photos of an Abandoned Detroit High School, Then and Now

By Judy Berman on

Detroiturbex does some of the most comprehensive and necessary work we’ve seen on Detroit, photographing, exploring, and leading tours of the city’s many abandoned buildings in an attempt to understand its rapid decline and document its current state of transition. Among its many projects, the site includes “now and then” photos of these decaying structures. BLDGWLF points us to an especially heartbreaking photo set from Lewis Cass Technical High School, before and after it was destroyed in a 2007 fire. Click through to see a gallery of images from the series, and visit Detroiturbex for the rest. … Read More

Architecture

The Bizarre Architectural Remains of World’s Fairs

By Claire Cottrell on

World’s Fairs are to technology and innovation what the Olympics are to sport and the human spirit. But what happens when the crowds leave? Here, a look at the bizarre architectural remains.… Read More

Architecture

10 Amazing Repurposed Art Galleries

By Alison Nastasi on

We’ve professed our love for repurposed bookstores and libraries, and we frequently find ourselves in awe of what people do inside abandoned buildings. How are art galleries making use of these unique spaces? Head past the break to see how creative gurus have reclaimed subway cars, crypts, old nightclubs, and more to display incredible works of art. Many of these repurposed art galleries have incorporated shades the structure’s former life, and others have invented something entirely new. Click through for more great art galleries. … Read More

Architecture

Haunting Photos of Architectural Gems Damaged in Natural Disasters

By Claire Cottrell on

As Frank Lloyd Wright, the greatest American architect of all time, once said: “I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.” Understanding and respecting what can be a very brutal and relentless force is one of the great responsibilities tasked to the creators of our buildings and cities. In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, we’re now facing the overwhelming cleanup of our soggy subways, submerged streets, and damaged tunnels. If you do one thing today, make it a quick trip to the … Read More

Architecture

Stunning Photos of Abandoned Mid-Century Modern Homes

By Claire Cottrell on

The Swedish photographer Mikael Olsson has been visiting two abandoned summer homes designed by architect Bruno Matthson for the past decade, documenting the condition of the houses over time to preserve what may be lost or forgotten when new tenants move in and inevitably repair what’s been left to deteriorate. Steidl Verlag recently published Södrakull Frösakull, a stunning monograph of Olsson’s project, that’s as much an homage to the lesser known Swedish designer as it is a comment about the importance of preservation. It’s hard to say what’s so intriguing about decaying, deserted spaces, but admittedly, we’re hooked on abandoned architecture, from Olympic ruins and video stores to train stations and record shops. Click through to visit some of the most beautiful — but eerily empty! — mid-century modern homes we could… Read More

Photography

Ghost Town Interiors Reclaimed by the African Desert

By Alison Nastasi on

The name “Namib” means “vast place,” which is a perfect way to describe the coastal desert in southern Africa, almost completely uninhabited by humans. The silence of the Namib must be deafening, but it didn’t deter Spanish photographer Álvaro Sánchez-Montañés from exploring the arid landscape. Inspired by an article he read about the desert’s abandoned diamond mines, he discovered the ghost town, Kolmanskop — a former mining village. When he arrived in Africa, he saw the abandoned homes for himself. The rooms in the dilapidated structures had been filled with sand from the strong desert winds. Nature had slowly reclaimed the space over time, and it was a surreal vision. Visit Sánchez-Montañés’ dreamlike series Desert Indoors, which we first spotted on Visual Standpoint, in our gallery. Then, see how other artists have been inspired by abandoned spaces over here.

… Read More

Art

Abandoned Spaces Reclaimed by Art

By Alison Nastasi on

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of repurposed spaces around here. From bookstores, to libraries, and more, we’re fascinated and enamored with the creative and ingenious ways people have transformed abandoned buildings. We felt compelled to continue our journey through dilapidated houses and deserted structures by exploring the works of artists who have reclaimed crumbling architecture for the sake of social messages, to inspire collective wonder, and to simply give new life to the neglected, decaying spaces. These artists went big and took over entire buildings. Visit abandoned spaces reclaimed by art past the break, and feel free to share your favorites below. … Read More

Architecture

A Brief Photo Survey of Abandoned Video Stores

By Claire Cottrell on

Raise your virtual hand if you remember looking forward to a Friday night trip to your local Blockbuster store. Who doesn’t have fond memories of scouring the new releases, sneaking a peek at the back cover of the R-rated movie you were too young to see but so desperately wanted to watch, and begging your parents to buy a packet of microwave popcorn and Junior Mints. Maybe you’ve even had the distinct pleasure of working in one. Thanks to digital media’s tyrannical takeover, video store outings are but a fleeting memory in minds now occupied by Tumblr dashboards overloaded with Netflix Instant Movies That Don’t Suck and clever web apps helping to build better queues. With the exception of a few cult shops in hipster film centers, the video store is officially a thing of the past. Click through to check out our roundup of the abandoned stores that are a new brand of ruin porn popping up in Flickr streams everywhere. As all facets of our lives move online, what real world experiences do you miss? What do we need to make sure to hold on to? … Read More