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
Abandoned Spaces
Abandoned Spaces Reclaimed by Art
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
Fascinating Photos of 11 Abandoned Schools
Ah, September. School bells are ringing, notebooks are fresh, and children of all ages are tromping back to their classrooms with (we imagine) deeply mixed feelings. But not everywhere. We’re committed fans of abandoned spaces here at Flavorpill, but there’s something particularly off-putting about an abandoned school — maybe it’s the fact that schools in their prime are so filled with life or maybe it’s that faint sense of innocence defiled. Either way, to ease your re-entry into the school year (but definitely not to give you any ideas), we’ve rounded up a few of the most fascinating, creepiest abandoned schools from across the country and beyond. Click through to revel in a little pedagogical disaster, and link us to any cool ones we’ve missed in the comments. … Read More
Gorgeous Photographs of Forgotten Palaces
Paris-based photographer Thomas Jorion is a treasure hunter, photographing urban ruins and giving new life to dying buildings. In his wonderful series Forgotten Palaces, which we first spotted over at Faith is Torment, Jorion captures abandoned and decaying villas and castles in Switzerland, Italy and Germany, their splendor shining dimly through the rubble, reminding us that no beauty is meant to last, but rather transforms as time goes on. Click through to see a few of our favorites from the series, and then be sure to head over to Jorion’s website to check out even more of his work. … Read More
Would You Buy One of New York State’s Old Prisons?
According to The New York Times, the State of New York has a strange project on its hands — it is attempting to sell off some of its old, disused prisons, left vacant after falling crime rates and new, looser penalties for nonviolent offenders. But who would want to buy an old prison complex? “The ideal buyer,” the article suggests, “is someone who craves space to spread out, and who does not mind a property that has had thousands of guests over the years. And a fondness for The Shawshank Redemption would not hurt.” Indeed not. Maybe an enormous family with a dark sense of humor, a mad scientist in need of a massive lair or a school for very bad boys? Check out a few of the prisons up for grabs after the jump, and let us know if you’d ever think of snatching one up for your own. … Read More
Beautiful Abandoned Train Stations From All Over the World
Here at Flavorpill, we’re suckers for gorgeous photographs of abandoned and decaying spaces, and of course, for lovely architecture, no matter what state it’s in. Recently, we showed you some of the most beautiful train stations in the world – but what happens when those gorgeous places run their course? Though much beautiful architecture tends to fall to pieces beautifully, we think there’s something particularly fascinating about looking at a place that was once such a bustling center of activity after it has gone to seed, a specific feeling of lack that imbibes the place with an eerie glow. Click through to take a peek at our gallery ten gorgeous abandoned train stations from close to home and from far reaches across the globe, and if we haven’t mentioned your own favorite decaying beauty, please add to our collection in the comments. … Read More
The Casualties of War: The Hotel Belvedere in Dubrovnik, Croatia
In the lobby of our hostel within the walls of old Dubronik, we sat with new friends over wine. One backpacker whispered of an abandoned hotel where a traveler he met had found an intact wine cellar and undetonated grenades. It was decided that the next day, a few intrepid would go search for it. Nobody knew where it was — all we knew was that outside the city walls, we needed to follow the main road along the harbor.
About halfway there, we could see the ruins across the bay. The Hotel Belvedere was a 5-star luxury hotel destroyed in 1991 during an attack by Serbian forces on the city of Dubrovnik during the Croatian War of Independence. The hotel was only six years old – the cornerstone we found had the year 1985 etched in. During the course of the multi-month siege, significant damage was done to the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old city, which was cut off from electricity and water, was host to 55,000 Croatian refugees while dozens had taken shelter inside the Hotel Belvedere. The siege of Dubrovnik is regarded as the turning point of international opinion against Serbia. … Read More
Photo Gallery: Abandoned Scandinavian Houses
When we read the words “Scandinavian houses,” we picture dreamy interiors that resemble the best parts of an Ikea store. Instead, what we find in Hanna Rosti’s photo series — spotted over on How to Be a Retronaut — are sad, empty homes that look like they’ve been abandoned for decades. Luckily, the Finland-based photographer has an excellent eye for finding the moments of beauty lurking in the desolation. The peeling paint of pale blue door juxtaposes nicely with what looks like an enormous stack of golden hay; muted yellows, oranges, and greens hint at what was once a cozy kitchen; weathered plastic red chairs peek out from a green sea overgrowth. Click through for the slide show. … Read More
Photo Gallery: The Beautiful Abandoned Houses of Detroit
A few weeks ago, we got a close-up look at the fallout from America’s ongoing financial crisis in Douglas R. Smith’s photos, taken inside the foreclosed homes of California’s Central Valley. But poverty and joblessness are nothing new for Rust Belt cities like Detroit, whose population declined by 25 percent between 2000 and 2010. Although other photographers have explored the rubble of its public spaces, Kevin Bauman has been working since the ’90s to document Detroit’s abandoned homes. “I had always found it to be amazing, depressing, and perplexing that a once great city could find itself in such great distress, all the while surrounded by such affluence,” he writes. Bauman’s 100 Abandoned Houses project captures both the extent and the variety of Detroit’s depression, in which homes ranging from secluded hovels to lavish, brick and stone mansions sit empty. Click through to see some of the most striking images from the series. … Read More
Visit Harlem’s Abandoned Taystee Cake Factory
An overstuffed recliner sits in the middle of an empty room, next to a sofa that has been broken in two. A car with flat tires and carelessly open doors looks like it hasn’t seen the road in decades. The only sign that this was once the place where the donuts (and pies, cupcakes, rolls, etc.) got made? A tattered old order form that was never filled out. If you’re as obsessed with photos of abandoned locations as we are, then you’ll be impressed by the results of Harlem Hybrid’s recent visit to the old Taystee Cake Factory in Harlem, an industrial building that has been vacant since the ’70s. According to Gothamist, the NYC Economic Development Corp plans to redevelop the space into something called CREATE @ Harlem Green, which will house businesses like the Harlem Brewing Company, Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center, and Carver Federal Savings Bank. Click through to see what it will look like until that day comes. … Read More
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