Tag: abandoned-architecture | ArchDaily

From Silos to Iconic Spaces: 15 Projects That Repurpose Industrial Structures

Camilla Ghisleni — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Silos hold a significant place among the remnants of the industrial era, distinguished by both their technological innovations and their iconic presence in urban landscapes. Typically cylindrical and made of reinforced concrete, these structures effectively addressed the demands and challenges of industrialization, providing a robust and economical solution for storage. However, throughout the 20th century, with the advent of new logistics and the relocation of activities from some urban centers to expanding areas, many of these silos were decommissioned.

A New Lens on Architecture: Discovering Open House Narratives Across Europe

Camilla Ghisleni — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Throughout 2024, ArchDaily, in collaboration with the Open House Europe architecture event, brought inspiring projects and stories to light. These true architectural gems were unveiled through visits, and their widely shared narratives enriched the architectural discourse. It is an invitation to explore the stories behind buildings that, although part of citizens' daily lives, often go unnoticed amidst the routine automation of everyday life.

Modernist Hotels in East Africa: A Reflection of National Identity

Mohieldin Gamal — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0000

The middle of the Twentieth Century saw the independence of most countries on the African continent. Those euphoric times brought forward-looking sentiments and a wish to break with the past. As an architectural movement, Modernism was ideal for the day, and newly independent countries had extensive building programs to assert themselves as fully functioning nations.

Reimagining an Abandoned Urban Landmark: The Story Behind the Piraeus Tower in Athens, Greece

Camilla Ghisleni — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 07:30:00 +0000

The landmark of Piraeus, located in the heart of the largest passenger port in Europe, began construction in 1972 but remained unfinished and vacant for decades. Finally completed in 2023, after an international competition, it now stands as Greece's first green and digital skyscraper. The architectural firm PILA took on the design of the facades, while the office ASPA-KST designed the commercial spaces, and the new general architectural study was entrusted to Betaplan. After over four years of renovation, Piraeus Tower officially opened its doors to tenants and visitors on June 4th with a night of celebrations, establishing itself as a bustling hub and injecting vitality into the area.

Dystopian Disneyland: The Story Behind Turkey’s Castle Ghost Town

Camilla Ghisleni — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Most of us have probably imagined living in a castle at some point, whether during childhood, enchanted by fairy tales, or as adults studying European monarchies. Considering this fascination, what would you think if you had the chance to buy your castle? In mid-2014, you could make that dream a reality in Turkey for just $370,000. Each luxurious 325-square-meter castle came complete with blue turrets and spiral staircases. The only catch? Your castle would be one of 731 identical ones. But who cares about exclusivity when you have the chance to live in a Disney fairy tale?

The High Line Effect: Transforming Abandoned Infrastructure in the United States

Ankitha Gattupalli — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 07:30:00 +0000

In the early 2000s, an abandoned rail line in Manhattan sat decaying - a memory from a time when freight trains traveled straight through the city. To most citizens, it was a site destined for demolition. However, a few visionary residents saw an opportunity in this neglected space and advocated to transform it into a public green space for the community. The success of the project seemed to spark a "High Line Effect", inspiring other American cities to pursue civic infrastructure on outdated railways, roadways, and industrial sites.

Lessons from Relocating and Building New Capital Cities in the Global South

Paul Yakubu — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 07:30:00 +0000

The relocation of a capital city is a complex urban decision with various dimensions and consequences for both the old and new capital. It can be driven by political, economic, societal, and other factors, and has urban and architectural implications for residents. These include factors such as location, planning, building design, the purpose of the old capital, climatic conditions, and separating the political/administrative hubs from cultural and economic cities.

“Education Is the Movement From Darkness to Light:” the Bulgarian Pavilion at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale Explores School Abandonment in the Country

Maria-Cristina Florian — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 06:30:00 +0000

For the 18th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, the Bulgarian Pavilion will present the exhibition titled “Education is the movement from darkness to light.” Curators Boris Tikvarski, Bojidara Valkova, and Mariya Gyaurova, joined by Belgian photographer Alexander Dumarey, have chosen to focus the exhibition on the subject of depopulation, urban decline, and rural flight, expressed through the image of abandoned schools present in the country. The project was selected following a national competition organized by The Ministry of Culture, The Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria, and the Union of Architects.

Gregor Sailer’s Photographs Explore Architecture’s Political, Military, and Economic Implications

Petra Loho — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 05:30:00 +0000

In a new show at Kunst Haus Wien in Vienna, the Austrian artist continues his investigation of architecture where few civilians tread.

Revitalizing Abandoned Landscape in China: Quarries as Unconventional Spatial Resources

Eduard Koegel — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 04:00:00 +0000

Today, reusing and adapting existing spatial resources is regarded around the world as an important contribution to sustainable development, and new challenges are thus also emerging at the margins of classic building tasks due to the changing assessments regarding whether to preserve or demolish. Xu Tiantian’s projects in the quarries of Jinyun combine aspects of landscape planning, interior design, artistic installations, and social planning with an economic revitalization of the rural area. In this way, a ruined and exploited landscape becomes a sign of departure with which a new sustainable coexistence can be linked to a narrative about the history of the location.

Photographer Romain Veillon Captures What Buildings Would Look Like If Humans Disappeared

Dima Stouhi — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 06:30:00 +0000

During his explorations of abandoned places across Europe, award-winning French photographer Romain Veillon has stumbled upon enchanting architectures that have been left to decay for decades. In his latest book Green Urbex: The World Without Us, Veillon explored what the world would look like if the human race disappeared and nature took its course without any human interference.

Diller Scofidio + Renfro And Stefano Boeri Architetti to Regenerate Abandoned Buildings in Via Pirelli 39 in Milan, Italy

Christele Harrouk — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 07:30:00 +0000

Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS + R) and Stefano Boeri Architetti have won the international architectural competition for the renovation of Pirelli 39 in Milan. Launched on 25 November 2019, the contest organized by COIMA SGR and the municipality of Milan, gathered 70 submissions made up of 359 studios from 15 countries.

The Architecture of Surveillance: The Panopticon Prison

Andreea Cutieru — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 06:00:00 +0000

An expression of power and a symbol of surveillance, the panopticon is a notorious architectural concept intended as a disciplinary mechanism. Photographer Romain Veillon shares his images of the Panopticon-inspired prison in Autun, France.

Dust, Cracked Walls, and Enchanting Artwork

Dima Stouhi — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 06:00:00 +0000

Magic lies in architectural ruins. Beneath the dirt and mold, fractured walls and deserted rooms still stand, preserving the remains that have lingered long after their owners' departure.

The Belgian City Doel is a Canvas for Street Artists - But is Art Enough to Save it?

Lindsey Leardi — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Street art has long surpassed mere trend to become an integral part of cities' cultural identities. What was once considered vandalism is now not only accepted but encouraged. The works of once-prosecuted artists such as Banksy and Shepard Fairey are now collector's items; murals can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000 or more. Through their works, artists may even have the power to save cities.

Abandoned Soviet-Era Infrastructure Captured by Danila Tkachenko

Niall Patrick Walsh — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 09:00:00 +0000

Last week, we covered the work of Moscow-based visual artist Danila Tkachenko, whose “Monuments” project appropriated abandoned Russian Orthodox churches with abstract modernist shapes. Tkachenko’s further work, “Restricted Areas” is equally as impressive, focusing on the human impulse towards utopia through technological progress.

The Abandoned Architecture Series for your Next YouTube Binge

Niall Patrick Walsh — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 09:30:00 +0000

Designers and the general public alike have an endless fascination with abandoned architecture. Throughout history shifting economies, disasters, regime changes, and utter incompetence have all caused the evacuation of impressive architectural structures, which today serve as curious, sometimes eerie monuments to a bygone era.

Japan's Bet on Adaptive Reuse to Alleviate an Emerging Housing Crisis

Lindsay Duddy — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 07:30:00 +0000

Half a century after the new suburban tract home was the dream of many a young American family, refurbished properties are gaining in popularity. This trend extends beyond North America, with exciting renovations of existing structures popping up all over the world, from Belgium to Kenya to China. The attraction to this typology likely lies in its multiplicity; renovations are both new and old, historic and forward-looking, generative and sustainable.