November 2009
Monthly ArchivesSan Francisco’s Stunningly Overgrown Palace of Fine Arts
After a week in the California desert with almost zero internet connection, and a brief trip to San Francisco, I’m relieved to finally be back at the computer! It was a longer haitus than expected and I don’t plan on allowing a similar amount of time to elapse between articles in future, but I did manage to get a few cool pics of one of San Fran’s most impressive landmarks. Check it out…
5 Bizarre Buildings From Europe to North America
Weird architecture extends far beyond Brutalism and the scary Cold War edificies of the Eastern Bloc. Across the world, people have made their home and work spaces out of trains, planes, automobiles and the even more bizarre. Read on for a selection of wierd and wonderful buildings in Europe and North America…
Gary, Indiana: 8 Amazing Abandonment Images
Gary, Indiana was built in 1906 around the new United States Steel Corporation plant, and named after chairman Elbert H. Gary. The elegance of early 20th century architecture is reflected in many of the city’s buildings. But this only serves to make Gary mysterious and somewhat bizarre – because many of these grand structures are rotting away in dereliction. Read more…
Bars, Restaurants and Avante Garde: 5 Fashionable Former Public Toilets
It’s safe to assume that most people don’t visit public toilets for recreational purposes. But you may be surprised to hear that dozens of old lavatories are reused today for purposes other than answering a call of nature. Who would have thought that, thanks to a little imagination, you might even end up fine dining in a dank Victorian loo!
5 of the World’s Most Imposing Statues
It’s not every day you come across sculptures that make the Statue of Liberty look small. But in more recent years dozens of immense statues have shot up all over the world demonstrating that – whatever their inherent symbolism – size does matter. Here is a selection of the most gigantic and awe inspiring effigies on the planet.
Deception Island: Abandoned Outposts and Spooky Settlements
What do you get when volcanic eruptions almost completely decimate one of the most exposed outposts on the planet? The answer can be found on Deception Island, which brings a whole new meaning to the term “winter wonderland”.
New York Subway’s Beautiful Abandoned City Hall Station
With a recent post delving into the murky underground tunnels of London, it seems only right to mention a true gem from another great city’s subterranea – New York City’s long closed City Hall subway station. From the very beginning, this station was envisioned to be the grand centrepiece of a new transport network, yet it has been largely deserted since 1945. Come in and see…
The Midget Submarines of Aberlady
Aberlady Bay is an area of outstanding natural beauty skirting the windswept Scottish coast, near the town of North Berwick. A walkers’ paradise and wildlife haven, few people know the history behind the only man-made objects to punctuate the sand at low tide, or their crucial role in sinking one of World War Two’s most formidable battleships.
10 Amazing “Above-Water” Shipwrecks
The world’s oceans abound with shipwrecks and a multitude of other nautical artifacts. Lurking deep beneath the waves of the planet’s most inhospitable waters are some of history’s most grand and feared ships, presenting divers with a fascinating incarnation of a bygone age. But what about those among us who don’t scuba dive? Here are 10 corroding old vessels that can be seen clearly from the relative safety of terra firma.
Lost in Time: The Disused Kingsway Tram Subway
Lurking deep beneath London is a labyrinth of tunnels incorporating underground railways, secret passages, drainage systems and subterranean chambers. The long-abandoned Kingsway Tram Subway is an elusive place that offers a unique glimpse into the past…