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Posts Tagged ‘Crumbling’

Modernized Monument: Crumbling Medieval Tower Turned Library

06 Jun

[ By Steph in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

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Matte black steel and timber-clad stacked volumes fill in empty spaces throughout the medieval Torre del Borgo in northern Italy, a recent renovation stabilizing the crumbling stone walls and connecting the four stories together for transformation into a public library. Still strong after all these centuries, the stone shell of the fortified building works in concert with modern materials to create a space that provides an important function to the community, and helps preserve its history.

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Before it was re-designed, the Torre was not only falling apart piece by piece, it lacked adequate means of passage from one floor to the next, and the interiors were unfinished. It needed structural support, extra space and additional windows to make it usable for the city of Bergamo.

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Architect Gianluca Gemini came up with “an architectonic and functional reinterpretation of the building” that identifies solutions to the degradation. Black iron ramps and walkways cut across the four main halls, making them fully accessible and highlighting a contrast between the smooth steel and glass and the rough, mottled stone. This solution is visually striking, invisible from outside and leaves plenty of room for library patrons to read and browse.

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The timber and concrete addition features floor-to-ceiling glazing to bring more natural light to the interior, and adds floor space, without significantly altering the original stone structure.

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Ruins of Crumbling Church Salvaged with Geometric Addition

20 Dec

[ By Steph in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

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A faceted glass structure clings to the ruins of a stone church in Santpedor, Spain, filling in a gaping hole that was created with the demolition of an adjacent convent. Built modestly by priests between 1721 and 1729, the hermitage of Sant Francesc started to crumble long ago, and by 2000 the roof had sunk and the vaults of the nave and chapels had partially collapsed, leaving it looking as if it the rest of it would come down at any time.

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But anyone brave enough to step through the doors would have found an interior that was still stunning in its cavernous arched spaciousness, daylight streaming in through massive holes in the ceiling. That hint of promise, along with its historical value, is what led to the intervention by architect David Closes (photographs by Jordi Surroca.)

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Closes transformed the church with a stunning modern addition and interior renovation that integrates the character of the ruins into the new elements, creating contrast and preserving a perspective of the church’s past. Sant Francesc is now home to a multi-functional cultural center and auditorium.

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Smooth concrete and timber enhance the aged qualities of the stone in the new interiors, with partially-collapsed areas and holes simply filled in with windows to show off rather than correct the damage that was done to the structure over the centuries.

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[ By Steph in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

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Forgotten Gardens: Crumbling Complex Has a Sinister History

31 Oct

[ By Steph in Abandoned Places & Architecture. ]

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Police reports detail disturbing incidents that have occurred just beyond the stone walls of one of America’s most dramatic forgotten gardens, a mysterious complex full of imported ancient Roman columns in the unlikely location of suburban Yonkers, New York. How much of the sinister history of this place, which has become the stuff of legend over the years, really happened? Was it a hotbed of bizarre occult activity as the locals claim, or is this just a case of Satanic panic?

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Perched on a hillside overlooking the Hudson River and sprawling across 43 acres, Untermyer Park (also known as Untermyer Gardens) was first developed between 1899 and 1940 as part of a large private estate. A Grecian-style amphitheater, classical pavilion, Persian Paradise garden and a number of statues were erected by the time owner Samuel Untermyer died, and the gardens passed to the City of Yonkers in 1946.

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Decades later, the complex has begun to crumble, with graffiti covering many of the deteriorating stone structures. But it’s more than neglect that gives this place a sense of foreboding: it’s the connection to one of New York’s most brutal serial killers. As the murderer known as Son of Sam taunted police with Satanism-tinged letters during a killing spree targeting young couples, police found the corpses of ritualistically mutilated German Shepherds in the aqueduct south of Untermyer Park.

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Years after he was captured in 1977, David Berkowitz claimed that he hadn’t acted alone, pinpointing Untermyer Park as the site of frequent gatherings of the Satanic cult of which he was a member. This claim alone has led to all manner of legends springing up about the park, with locals claiming to hear strange chanting or glimpse the glow of torches in the woods at night.

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Is it the truth, or just defensive ramblings from the mind of a killer? It’s hard to say, but Berkowitz’ claims fall into line with the Satanic panic that sprung up in the ’70s and ’80s, blaming supposed secret cults for everything from child molestation to murder. It’s impossible to say exactly what has transpired at Untermyer Park, especially given the gruesome discovery in 1976, but the place definitely still carries a feeling of mystery, especially as its once-grand features continue to decay.

All photographs via Kristine Paulus/Flickr Creative Commons

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The Crumbling Shire: 7 Abandoned Wonders of New Zealand

04 Dec

[ By Steph in 7 Wonders Series & Global. ]

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Sheep have taken over the Shire, lost industry created ghost towns and the major earthquake of 2011 has left much of Christchurch cordoned-off and left to decay. While New Zealand may be best known for the otherworldly landscapes that made it a natural choice as the filming location of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, it also has a rich history that has resulted in a number of striking abandonments located on both the North and South Islands, in major cities like Auckland and remote stretches of the coast.

Abandoned Shire Turned Sheep Pasture, Matamata

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Technically, Hobbiton is only abandoned if you don’t consider sheep real occupants. But the Shire isn’t exactly what it once was, or at least, what it looked like in the Lord of the Rings films. 17 of the original 37 hobbit homes built into a hillside in Matamata, New Zealand to serve as the Hobbiton set remain in place, and while the facades may now be stained and dilapidated, they’re still a draw for fans of the series. It sort of looks like Sauron won after all, and all the hobbits are gone, but as decades passed, the grass began to grow again.

Waipukurau Hospital, Hawke’s Bay

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Completed in 1879, the Waipukurau Public Hospital in Hawke’s Bay expanded more and more as the population in the area grew, housing the injured and ill and serving as the birthplace for thousands of New Zealanders. It was in operation for over a century, finally closing its doors in 1999. Of course, it wasn’t long before it became a popular hangout for vandals and vagrants, and in 2010, a major fire gutted several of the complex’s main buildings. An Aucklander bought the whole property sight unseen in 2011, not realizing the extend of the damage, so the future of the hospital remains unclear. Bradd of Urbex New Zealand took these photos before and after the fire, and more can be seen at Haunted Auckland.

Tokomaru Ghost Town

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This bay town was once a hub of thriving industry, home to the Tokomaru Bay Freezing Works. But once it closed down in 1952, 400 workers and their families were forced to move elsewhere, and much of the town’s infrastructure has been abandoned ever since. Other parts of the beachside town have been modernized and are still home to about 350 residents, mostly Maori fishermen and craftspeople. Abandoned sites in the town include the New Zealand Shipping Company building, the wharf, and the shell of a 1917 sheep meat freezing facility.

White Island Mines

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New Zealand’s only active marine volcano, which last erupted in August 2013, can be found about 30 miles off the east coast of the North Island in the Bay of Plenty. Whakaari Island, also known as White Island, was the site of a sulphur mining operation in the early 20th century, but when part of the western rim of the crater collapsed in September 1914 – killing all 10 workers – the site was abandoned. The rusted equipment from those mines can still be found strewn around the island, which is now used for scientific research.

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
The Crumbling Shire 7 Abandoned Wonders Of New Zealand

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Contemporary House Inserted into Crumbling Castle Ruins

25 Jul

[ By Steph in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

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A ruined 12th-century castle serves as a stunning historic shell for a contemporary residence in a renovation by Witherford Watson Mann architects. The medieval Astley Castle has been in ruins since the 1970s, when a fire destroyed the hotel that occupied it at the time. Now, it’s preserved as an integral part of a two-story holiday house, the crumbling areas of its sandstone walls filled in with clay brickwork.

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The architects blended the new elements of the structure with the old, yet made sure that there is a clear distinction between the two. It’s harmonious, but allows the historic castle to be seen as it was before it was altered. The modern home is nestled within the walls, with the historic bricks still visible throughout the interior.

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Extensions added to the castle in the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries were topped with a roof and massive skylight, but left open to the elements through the arched windows and doorways to create a sunny courtyard. Laminated wooden beams separate the structure into individual living spaces and bedrooms.

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The home features four bedrooms on the ground floor, and a second-floor living room with large windows looking out onto the English countryside. Witherford Watson Mann won a competition held by architectural charity The Landmark Trust to design the home, and their renovation is one of six projects nominated for the prestigious 2013 Stirling Prize.

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“Crumbling Therapy” Official Music Video

21 Dec

DOWNLOAD MIXTAPE 4 FREE NOW!!!! overdoz.bandcamp.com CAST Captain James T. Kush: Kent Jamz Mr. Spark: Tube Williard Dr. Bongs McCough: Sleezy Alexander Ohura: Andrea Ellsworth Sulu: Kevin Liang Chekov: Creamie Scotty: Ezekiel Phillips Space Trooper: Reno Camozzi Space Trooper: Miles Stellar Space Lieutenant: Jake Lieberman Space Cop: Jake Eaton Space Cop: Mac Faulkner CREW Produced by Ezekiel Phillips Mac Faulkner Garret Marks Directed by Mac Faulkner Co-Producer: Jake Lieberman Co-Producer: Jake Eaton 1st AD Ian Olsen 2nd AD Marc Noda Director of Photography: Seth Naugle Camera Operator: Gordon Yould Camera Operator: Benny Bailey Steadicam Operator: Justin Browne 1st AC Brooks Ludwick 2nd AC Wes Waters DIT Jaz Kalkat Script Supervisor: Ash Blodgett Art Director: Ari Berger Set Construction: Dallas Stumbaugh Zoe Liang Garret Marks Ari Berger Mercedes Costa Micky Makai Hair/Makeup: Mercedes Costa Micky Makai Wardrobe: Alex Prigge Post-Production Supervisor: Jake Eaton Linear Edit: Mac Faulkner 3D Modeling: Anthony Gourdine-Woodard 3D Animation: Jake Eaton