Apr 17, 2008
The ruins of Detroit
Michigan Central Station.
Photos from Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre (above) and Forgotten Detroit (below), the latter being an extensive catalogue of urban dereliction.
The station waiting room.
Update: Environmental Graffiti today has a post speculating which American cities might be the lost cities of the future. Detroit is number three; go here to see which others they choose.
Previously on { feuilleton }
• Ephemeral architecture
• The temples of Angkor
• St Pancras in Spheroview
• Adolph Sutro’s Gingerbread Palace
• Hungarian water towers
8 Comments, Comment or Ping
Nathalie
I’d met with writer Gail Siegel a month ago and I was telling her how I love to photograph ruins and she told me about Detroit and how the whole center had that ghost town feel. I am glad to see it now in pictures, it is truly amazing.
Apr 17th, 2008
Wiley
Detroit’s largely forgotten urban districts have served as the setting for multiple American films of the fantastic, unfortunately the only one that comes to mind right now is ‘The Crow’ . A talented director or editor could probably make Detroit seem like America’s equivalent to the Prague of Kafka, Meyrink, and Leppin.
Apr 17th, 2008
John
There’s quite a range of sites devoted to urban ruins but Detroit has more than most, unsurprisingly. One of my favourite collections (which has been linked all over) concerns this Japanese island.
I was wondering whether Detroit had been used as a setting for films or not, it seems like too good a location to ignore.
Apr 17th, 2008
Robin Samberg
Ah….the glorious beauty of what once was the aqua tiles of the round aqaurium in Belle Isle…Detroit is a virtual storehouse of artwork begging to be seen, every day, every street and alley.
Apr 17th, 2008
Dave Roberts
I live in Detroit, and yes it is fantastic. Unfortunately our cultural legacy is not recognized by our civic leaders, and these fantastic monuments are being lost. it is a testament of this town’s transition from being amongst the wealthiest in the world to one of the poorest in the U.S. It speaks volumes on the topics of racial and social inequality, changing economies and America’s unquenchable desire for disposable items.
Apr 17th, 2008
Thombeau
Downtown Detroit is a strange and desolate place. Blocks and blocks of large deserted buildings. And a monorail! It all has a bit of a post-apocalyptic feel.
Apr 18th, 2008
Wiley
The Japanese gallery is great, my fave is actually the first picture just of the dismal horizon outline. It sets the tone well.
Apr 19th, 2008
John
I’m pretty sure those island pics didn’t have a big slogan stamped on them before. A shame as it rather spoils things.
Apr 20th, 2008
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