Wrap Up

Field school has finally come to and end.

 

In the span of two weeks I have greatly increased my knowledge on not just urban and suburban planning and design but also about the history of Edmonton itself. This experience has also furthered fueled the continued exploration of my interests around the subject of decay and historical buildings.

 

I walk away from field school feeling more knowledgeable about my surroundings and look forward to telling people I know random facts about the city in which they live. I feel that I have achieved the goals and the quality of information that I came into field school seeking to learn.

 

Thanks again to Dr. Summers and Kurt for making this experience possible.

"The Poetry of Decay"

The website, Failed Architecture featured a written piece on the topic of decay that I found interesting. Here is a small excerpt from the post:

 

"The city’s scars are stimuli for the mind. They raise questions, about memories and imaginations of a foregone past, and of potential futures. They visualise the passage of time and the inevitability of collapse, reminding us of our own transience. On a smaller level, dilapidation shows traces of faded lives, moved communities and shrunken economies. The voids provide space for the observer to interpret them as she or he likes, to fill them with imaginations and meanings."

 

I think this description encompasses a lot about how I feel about decay and the emotions it raises in me.

 

http://failedarchitecture.com/the-poetry-of-decay/

 

 

Failed Architecture

I came across an interesting website dedicated to issues of urban decay, architecture, and planning. The site is called Failed Architecture. There are some inspiring pieces on the site with wonderful pictures to follow.

 

http://failedarchitecture.com/

 

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Urban Decay: Downtown Edmonton

 

Old Molson site

Old Molson site

I like the old signage, or what I assume to be older signage. This shop is right on 97th St and is an
unfortunate reminder of some of the economic and social struggles this area faces.

I'm really fascinated by this picture. I love the old signage, the rusty barred up windows
and the overall abandonment of the building.



I found the old brick façade of this building to be interesting, particularly the usage of the different types of brick.
 It is clear that there use to be another building attached to it. It makes me wonder what use to share this wall.



McCauley. I'm amazing that this building has not been demolished by the City. It is
boarded up and abandoned, graffiti ridden, has many broken windows, and is surrounded
 in garbage.

 

Dylan focused his final class presentation on the topic of decay and did a really good job at analyzing the different elements of decay. This is my little ode to urban decay in Edmonton.

Decay: International

I love the beauty in decay.

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated in the decay of old buildings, particularly of old colonial era buildings. Growing up in South East Asia I was fortunate to be able to see prime examples of the slow decay of British, Dutch, and French colonial architecture along with magnificent historical ruins.

Decay adds character. History. A sense of mystery.  

 

Cambodia

 

 

These pictures I took of Angkor Wat in Cambodia illustrate the decay of one of the oldest ruins in the world. It is hard to describe in words the feeling buildings such as this invoke in me, but it is a sense of raw history, mystery, and the beauty of the natural elements wearing away the stone that I find alluring.

 

China
 

Old brass pegs on a newly painted door

Fresh coat of bright paint

I came across this alley way and was instantly attracted to the decay I saw.

 

My experience in Beijing, China in comparison left a little more to be desired. While the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven were undoubtedly old, they failed to evoke the sense of mystery and history that I had so desperately hoped. The clean smooth stone, wiped clean of any green moss and stripped of the natural climbing vines displayed very little in terms of age and character. There was very little stimulus around to make remember how old and how ancient this wonder of the world was. The Temple of Heaven, like the red doors of the Forbidden City, erased any form or decay and age with its bright repainted façade.  Inside the Forbidden City, everything had been sanitized and renovated, removing so much of the character I had anticipated. It was difficult to close my eyes and picture what these places were like back in the day.

 

Indonesia
 

Borobudur:The stone dome that once protected this Buddha is gone, either stolen
or knocked down



Bassreliefs that have been battered by the elements

 

Singapore
 

Old British colonial era building in Singapore's Little India district

Vietnam



Bullet ridden entrance way. A remnant of  a battle with French troops.

An overgrown section of the former Royal Palace

 



Time Warp

I really like this contrast between the old and the new. This old historic building has been
a cornerstone on Jasper Avenue for decades and behind it is the new and modern
Manulife/Commerce Place.

Final Presentation

I'm very proud of PowerPoint I made for my final presentation. I thought that it was very important to have a visually stimulating presentation given the highly visual element of my topic. I spent a lot of time seeking out good examples of blank/dead spaces, graffiti, and murals to help facilitate and strengthen my discussion.
 

Pictures are worth a thousand words.