My neighbourhood Colonia Cuauhtemoc, in the very centre of Mexico City, is in a state of flux; with the balance switching away from beautiful, old, dignified colonial buildings to the concrete, steel, and glass of ultra-modern and trendy high-rise expensive apartment blocks. The colonial architecture, always such a strong feature of this barrio, is beginning to slip away into dilapidation, disrepair and decay...
Many colonial buildings have deteriorated so much from their former glory that they are now abandoned, desolate and damaged places crying out for attention.... and investment! Obviously they are difficult and expensive to maintain and keep up, but don't they look so sad and forlorn in their current ruinous condition.... ??
All these photos were taken just last week in a sepia tint, which I thought may enhance this lament and nostalgia for the former past glory and beauty of this gorgeous architecture...
One glimmer of hope is that another abandoned building that I was going to photograph last week was actually in the process that very day of being renovated, made-over and totally spruced up. Hooray!! Maybe there is hope after all, and I can write a very different report in times to come. In the meantime, check out other My World Tuesday postings by clicking here. Enjoy!! PS I entered the first photograph in a photo competition amongst friends for the theme of "Damaged". What do you think??
21 comments:
Neither a museum, like Bodie or restored to their former glory, these inhabit a world in between. Hopefully they will get a new life, they are to beautiful to be allowed to decay.
The first photo should win the prize! All of your photos speak of how sad it is to see these incredible buildings crumbling away! Hooray! for the one that is being rebuilt! Wish there were more!
Have a great week, Catherine!
Sylvia
I recently did a post about "German Village" in Columbus,Ohio. An area of Columbus that at one time was in real decline is now a "Go To" spot Just need the right visionary to step up
Great post. It is sad to see building old buildings fall into dissaray although even in that condition I find them quite beautiful. Good to hear one is being restored.
these are beautiful captures and the sepia tone sets them off perfectly.
thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog. we actually had an early breakfast so by the time we ate the sweets it was almost lunch time...:)
Good news about the sprucing up, you will have to show us the make over. Thanks for sharing.
Love your sepia photos here Catherine... must be an incredible place to look around in. Those wrought iron grills are something else again... what I would give to be able to go back in time and see places like this in their prime, to be able to compare to what they've become... a shame to see such beauty crumble to be replaced by what passes for urban architecture today...
That a magical world, to be sure.
Interesting photos I like the first one most so hopefully you win the competition! My photos for this weeks my world tuesday are from Huahine in the society islands of French Polynesia.
I'm always sad when any city suffers a loss of old buildings ... all the magnificent architecture that has seen the wrecking ball. Your photos are beautiful. I hope some of these places can be saved.
Cathrine: That is such a shame that this has happened to this beautiful buildings. The sepia tint really sj=howed them in a special way.
I hope you can return there in a few years(?) and show us, by colourful pictures, that a number of buildings have been saved!
I wish I had some money to invest in these properties - I can see them becoming very desirable in ten years time! A great medley too, I hope that a few far sighted people will see the potential in these buidings and save them for being razed.
The colonial architecture is beautiful. It is so sad that it is falling apart.
I love these photos and kept click click clicking trying to make them bigger so I could really examine them. Any chance you could save your photos larger so they are clickable?
My husband and I live in Mazatlan, which has a centro historico that is a jumble of restored beauties and ruins. We love it. And our son is buying a turn of the last century house in Roma Norte that needs to be restored.
My hope is that enough people understand the value of them before too much of the stock is decayed beyond resurrection.
It is so sad when money making verruns historical districts and forces instant and drastic changes. It is neither good for the people nor the cityscape since in the blinking of an eye a whole district disappears and can never be brought back again.
The culture shock og unfamiliarity is not ealily overcome.
I do hope that more of these beautiful buildings can be restored.
Hi everyone - thanks for taking such an interest in these beautiful abandoned buildings - let us hope they are not too desolate for long
Hey Nancy - so good to hear someone has boutgh a place in the Roma to do up...will se what I can do about the photos....
The sepia looks right as the monochrome looks best. The age is right.
We see the same thing in the US. Although is not as old as other places, the buildings her in the past were built to last - if maintained. When new style seems more important than old, the old seems to be discarded. A shame...
It's a great photo. They all are. We really should arrange a Mexico City Photowalk one of these days.
hey Ralph - yes I totally agree it is a real shame...
hey Gary - sounds like a plan...we should indeed arrange it...
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