The last few posts have been more about demolition than exploring abandoned buildings. I believe these two things go hand in hand, after all they are successive phases in the life cycle of a building. First it’s planned, then constructed, abandoned and eventually demolished. Sometimes demolition comes quickly, sometimes the place sits abandoned for decades.Continue reading “Saying Goodbye at the end of the Summer”
Tag Archives: urban exploration
From Coaches to Couches and Fading Away
I had been looking at this place for a long time seeking a way in. It was a massive, U-shaped complex on the outskirts of the town, and its latest inhabitant had been a furniture store. The chain was declared bankrupt in 2011, and since then the place had been empty. It stood there peacefullyContinue reading “From Coaches to Couches and Fading Away”
Evolving Tampere
This is the city of Tampere, nicknamed Mansesteri after Manchester because it used to be the industrial capital of Finland. The capital of the second largest region after Helsinki, it’s a thriving city, which had just received its new landmark: a huge tower hotel built next to the old railroad roundhouses by the station. BackContinue reading “Evolving Tampere”
Just Another Day at the Office
It was a Thursday afternoon, shortly before 4 pm. I had had another tight day at work, but had started early, so I was also allowed to escape early. When leaving work, I noticed something was different, so I decided to take a detour. This building was a part of the headquarters of newspaper Kaleva.Continue reading “Just Another Day at the Office”
Anticipating Changes
Just another hardworking excavator performing its daily duty? Yes and no. This petrol station had opened in 1959, and for 57 years it had served cars and drivers. The building was original despite small facelifts being done, and it was probably one of the oldest petrol stations still in operation in Oulu and the wholeContinue reading “Anticipating Changes”
A Cabin in the Woods
Long bike trips were a thing for me that summer. And while biking in the suburbs, I was always on the lookout for new abandoned houses. Somewhere on the outskirts of the suburb Kaakkuri I spotted this tiny cottage, which most definitely seemed abandoned. The day was beautiful, and there were a lot of peopleContinue reading “A Cabin in the Woods”
The Writing is on the Wall
And here we are again. Another friend of mine learned about my adventures and wanted to see an abandoned building. The villa happened to be nearby, so we went there. My previous visit had been around one and a half months ago, so I didn’t expect anything special. I got the surprise of a lifetime.Continue reading “The Writing is on the Wall”
Return to the Workers’ Institute Part III
Our next stop was the attic of the eastern annex building. It was a long open space, where moving was made difficult by thick channels of ventilation pipes made out of concrete and brick. There was really no proper use for the place. It was just for technical equipment and storing things. Somehow a thickContinue reading “Return to the Workers’ Institute Part III”
Return to the Workers’ Institute Part II
Welcome to the eastern annex. This is about as far as I got during my previous visit. That was when I spotted a bed in one of the rooms and we backed out. But now this place looks like it hasn’t really served as anybody’s home in a while. The room looked like some sortContinue reading “Return to the Workers’ Institute Part II”
Return to the Workers’ Institute Part I
What do serial killers and arsonists have in common? They might commit single crimes at first, but then one day they enter a more active phase and go out on a spree. They kill and burn, kill and burn until somebody catches them. My spring with abandoned houses had so far been much more activeContinue reading “Return to the Workers’ Institute Part I”