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Architectural Ups and Downs: ArtInRuins Website
Rhode Island

History buffs, architects, and urban explorers alike will find much to love at ArtInRuins.com, a website that chronicles the rise, fall, and rising again of Rhode Island’s historic buildings.

 
 

Some buildings, like the former cotton mill where we toured Sarah & Hillary’s loft this week, have been converted into fantastic spaces while others have slipped into urban decay or disappeared altogether. ArtInRuins lovingly records them all with photographs, construction updates, building histories, ephemera, and reader anecdotes.

The site, which was founded by graphic designer J Hogue in 2001, starts its mission statement with: “We at ArtInRuins believe that decay is beautiful, but not necessary.” It celebrates Rhode Island heritage and the responsible redevelopment of urban spaces while providing a community for action and discussion when historic buildings are destroyed or abandoned.

Now that boarded up buildings are becoming the norm in some areas, ArtInRuins seems like a necessary and poignant forum for collective local remembrances. If you grew up in Rhode Island where a lot of the urban landscape has changed (mostly for the better) over the last 20 years, browsing the photographs will get some serious nostalgia going.

www.artinruins.com

MORE ON REDEVELOPED RHODE ISLAND BUILDINGS:
Sarah & Hillary's Maximalist Loft
Affordable Artist Live/Work Studios by DBVW Architects
Jason's Book-Filled Loft

(Images: ArtInRuins)

Tags

history, books, guides & resources, real estate, Rhode Island, ArtInRuins, J Hogue

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Comments (4)

If you like these images, your readers might also like Professor Tim Edensor's project, British Industrial Ruins at: http://www.sci-eng.mmu.ac.uk/british_industrial_ruins/

(I do not work on behalf of Mr Edensor; I just like his work!)

posted by Julia B on September 4th 2009 at 11:28am
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I really enjoyed looking at the website and its always so sad to see such lovely structures decay then torn down. If I won the lottery I would take one under my wing and bring it back to life.

posted by LoriSF on September 4th 2009 at 12:19pm
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Great website that I've been going to for several years. Nice to see it featured here!

posted by michpc on September 4th 2009 at 1:43pm
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thanks for posting this. oh, my little rhody...how things change. i love it.

posted by quickly on September 6th 2009 at 11:52am
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