The first images to come out of a natural disaster never fail to leave me stunned. Well, this is what the aftermath of an economic disaster in our own country looks like. This is Detroit. Like they say in the Chrysler Eminem Super Bowl commercial, the Motor City has been to “hell and back.”
Ballroom, Lee Plaza Hotel
Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre’s photographs of this once magnificent city are haunting … devastating … and beautiful. They say in their book and website, “Ruins are the visible symbols and landmarks of our societies and their changes, small pieces of history in suspension.”
William Livingstone House
Marchand and Meffre’s photos remind me of the genius of man, the glory of great of design and the fragility of even steel and stone. For those who built Detroit and those who live in Detroit, I want to see this city make a come back.
United Artists Theater
National Bank of Detroit
Michigan Central Station
Fisher Body 21 Plant
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chane Realty and Hugh, Grand Homes. Grand Homes said: Detroit in Ruins: Jaw-Dropping Photos of Houses & Buildings: The first images to come out of a nat… http://bit.ly/f9g8zw #design @hgtv [...]
Oh my goodness, these are so poignant, so moving!
My heart broke to think of that detailing gone.I wish I lived among those buildings.
It's sad to think but as you look at these pictures we need to realize this is how the ancient cities fell. History does repeat itself. We need to take heart to what we do with our precious cities. Do we want the same end.
Hopefully as they re-build their city they will add some gorgeous new buildings.
To those who grew up in the era of a splendorous downtown Hudson's, as my parents did, this is so so sad. Although there is beauty in photos of decay, I just wish this wasn't Detroit because what brought these photos about certainly isn't beautiful.
While my mother's family is from Kentucky, she grew up in Detroit. I remember her taking me there when I was a little girl. My aunt had mentioned the crumbling Victorian houses to me a few years ago. When I heard about this book, I new I had to share it with y'all. The Chrysler Eminem commercial is powerful, too.
i used to live in Detroit. My Grandpa worked for Fisher Body 35 years, he was a tool and die maker. i do not understand how anyone can let this important city in our countrys history just dry up and disappear. I too used to go downtown with my parents and shop….these photos are so sad to me.
The automotive industry and Motown gave so much to our country. Hopefully music and cars will bring this city back again.
I'm not sure which moved me more, the photos or this dialog.
The absolute affect of failed liberal policies that create a dependent society, tax and spend attitude v a self sustaining, low tax, economic friendly one. The Michigan Governor and Indiana Governor entered office the exact same time, with similar debt and money problems…Michigan raised taxes and sank deeper, Indiana lowered and is now in the black, even in this economic mess.
I've lived here for 78 years and I can tell you it does not boil down to one Michigan Governor. Many things happened over the last 50 to 60 years to create such a sad situation. My heart breaks for Detroit and its people. Many people, in power and in the general citizenry, found it easier to turn their heads away and go to greener pastures. But the true beauty of present day Detroit are the people who stayed and those souls living in the suburbs now but who carry a loving concern with them always for Detroit. All of these people love Detroit for what it can once again be, and God Bless those with giant hearts who do what they can to sustain the City and it's people day to day.
Absolutely fantastic opportunities for aspiring renovators and designers. Perhaps the money could come from HGTV.com and HGTV.ca launching new scholarships.
Absolutely AMAZING! These pictures definitely speak volumes of history and if only we could hear the walls talk behind these beautiful pictures and learn their story! I hope to see it rebuild as well….as a REALTOR, I entered this business completely fascinated by the HISTORY element of real estate (as it is an extreme interest/passion of mine), not only the BUSINESS. It is so amazing to see such photographs as these and I truly hope and would love to see the restoration of these magnificent structures!
Astounding beauty in decay ! This haunted city we love to hate.
Great job putting this together, Anna.
[...] detroit in ruins… [...]
[...] design will always be wanted and respected. But as with this once-gorgeous train station, that is not always the case. Photo: Sharon Hahn [...]
[...] We tend to think that beautiful design will always be wanted and respected. But as with this once-gorgeous train station, that is not always the case. [...]
You people act as if you're astonished. Well, guess what? This is what happens when you shop at WalMart. All that Chinese crap you're buying doesn't give a single job to anyone. President Obama's "jobs plan" won't help– not when the Military gets all its uniforms from China. Imagine– I'm defending my country while wearing a uniform MADE IN CHINA. And we stand in amazement as we look at the ruins of Detroit. We did this. We destroyed this great city. And YOUR city could be next…
well said. i totally agree!!
If you would like to learn how this came to be, try the book, GREEDY BASTARDS by
author Dylan Ratigan. Because it is still going on and this book has a plan on to stop it.
In reality, it was a government run by inept politicians that allowed this to happen to the city. While it is true that many jobs were shipped overseas (again the inept politicians in Washington D.C. touting globalization of the economy) which certainly did not help the situation, keeping the city from decay was the job of the city government. When one revenue stream dries up, it is the job of the government officials to find a new one — it isn't an easy job, but it is the job they wanted and were paid to do — and then didn't perform. And, remember this, as noble as it sounds, propping up the economy of another country is not a good idea for the USA. Detroit is a good case study. Shipping money, jobs, technology, and people overseas will only undermine the economy and standard of living of the USA. Obviously, it was greed on the part of the politicians and industry leaders that led to this decay. My question is how could they be so dumb as to think that shipping jobs out of this country could have any effect other than the one we are experiencing?