Open City Forum – curated with Tim Rieniets
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Bas Princen – 5 Cities Portfolio – Photographs from Istanbul, Beirut, [...]

[ By Delana in Architecture & Design, History & Factoids. ]

The military buildings of today are relatively bland and plain, but in centuries past military architecture was something to be admired. Military forts, whether they were stand-alone installations or incorporated towns within their walls, had to be tough enough to stand up to attacks and well-designed enough to effectively return fire when required. Star-shaped forts were a particularly interesting type of fortification. They first appeared around the time that gunpowder became commonly used in warfare; the unusual shape of the forts and the fact that they were made of hard-to-shatter brick (rather than the traditional stone) helped the forts stand up to cannonball fire. These incredible structures are among the most memorable, the most beautiful, and the most historically important star forts from around the world.

Bourtange, Netherlands

(image via: Wikipedia)

This positively gorgeous star-shaped fort and its associated village is Bourtange, a Dutch fortification built in the 16th century during the Eighty Years’ War. The fort was decommissioned at one point in 1851, after which the area became a normal town, but a century later the fort was restored to encourage tourists to visit the area. While the fort itself is now a popular museum, the village continues to hold a constant population.

Fort Pitt, USA

(images via: Wikipedia and Pittsburgh City Paper)

On the grounds of what is now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, once sat Fort Pitt. Constructed in the midst of the French and Indian war, the star-shaped fort became an important part of the conflict. Not much remains today of Fort Pitt – only one solitary building – but the unique shape of the former military stronghold is commemorated in the above scale model still on display in the Fort Pitt Museum.

Fort McHenry, Maryland, USA

(images via: Wikipedia and UMB)

Fort McHenry is arguably one of the most important military bases in US history. During the War of 1812, British soldiers bombarded the fort for 25 hours, but American soldiers bravely held them off. The fort’s valiant defense inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the poem that would later become the country’s national anthem. Today, the very flag that Key saw that night is still on display inside the building, which has long been established as an historical monument.

Almeida, Portugal

(image via: More Walking Portugal and Spain)

The impressive star-shaped fort at Almeida, Portugal was built to defend the area against the French invasion during the Peninsular War in the early 19th century. In 1810 it was under brutal siege by the French general Massena, during which a careless soldier allowed the entire munitions store to explode, destroying the medieval castle that was once part of the town. The town wall and most of the remaining military buildings have been very well maintained and today are still a fantastic tourist destination for people who love architecture, military history and fascinating places.

Charles Fort, Ireland

(image via: Wikipedia)

Nestled in the lush green landscape of County Cork, Ireland is Charles Fort. Built in the late 17th century, it’s a wonderful example of the star-shaped forts characteristic of that time. The fort has a long and impressive military history, and it’s been involved in some of Ireland’s most important historical events. Despite being so important to Ireland’s history and in constant use for several hundred years, it was only granted national landmark status in the 1970s.

Fort Cumberland, England

(images via: English Heritage)

The star-shaped Fort Cumberland on England’s southern coast is widely regarded as one of the most shining examples of this type of fort in the United Kingdom. It was the last fort with bastions to be built in the UK, and it was in use as a military structure until well into the 20th century. It’s possible to tour the structure currently, but only by pre-booked appointment.

Palmanova, Italy

(image via: Deputy Dog)

Palmanova, in northeastern Italy, was founded on October 7, 1593. The fortress was the state of the art when it was built, and it was the 16th century equivalent of a planned community. The commune was originally meant to guard against attacks from the Ottomans and contain a self-sustaining community of merchants and residents. But like many planned communities of today, it was boring and devoid of character, and no one was interested in living there. The Italian government was eventually forced to offer free land and building materials in Palmanova to convicts who would agree to live there. To this day, the planned community remains a soulless place with no real life…but the magnificent architecture continues to impress.

Duncannon Fort, Ireland

(image via: Duncannon Fort)

If you saw the 2002 remake of “The Count of Monte Cristo,” you might recognize Duncannon Fort from the opening scenes. The lovely star-shaped fort was built in 1588 in preparation for an attack by the Spanish Armada. Today it offers unparalleled waterfront views, an impressive maritime museum and one of the oldest standing lighthouses in Ireland.

Tilbury Fort, England

(image via: Universitat Wien)

One of the most visually striking star-shaped forts is Tilbury Fort in Essex, along the River Thames. It was built to defend London from sea-based attacks and performed admirably for centuries. The current star-shaped structure was designed by Dutch engineer Sir Bernard de Gromme, though many Victorian-era additions and repairs are part of the overall structure that visitors see today.

Fort Carré, Antibes, France

(images via: Fortified Places)

Antibes has been at the center of many heated military conflicts over the centuries, thanks to its prime location. In the 16th century a fort was built to protect the town, and it eventually evolved into Fort Carré, a beautiful example of a star-shaped fort. Today, the fort still stands strong, along with ancient chapel that the original fort was built around, and the area remains a popular tourist destination.

Naarden, Netherlands

(image via: Wikipedia)

The beautiful star fort in Naarden, Netherlands stands as a wonderful example of the style. The ancient town was once the capital of Holland, and in the course of several wars was destroyed and rebuilt. The five-pointed star shaped fort has been restored to its magnificent best, and today remains Europe’s only standing fortification with double walls and double moats.

Fort Ontario, New York, USA

(images via: NY State Parks and New York Traveler)

The original Fort Ontario was a stronghold of the British army during the French and Indian War. It was a complement to the nearby Fort Oswego and meant to protect the Lake Ontario region. The fort was destroyed and rebuilt three times in its history, and it has the distinction of having housed America’s only government-sponsored Jewish refugees during World War 2. The fort was recently threatened by a lack of funding, but lovers of the historic site banded together to raise money to keep the museum open.

Goryokaku, Japan

On the island of Hokkaido sits Goryokaku, one of the few reminders of the short-lived Republic of Ezo. The five-pointed star fort was the site of the last battle in the Boshin War in 1868. Today is a large public park popular with locals for watching cherry blossoms bloom each Spring. The star-shaped outer walls remain intact, though, offering a unique aerial view of the park.

Neuf Brisach, France

Built in 1697 along the Rhine, Neuf Brisach was built to replace the demolished town of Villa Nueve. The planned community was laid out in a grid formation that’s relatively unusual in Europe; after the siege of 1870 many of the buildings were restored to their original condition.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation of Fandom

From the fantastic to the ridiculous, here are 10 of the most interesting expressions of Star Trek fanaticism.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Delana in Architecture & Design, History & Factoids. ]

Seriously – totally cool!

Ooo, just read this from TLO (yes, fan of that too):

STYLE ICONS “MAD MEN” AND BARBIE® JOIN FORCES AS LIONSGATE, AMC AND MATTEL LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE BARBIE DOLL COLLECTION

Season 3 DVD Hits Stores March 23rd and Will Include Collectible Sketch Drawings of the “Mad Men” Barbie Dolls

March 10, 2010 – New York, NY – Mattel, Inc., Lionsgate® (NYSE: LGF), and AMC announced today the launch of four Barbie® Collector “Mad Men” dolls available to consumers July 2010. Designed by Barbie designer Robert Best, the “Mad Men” Barbie doll line features key players from the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency: creative director and leading man Don Draper; his wife Betty Draper; Sterling Cooper partner Roger Sterling; and bombshell office manager Joan Holloway. Today’s announcement marks the first licensed doll line in the Barbie Fashion Model Collection, a signature silkstone collection within the Barbie brand known for featuring couture quality fashions and accessories.

The “Mad Men” Barbie Collector doll collection embodies the “Mad Men” series’ couture fashions and accessories, and its iconic 1960s style and aesthetic. The series, which is produced by Lionsgate and airs on AMC, has made history with its multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Awards by chronicling the lives of the men and women of Madison Avenue advertising in the 1960s. Season four of “Mad Men” premieres this summer.

Gracefully molded of Silkstone®, a material that resembles the look and weight of porcelain, each doll is stylized in iconic costumes from the series, and comes with accessories true to their show counterparts. Don Draper wears his classic, polished red-lined suit and comes accessorized
with a hat, overcoat and brief case; Betty Draper’s classic look is captured with unparalleled detail, from her faux pearl necklace to her pumps; Joan Holloway looks chic in a purple skirt suit and perfectly styled coif with her staple accessory – a pen necklace; and Roger Sterling is looking dapper in his monogrammed shirt.

Fans can get exclusive collectible sketch drawings of the “Mad Men” Barbie Collector dolls when the Season Three DVD hits stores on March 23, 2010 as each DVD set will include one of the four character sketches. The Mad Men: Season Three DVD contains all 13 episodes of the season and is also loaded with hours of special features including extensive commentaries and innovative featurettes that examine the historical events that shaped 1963.

The Barbie® Fashion Model Collection “Mad Men” Barbie® dolls will be available for a suggested retail price of $74.95. Available at BarbieCollector.com, amctv.com and select retailers.

[ By Angie in Abandoned Places, Architecture & Design, Urban Images. ]

When you look at these photos, do you think death and derelict nightmare or do you think urban explorers’ dream? Explorers dared security guards and guard dogs to investigate and to photograph the decaying, otherwise forgotten, and rotten bedlam of massive Hellingly Asylum. Maybe these adventurers are just insane, or maybe they wanted to sift through the eerie and unspeakable beauty of the Victorian hospital complex. Hellingly Asylum even had an electrified railway, so let’s go off the rails on a crazy train to explore the decomposing mental hospital since it is at this moment being torn down. Here’s an ode to abandoned Hellingly Mental Asylum with 33 creepy photos. R.I.P.

Ode to Hellingly Asylum

(image credits: Luke Woodford,liamch)

Hellingly Hospital was designed by asylum architect George Thomas Hine and was one of the most advanced asylum designs ever constructed. Hellingly Asylum opened its doors in 1903 and then closed them permanently in 1994. Most of the psychiatric hospital is to be replaced by new housing. Good luck with that to those of you who think you will live peacefully on a land soaked with trauma.

Hellingly Asylum, Sussex

(image credits: Howzey’s Hellingly Photostream)

Patients and staff all lived in red brick buildings, villas of this gigantic asylum. Men and women lived in separate wings. There were big windows to let in as much light as possible. Even as “advanced” as it was thought to be, Hellingly was also a place where women who had children out of wedlock were incarcerated. (Unless otherwise credited, all images are from Howzey, urban explorer and photographer extraordinaire.)

The decadent ballroom is only a tiny fraction of an asylum tagged, explored, smashed, trashed and a target of numerous arson attacks. In the theater, facing the stage, near the front right door, there was a hatch where some urban explorers were brave enough to crawl around the creepy underground passageways.

For over 20 years, abandoned Hellingly has been dying, fading, and peeling, but there is a lovely quality that makes you shudder about the ruination. Some explorers have reported hearing unexplained noises up and down the many corridors. Of course, old buildings make noises. The hallway above is one that was in “better” condition than many others.

Besides having a farm, train, water tower, clothing store, boiler room, chapel, dentist office and so many others, there was also a Hellingly Hair Salon. This room has been heavily vandalized and photographed about as much too.

Arson left its smoky and charred touch to the kitchen and central stores, the administration block, medical officer’s residences and much more. There is substantial fire damage to the above Hellingly Hospital corridor.

There is something utterly creepy about seeing a child’s wheelchair in the decaying mental hospital. According to county asylum records, Hellingly Asylum had a special building just for “mentally defective” children. Of course, this was back in a time when people were locked away in isolation, people with mental illness or an illness in which the family did not want to deal.

Outside one of the roasted toasty corridors is one of the many padded cells rooms. Other “advanced” facility care therapeutics included shock treatments.

Hellingly Asylum even had its own morgue and the above body fridge. On the grounds, there could be found “body trolleys” for transporting human remains into this chamber of the dead.

Some folks call it vandalism and others call it art, but many graffiti artists have left their mark up and down the hallways, rooms, stairways, and spooky corners of abandoned Hellingly Asylum. The top two photographs showcase works by Snub.

(image credit: BBC)

Graffiti artists can have a great sense humor, placing the semi-undressed woman carefully above the bathtub. The rest of the black and white portions in this picture are a product of merging Hellingly Asylum in its glory with its decrepit and tagged state now.

Given its sad state of decay for 26 years, nature was trying to reclaim Hellingly. The paint had peeled, the ceiling had crumbled in places, and the glass had been smashed out of windows, exposing the once grand Victorian architecture to be a victim of the elements. If this urban explorer’s paradise was not being destroyed, eventually nature would have swallowed the abandoned asylum whole. Perhaps the asylum ghosts were acting at night as gardeners?

The top photo shows what was once a service area. Walkers, foam, mattresses, and clothing are scattered over the moss. The “Yellow Chair” in the bottom picture is in about the same state as abandoned Hellingly Asylum. Yet there is something infinitely sad about this decrepit hospital being demolished by wrecking crews for new construction.

If the walls could talk within Hellingly, could you imagine the tales you might hear? Would the building scream in terror at what has happened within those walls? If you want to stay updated with the progress of destruction and demolition, Hellingly Asylum has a Facebook page. Some former patients, some children during their stay at Hellingly, report recalling a distinctive smell and plenty of scary memories from this place.

Since the asylum has been abandoned and left to slowly rot, exposure to the weather was not the only thing hammering on Hellingly. Signs of vandalism were almost everywhere. In theory, that is why security guards were hired. But there was something scarier than guard dogs and ghosts within Hellingly . . . asbestos.

In its prime, Hellingly Asylum was a beautiful example of Victorian architecture. Just the same, that might not be overly comforting when having to bath in one of the many bathtubs along with many others in the “public” restrooms.

(image credits: Howzey’s Hellingly Photostream)

Goodbye Hellingly Hospital, where both good and bad happened. The huge complex will soon be nothing more than written stories and urban explorers’ documented photographs. Some people do not enjoy visiting the dentist. Add that with all that transpired at this asylum and it might send a shiver up your spine. Would you have gone down those spooky stairs, ready to bark at the moon and take on anything? Despite unexplained noises in the deserted and decaying asylum, would you have kept going if you ran into the ghosts in the lower right photo? Actually it is a trick of the trees outside and the moonlight . . . or is it? We salute urban adventurers in general and howzey specifically this time for sharing his pictures with us.

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[ WebUrbanist - By Angie in Abandoned Places, Architecture & Design, Urban Images. ]

[ By Marc in Architecture & Design, Furniture & Interiors, Gadgets & Geek Art. ]

Star Trek has been an ongoing phenomenon since its debut in 1966. Star Trek consists of 2 series on the USS Enterprise, 3 spin offs, an animated series, and 11 feature films. A franchise this long lasting and successful creates a loyal following that is interested in anything related to the series. Whether it’s Star Trek clothing, home decor, or tattoos, there are a plethora of awesome examples of the fierceness of Star Trek fans. From the fantastic to the ridiculous, here are 10 of the most interesting expressions of Star Trek fanaticism:

(Images via voyageronline, norulesnoshame, mez love, tattoo22)

Star Trek fans explore every means of showing off their passion for the Star Trek universe, and this includes tattoos. A lot of fans pay homage to their favorite characters (or the entire cast) by having portraits placed prominently on themselves, though the more subtle Star Trek fan may simply have a communicator tattooed to their chest.

(Images via trekmovie, walyou)

Even with the advanced technology in Star Trek, exploring the boundaries of space is a dangerous business, and there have been a lot of deaths throughout the series. The funeral rites in the Federation are beautiful and explored in detail. As with all things Star Trek, industrious companies have even learned to capitalize on funeral gear. Futuristic looking urns are available, as well as coffins that look identical to those in the series and films.

(Images via product-reviews, techeblog, gearsandwidgets, reighn)

Everything about the USS Enterprise is graceful and epic, as it is the flagship of the Federation’s fleet, and the pinnacle of human technological achievement. The Star Trek films deserve a fitting viewing space, preferably Star Trek themed. The most common Star Trek home theater design is the bridghe, with its signature sweeping railing and the Captain’s chair.

(Images via neatorama, craziestgadgets, gearlive, geekalerts, geek-tastic, geeky-gadgets)

Life is about the little things, and for the avid Trekkie, this involves USS Enterprise bottle openers, iPhone cases, cakes, pillow cases, car decorations… the list goes on and on. There are a million ways to subtly reveal your loyalty to the Federation.

(Images via clothesmonaut, majorspoilers, ioffer, highsnobiety)

If you’re truly proud to be a Trekkie, you’re not afraid to wear clothing that reflects it. Star Trek ties are a great way to bring your interests to work, while a pair of Spock inspired gloves will keep you showing your loyalties throughout the winter. If you’re on your way to a convention, you can always toss on your Star Trek uniform corset to really catch some nerdy attention.

(Images via boingboing, geek24, makezine, walyou)

Car enthusiasts like to customize their rides, and Star Trek enthusiasts are no different. When you can’t find a Star Trek themed accessory to meet your needs, you might as well make it. Some fans have created iPhone cases that look like the original Star Trek comm units, but the ultimate modification involves changing your main mode of transportation to blare your preferences to the world and brighten up the road.

(Images via feelingstylish, geekologie, geeky-gadgets, movieties)

Formal wear isn’t exempt from Star Trek fervor, with a booming cufflink industry keeping geek-centric companies in business. Several colognes and perfumes have been made, as well as luxurious watches and time pieces. Star Trek inspired jewelry is quite common, and people are willing to pay a high price for the more unique goods.

(Images via product-reviews, funkybachelor, manolo)

Your house is the ultimate expression of your taste and style, where you go to relax, or invite friends over for social activities. You have to be truly fanatical to drastically alter your home decor to reflect the atmosphere of your favorite television show. From illuminated wall displays to the smooth walls and low lighting of the interior of the USS Enterprise, these fans proudly display their Star Trek inspired lifestyle.

(Images via gadgetreview, mydesignpick, gadgether, insidedgw, stylehive)

Star Trek fans are proud geeks who spend a lot of time at their computers. It makes sense, then, that there is such an extensive variety of USB devices that can grace one’s desk. Miniature USS Enterprises, comm unit flash drives, and models of shuttlecraft are just a few examples of Star Trek USB Gadgets. One of the most interesting gadget concepts? A record player shaped like the USS Enterprise.

(Images via geekologie, gadgether, geeky-gadgets, craziestgadgets)

Star Trek commercialization has often gotten out of hand. Star Trek themed sporks, nutcrackers, Russian dolls, and even Eggo waffles seem to cross some line, though they’re pretty humorous now. While Star Trek fans are willing to spend their hard earned money on almost anything Star Trek themed, their are limits (we just haven’t found them yet).

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[ WebUrbanist - By Marc in Architecture & Design, Furniture & Interiors, Gadgets & Geek Art. ]