Aspherical has been up and running for roughly three months. According to the counter that came with Pixelpost, approximately 4,000 people visited. In addition, several people commented on the images. In contrast, I doubt the Prizzo Skeezy has garnered that many visitors in a year. And about five people have bothered to comment.
In modern America, Los Angeles is the archetypical city of the automobile. However, Los Angeles’ urban form was originally dictated by streetcars, not freeways. The first urban freeway in the United States was actually completed in 1959 in Detroit. Five years prior to completion of the freeway, the first step towards the ultimate implosion of Detroit was unwittingly taken when the Northland Mall, amusingly located in Southfield, opened along the aforementioned freeway.
Roughly fifty years later, after numerous failed attempts at revitalization and the loss of almost one million citizens (for comparison purposes, roughly four Macons), Detroit is unique among American cities in its wholesale abandonment. Other rusted out industrial cities along the Great Lakes, such as Buffalo and Cleveland, simply cannot compare to the sheer grandeur of the ruins of Detroit.
Urban explorers armed with cameras have taken an interest in the ruins and are busy posting the spoils of their adventures on the internet. dETROITfunk is one of the best sites and presents a singular vision of Detroit. The focus is on ruins and abandoned factories, which are often contrasted with renovations of gorgeous old buildings and some truly excellent graffiti. This site is set apart from myriad other urban exploration pages by the informed commentary steeped in architectural history. The included notes place the photographed buildings in the greater historical and geographic context. Enjoy the journey.
The first two paragraphs contain facts gleaned from the Detroit Historical Museums & Society.
I highly recommend paying a visit to this site, Levitation Daily Movie Freeze Frame. The concept and photography are most excellent. Ignore the story line, as it is contrived and not particularly interesting.
Over the last few weeks, I had a blast posting photos of ruins over at underground. So, I set up a modest site of my own the other day and called it aspherical. Enjoy and feel free to leave comments telling me how great the photos are. I promise my head won’t swell.