Very unique art festival in my hometown these days (pictures)

[Karen]

What a cool idea! Do the artists provide the furniture, etc, as well as the actual artwork?

[Kirsten]

Karen, I think some artists provided the furniture as they are part of the installation; as in the first three pictures. But the living room in the 4th picture must be the remains of the former owners; at least that was my impression.

[Karen]

Are there that many abandoned buildings there? It seems like someone would want to live in them!

Still, interesting idea for an art exhibit, and maybe someone will think "That piece would look so much better in MY house with clean walls ..."

[Kirsten]

Yes, there are many abandoned buildings in the town center these days; very old houses that do not match our modern standards. The idea of the festival (it's taking place every two years since 2007) is to draw peoples' attention to these buildings, and some of them have found new owners that way. It's an award winning concept, btw.

[Karen]

Wow, I cannot imagine it! I adore old buildings, and they obviously have good walls intact, structural integrity - it seems it would be easier - and more economical - to rehab one old building than build new!

[Kirsten]

That's right, Karen, but to match these days' standards, a lot of rebuilding/restructuring would be required. I grew up in such a house, but these days, I cannot imagine to live like that. For example, we had no bathroom. We had a toilet cabin in the stairways and we used to wash ourselves in the kitchen sink, go figure! Later, my dad installed a shower in a very tiny room between our living room and our kitchen. As a child, it seemed normal to me, but today, I wouldn't want to live like that.

[Karen]

That's right, Karen, but to match these days' standards, a lot of rebuilding/restructuring would be required. I grew up in such a house, but these days, I cannot imagine to live like that. For example, we had no bathroom. We had a toilet cabin in the stairways and we used to wash ourselves in the kitchen sink, go figure! Later, my dad installed a shower in a very tiny room between our living room and our kitchen. As a child, it seemed normal to me, but today, I wouldn't want to live like that.

Wow, that's surprising! I mean, not for the 13th century, but for the 20th, sure! Of course we do not have any building that old around here, 300 years is considered very old, and rare! Gosh that just sets my mind ticking, planning - you know, Step 1, install modern plumbing! Step 2 - a kitchen! and on we go! Well, it is a good thing they are very far away from me, it is just tempting!

It seems like modernizing one building a year would be good practice for a technical school or something - do they ever do that?