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

[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?

[Kirsten]

Technical schools don't do that (although it's a good idea!), but we have a unique project right now (also part of ArtMonument-MonumentArt): 9x24, an entire half-timbered house (abandoned after a fire in 2004), now rebuilt within the 9 days of the festival, 24 hours a day - only by volunteers. :-)

Since you're interested in these old buildings, I'd suggest you'd check my FB album with pictures of that rotten building (took them in April this year):
https://www.facebook.com/kirsten.sch...6615523&type=3

[Asiel]

What an interesting concept Kirsten-- what a great way to put those old buildings to use and get people to visit them. Love the pictures, almost makes on want to take out pen and paper and see what could be done with those old remains... what a great project that would be.
We have absolutely nothing like that here, the old buildings, and I mean the buildings that were considered landmarks here were demolished in favour of modern offices some look like they're made of all glass--I don't really care for the new look, it would have been nice to keep the old landmarks that our children and grandchildren will now never see.
Love the pictures, thanks for sharing. I bet the history behind some of those buildings would make for some interesting reading.

[Karen]

Another thought would be to start a writing contest - one building at a time, as they seem to have stories to tell that writers would have a good time imagining!