Urban exploring- abandoned and derelict buildings/ forgotten spaces.

I have never (since a few fairly unwitting adventures as an adolescent) done any ‘Urban exploring’ (described by Wikipedia as “... the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities.”) myself. Nor have I any real desire to, although I am fascinated by these spaces, I am also a terrible coward. However, there are countless online resources of the sometimes astonishingly beautiful photographs of Urban explorers on the internet. While researching the set design for my “Rabbits Bride” project I have been using these pictures as a reference. I am captivated by the residual memory in these spaces, the loss of function, the destruction/ alteration as nature begins to reclaim these man-made structures, the sadness and beauty that coexists within each frame. In my film I am exploring the idea or memory and perception (within the context of a relationship), as well as creating a dream-like, nightmarish quality. I want to use derelict buildings as sets but through the film the level of dereliction will alter, suggesting a changing time. Although time will go backwards and forwards, the set becoming progressively less derelict (rebuilding), the character of the girl will become older. The photos I have seen by Urban Explorers have been a large influence on creating the concept and look of my set design, so below are some links to a few sites, and a couple of pictures...

   

Some amazing photos of an abandoned school in Belgium (including the one below) at

http://www.talkurbex.com/2009/08/chateau-de-noisy-abandoned-school/

People have posted loads of fantastic pictures from all over the UK (and beyond) here:

http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk

This photo is from derelictplaces.co.uk...

It was taken at ‘Barnes’ hospital in Manchester. Which I think might have been the venue for a rave I went to in 2005. But I am not sure. It was a long time ago and my memories were hazy at the time. But I do remember the building being amazing.  A really interesting and slightly sinister location for anything, let alone a crazy drugs party...

Here is another good website:  http://www.28dayslater.co.uk

Again, a forum for people to post photos (and histories) of all kinds of spaces around the UK, really fascinating and some really beautiful amateur photography can be found here as well...

This blog entry ( http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/25-bonechilling-photos-of )has some fantastic photos, such as the one below...