How old buildings have completely changed their uses over time
by Natasha Christou Digital Marketing ConsultantWhen an old
building is vacated, it doesn’t need to be the end of its usefulness. After
all, these buildings were built to last, so knocking them down isn’t always the
wisest move. For example, adaptive reuse is one of many ways the world is
changing with a much more environmentally friendly focus. Instead of building
whole new structures, using older buildings and giving them a new purpose is
certainly faster and more cost-effective.
Linked to
this, simply using a site as a record of its historical significance changes
its purpose while investing in the area’s culture and tourism.
In these
ways, there have been a number of buildings and sites across America that have
completely changed their use. In this article, we’re teaming up with Stairlifts Akron, in exploring some of the most
notable examples.
Foundation Hotel
The
Foundation Hotel was renovated from what was once the Detroit Fire Department
Headquarters, and the boutique hotel has elected to keep many of the fire
department features of the building. Such features include the original marble
and flooring within the atriums, the original red doors, and the old, intricate
windows.
The
terracotta-faced building is certainly eye-catching at five-stories high and
with a prominent terracotta belt course separating the first and second floors.
The fire department called this building home for 173 years before finally
moving out of the property in 2013. The building was purchased and reopened
with its new purpose as a boutique hotel in 2017.
The Witch House
The only
remaining structure in Salem that has direct ties to the most infamous Witch
Trials of 1692, the Witch House was originally purchased by a then-24-year-old
Judge Jonathan Corwin.
The witch
hunts in Salem took place between February 1692 and May 1693, due to widespread
hysteria as a result of many young girls being suddenly afflicted with fits and
uncontrollable screaming. The girls accused a slave, a homeless beggar, and an
elderly woman of bewitching them. Two protested their innocence, but one of the accused confessed, likely as a means to try and save
herself by becoming an informer — she went on to claim there were other witches
in Salem. Thus, hysteria and paranoia spread. In little over a year, 185 people were accused
of witchcraft, and
59 of them were tried for the crime. 31 were found guilty, and 19 were
executed. Certainly shocking to the modern-day mind, many of these so-called
witches were accused based on spectral evidence — that is, evidence based on
visions.
The house
has long since changed purpose, of course — the former residence is now a
museum and tour, in which visitors have the option of a guided or non-guided
version. The site also hosts a number of events for the public, including
talks, celebrations for the Spring Equinox/Summer Solstice/Fall Equinox/Winter
Solstice, and interactive exhibits.
Western Metal Supply Co.
Petco Park
is certainly an eye-catching construction, especially when the visual
anachronism is so plain to see! One part of the structure is nearly
100 years older than the rest, and still bears the signs of its former use.
The Western
Metal Supply Company building was erected in 1909, but now stands as part of
Petco Park’s stadium — though it can hardly be described as seamless! The
building’s exterior sticks out like a sore thumb, nestled within the modern
look of the surrounding stadium, but the interior has been fully renovated to
serve a new purpose.
There are
suites within the building, a team store on the ground floor, and the fourth floor
is home to a restaurant. The rooftop, of course, serves as a bleacher seating,
with seating fixed on each level of the structure facing out to the field.
Previously,
the building was, as the name suggested, a metal supply company warehouse. It
held everything from wagon maker’s materials, blacksmith supplies, and later,
plumbing and engine supplies.
Gas Works Park
The Bronx
River has a long history of being blighted, and one of the reasons behind this
issue is the number of gas works leading to its waters. So, it is certainly a
positive change to see one such gas works be not only decommissioned but turned
into something greener.
Gas Works
Park features a retired concrete plant that was once used by Transit-Mix
Corporation, but now the structures are fenced off from use. The area around it
has been restored to a greener version if itself, with a play barn for children
and a large hill which is a great spot for sitting in the sun or flying kites!
As the
years march on, no doubt we will see new leases of life given to buildings that
have fallen into disuse.
Sources:
https://www.thewitchhouse.org/
https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/07/21/ballpark-quirks-san-diego-petco-park-western-metal-supply-company
https://www.curbed.com/2017/11/2/16598172/adaptive-reuse-architecture-united-states
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/gas-works-park
https://detroit.curbed.com/2017/5/15/15631774/foundation-hotel-detroit-photos
https://historicdetroit.org/building/detroit-fire-department-headquarters-former/
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Created on Aug 5th 2019 06:51. Viewed 543 times.