I walked my neighborhood in Ipanema last week, walking the same streets that I walk for ‘Old Doors’, looking for buildings and such that look abandoned. Nothing striking pop out. I think that in my area of Rio the property values are too high for the down and out buildings to be ignored for long. In Rio, there are so many places that look abandoned but really only the maintenance of the gardens or the building’s exteriors have been forgotten. And the area of Ipanema and Leblon the buildings often look like well dressed gentlemen gone to bad times, collars and cuffs frayed and dirtied but still hanging on to their pride.
Across the street from our apartment there were an apartment building, two very elegant houses and, at the back, a building constructed when all of this became a school. As often happens when the family patriarch died, the 16 heirs commenced to argue about what should be done with the property. Years passed as they fought, 10 that I know of, the property went without care or attention. Moss slid down the sides of the houses, trees grew out of the roof, and from time to time the area was broken into and roof tiles and other valuable construction material disappeared into the night. The buildings should have been listed as historical, but I doubt that that would have saved them. Here they can be labeled of historical value but if the owner (s) chooses not the pay for maintenance there is nothing the government can do (or sill do?)
At the end of 2008 the building complex was cleared. And now at the beginning of 2012 a new building has started to go up. 20 stories high, the upper apartment will have a view of the sea and of the Christ (at who knows what price). This Residence Hotel [the owners can live there or put the apartment up for rent within the hotel] will be upscale to the max. We checked out the model and ask questions….. our apartment is 100 m’ - their mid-building, with no view, 2 bedroom 85m’ will sell for $R2.2 MILLION - who are these people with this kind of money? The heirs have done themselves proud.
Not abandoned for long.
I like the "not abandonned for long" idea...and love the green plant in the foreground of the forlorn window. If man doesn't reclaim the property with his riches, nature does it with her greater riches.
ReplyDeletesad story but some have happy endings. i like the first photo, i enlarged it and stared at all the detail. sad to see if like it is. and I am with you who are these people?
ReplyDeleteSounds exactly like my country,buildings don't stay abandoned for long because land are scarce and expensive here.
ReplyDeleteSad to learn that the heirs can't agree on anything and the property would be left unattended. That means the property would be cheap if it is sold. ^_^ Happy weekend great post.
ReplyDeleteFMTSO
I suppose the heirs are quite pleased with themselves now. I wonder if they feel any shame at all for neglecting such a lovely structure for so long? (No, I'm not going to rant!) Even in its neglected state, the house in the first shot is beautiful when it is enlarged.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that although the actual buildings are neglected the biggest neglect of all seems to be the lack of respect and memory of the departed patriarch and of each other. Money has a lot to answer for.
ReplyDeleteLove the third shot, Tarzan and Jane could hole up here quite happily methinks!
B&B's comment is perfect. I ditto his sentiments.
ReplyDeleteI can almost asure you a good part of "these" people who buy the crazy priced apartaments are politicians finding making use of city and state budgets for personal gain!
ReplyDeleteRay
Ginger,
ReplyDeleteThis is great news! I never understood the South American wealth flocking to the hell hot swamps of South Florida. Rio is so much nicer, prettier and fun! :)
Ray
The thing is that nowadays old buildings are being turned into new modern ones. That is a phenomenon that is happening all over the world. In Argentina, for instance, there is a new industry of buenos aires apartments that are put for rent. How do they do for them to be all new and luxurious? Well, they repair old premises and restore them. Believe me, it is the new trend in architecture!
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