Finding the 'Beauty of Decay' in the Industrial Ruin

Abstract

Many cities have an industrial past that is no longer viable in today’s economy. What remains is the industrial ruin. Ruins can teach us about history. They can evoke the imagination and for centuries have inspired artists. The industrial ruin is quite different from the classical ruin. Industrial ruins are often derelict spaces that hold negative connotations of decay, disorder and failure. Can the idea of the ‘beauty of decay’ be found in the industrial wasteland?

This study looks at the dilemma facing industrial ruins and analyzes how they can be brought back to life in today’s urban context by approaching them as a poetic ruin. It will focus on strategies that preserve the history of these structures and create welcoming spaces of intrigue, exploration and beautiful decay. The theory is put into practice in a design proposal for the Moran Plant. The abandoned electric plant, located on the shore of Burlington, Vermont, was once part of a thriving industrial area that was the economic driver for the city. It has sat empty for three decades since being decommissioned and is now one of the last remnants of Burlington’s very important industrial past.