(Click for Part II)
Well, it was not my intention to divide this set into two posts. But right now, free time is kind of a foreign concept.
In its prime, this psychiatric center was home to over 100 buildings and 9000 patients. It’s huge, even in its partially-demolished state. Like many mental institutions, this place opened as an innovative farm-style facility meant to alleviate the overcrowding issues typical of other asylums. Farming and exposure to the fresh outdoors were considered an effective part of therapy for the institutionalized.
But, by the 1950s, things had gone a bit sour. This facility too was grossly overcrowded. The “rest and relaxation” method of agricultural therapy was shirked in favor of electro-shock and pre-frontal lobotomy. Over time, the advent of new medication (and activist protest) reduced the need for asylums of this scale. Patient intake waned until the facility closed, in segments, between the mid 90s and early 2000s.
These buildings were former patient wards that flank our intended target, the medical and surgical center.
We trudged past hospital rooms and doctors’ offices, their nameplates still on the doors. I lost track of how much ground we covered. There’s a huge 12-cooler morgue in the medical building, big for an asylum. It’s been so thoroughly destroyed by ugly tagging that it isn’t even worth the effort to photograph. Sad.
To sum up, a really fun day at this well-explored old asylum. I’m glad I made the trip. Later, I’ll post the shots from the first half of this explore.
My wedding season has started, with two already under my belt and nine more to go. These wonderful folks are my absolute priority, so I likely won’t be working on Desolo again right away (bar these two upcoming hospitals and one industrial space — I’m stockpiling a bit). Expect weddings soon!
Shout-out to my friend infraredrobert for helping us navigate the belly of the beast. Go check out his blog to see his killer urbex photography!
Amanda, Great to see your images from this shoot – it was a fun day and a real pleasure to work along with you on this beauty. It never ceases to amaze me when I go out with other photographers the very different images we come back with – even though we traverse the same rooms and hallways. have a successful wedding season.
Thanks Robert! I still have to get a post up for my shots from 93, hopefully I can tackle that soon. I’m eager to see your take on the King.
I have two more Rurex posts to complete the current series – then I begin KPPC revisited on Thursday. I will put in a hot link to your site along with my posts.
What a fantastic explore! Some brilliant images, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you kindly, Sue! Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
😀
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Hello my friend. I love your photos! Like I love infraredrobert’s. And abandoned places….
My problem is, that here in tiny Denmark very few places like this is to be found.
So much more I enjoy your blogs 🙂
Great shots Amanda, got here from Roberts link, look forward to seeing more of your images 🙂
Thank you, Ed! 🙂
Hello Amanda – so interesting to see your take on the assylum.
I enjoy Roberts work and have enjoyed yours too 😃
Thank you, Robyn! Robert always does great work!
Yes indeed! Enjoyed your work too Amanda 🙂