Jul 13, 2009

unexpected beauty




The other day, driving in a very bad part of town, not far from my home, I caught a glimpse of this building, shining in the sun. I was startled.

It seemed to have appeared from nowhere. I'd never noticed it before. I think it had been hidden until a building obscuring it had collapsed, maybe in the last hurricane or so. I'm not sure.

Whatever the case, I thought it was just beautiful. It seems to have been some sort of laundry at one time, based on the art deco terracotta probably from the 30s.

13 comments:

Ur-spo said...

It is lovely to see some 'glamour' still brightens up a facade.

BrooksNYC said...

The first time I saw General Laundry Building my jaw was to the ground, and like you, I stumbled across it by accident. I subsequently learned that the building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/la/Orleans/vacant.html

It's near the Lafitte projects, isn't it? Did they survive Katrina?

jason said...

hi Brooks,
No kidding????
When was this that you stumbled upon it?

I don't drive up there that often, but I'd never seen it before last year or so. Maybe I was distracted before. Who knows?
You're right, it's right near the projects...which are being torn down still, I think.

BrooksNYC said...

My brother and I discovered the building while driving around one day in the late '90s.

The building is spectacular! Let's just pray someone saves it before it's too far gone.

So they're tearing down Lafitte. Didn't know.

ilduce said...

What a great building! The whole thing reminds me of Camilo Jose Vergara's work!

The Mistress said...

*dons Schiaparelli gown and strolls around building*

ayeM8y said...

It’s very deco Egyptian revival looking.

*Dons Cleopatra headdress and joins MJ on her lovely stroll*

The Mistress said...

*pins jeweled scarab brooch to MDP’s headdress and clasps his ass, er, his asp, to my bosom*

mrpeenee said...

It's like the Pharoh's Temple of Wash and Wear.

Miss Janey said...

It's amazing. Such a shame its just sitting there.

Silly Monkey said...

Pretty! And it's still got its Hurricane rescue markings painted on it.

Elizabeth said...

What a knockout of a building! i hope someone restores it before it crumbles (but then that could be said of much of New Orleans these days....).

Mr. Bluehaunt said...

beautiful....