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:
It is lovely to see some 'glamour' still brightens up a facade.
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?
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.
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.
What a great building! The whole thing reminds me of Camilo Jose Vergara's work!
*dons Schiaparelli gown and strolls around building*
It’s very deco Egyptian revival looking.
*Dons Cleopatra headdress and joins MJ on her lovely stroll*
*pins jeweled scarab brooch to MDP’s headdress and clasps his ass, er, his asp, to my bosom*
It's like the Pharoh's Temple of Wash and Wear.
It's amazing. Such a shame its just sitting there.
Pretty! And it's still got its Hurricane rescue markings painted on it.
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....).
beautiful....
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