Even today modern wonders of engineering like the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge inspire awe (and songs and works of art). A quick look at their origins, however, can turn awe to amazement and astonishment. Each of the five projects listed here took their toll financially and were paid for in part with human lives. Some cost more than the GDP of a small country to construct and others were completed with tens of thousands of people lost in the process. A few were predicted centuries before their time and others were attempted multiple times and faced numerous setbacks before they could be completed.

Posted by Urbanist April 25th, 2008
Architecture, Environment, Urban Images, Urbanism, Various
Comments: 3

Trees and plants have a kind of flexibility that is both disturbing and inspiring. Left to their own devices they can wrap around objects and create strange works of unintentional art. Properly pruned and cultivated they can be made into curious, compelling and useful shapes of all sorts. From tree furniture designs to unchecked acts of nature here are 25 examples of the amazing malleability of trees. Of course, there are many forms of strange green art and other subversive ways to garden.

Posted by Urbanist April 22nd, 2008
Environment, Travel, Urban Art, Various
Comments: 26

Ocean and sea forts are few and far between and with good reason: only in fairly extreme circumstances is their expense deemed justifiable. Since being decommissioned, many of these have gained strange second lives as everything from luxury resorts and private retreats to micronations and pirate radio stations. It sounds extreme, but be honest: wouldn’t you want a sea fort of your very own?

Posted by Urbanist April 20th, 2008
Abandonments, Architecture, Travel, Various
Comments: 16

Parkour and free running have increasingly hit the big time, being featured in mainstream movies and prime-time commercial spots. Still, it’s important to remember that these amazing arts of urban building jumping, climbing and running originated in offbeat locations and abandoned buildings. These videos feature some of the more raw and original free runners who made this extreme urban sport what it is today. Scroll to the end for some awesome medleys and remixes!

Posted by Urbanist April 16th, 2008
Abandonments, Guerilla Action, Urban, Urban Videos, Various
Comments: 3

The former Soviet Union has a complicated history that is told in part through some of its deserted infrastructure. Many of these structures, cities and areas were abandoned suddenly and thus provide a kind of snapshot of Soviet life frozen in time. Others tell stories of economic and political upheaval and even nuclear events. From oil rig cities and deserted industrial towns to dazzling island fortresses and once-luxurious estates of the Soviet elite here are seven more amazing Soviet abandonments. For more Soviet abandonments (from gruesome gulags to submarine bases) check out part one of this series.

Posted by Urbanist April 13th, 2008
7 Wonders, Abandonments, Architecture, Environment, Travel, Urbex
Comments: 22