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Sven July 1st, 2010

So, it turns out that on our last visit, we missed the entire lower floor of this complex!  It’s an academic point, though, as there are no shots of the lower floor in this post whatsoever…

The size of this place is deceptive – the jutting, dated front is merely the most visible part of a building which widens significantly a little way back from the overgrown entryway.  It’s a big place. 

So, being quiet types, and seeking to be inconspicuous, the two of us on this trip walked a little way through the darkness towards our destination, trying in particular to not to attract attention from the busy, active premises adjacent, which sees a lot of traffic, even after dark.  Boots treading quietly up roads with broken entryway signage, breath visible in the cold night air.

As we got closer, though, it was apparent that something was afoot.  Flickers of light from within the building caught our attention, and voices were audible.  They were not quiet voices.  Crunching and crashing sounds were soon evident, along with yelling and squealing.  There were probably about eight of them in all, just about driving age, and they clearly didn’t share our concerns about attracting attention.  From our vantage point in the adjacent business, we listened to their progress through the building, watching torch light flashing out smashed windows, and waited for them to leave.

The concern, of course, is that nobody wants to be held accountable for the actions of others, and so we contemplated whether we’d be better off just coming back another night entirely.  By this time, though, we were fairly commited, and so we sat it out until the small crowd of youths had gathered in the car park – not of the old building, but the car park of the adjacent business - thrown some bottles around, and driven away, detonating some kind of fireworks on the way out.  If messing around in the buildings hadn’t attracted attention, the detonation, sure would.  But, oh well, such is life – we went in, regardless, and kept an eye out for visitors.

This was my third visit, and somehow I’d previously missed half the main building, including a ruined function room with tasteful orange velour columns – “porno decor”, as my companion dubbed it.  Years of somewhat destructive visits like the one we’d just intruded upon have left this place a ruin, but it’s still fascinating in many ways.  Shooting it is another matter though – I really think I need to come up with a more useful approach to this place than I currently have.  Thought required.

Needless to say, there was no security, no police, just undue paranoia and caution on my part.  I imagine nobody is really paid enough to chase people around a building like this, anyway.  I wonder how regularly groups of would-be-partygoers run through here, like this?  The neighbours must hate the place.

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