There is something about old buildings - something I can't resist. Something that makes me want to lovingly restore them and improve them and make them beautiful, either again, or for the first time.
The city I live in, currently, is in the center of the brick making industry. Everything in the old downtown is made with brick. I love it.
I love brick. I love the amazing variations of tone and styles. I love the way it looks when it's perfectly new, and the way it looks when it's old and settled into a true character of history and scratches.
I detest it when people ruin brick.
Have you ever seen that? They paint it over in some hideous high gloss paint, trying to... I don't know, make it *not* look like brick? Why would you have a beautifully crafted brick building and go "Nah - I wanted Plasticine..."
Ugh.
Anyway - there is just such a building on the corner, the main corner (our downtown is only about 4 square blocks) of downtown. It's one of the tallest buildings. It's one of the worst eye sores.
Right now, it's a pub. And a really seedy hotel. All rolled into one amazingly horrifying prospect.
I had a daydream the other day about opening a fine arts school, dance, music, theory - the works. I dreamt that I turned that ugly, mistreated, dirty old building into a place where beautiful things are made. In my mind I stripped out the insides and remade them into dance studios and music rehearsal rooms, with a dance wear boutique and sheet music shop on the main floor.
I took out the brick that fills the archways, and restored the full storey height arched windows and revolving doors.
I sandblasted the horrendous plastic-y red paint off the exterior and left it looking like actual brick. I added a meditation/sunroom/greenhouse onto the roof. I included an elevator, because it actually is a large building.
And then, because over attention to details in unnecessary situations is one of my quirks, I mapped out the legal and financial journey that would have to take place to accomplish such an undertaking. I mentally coerced some of my musician and dancer friends to take an interest and run their studios there. I figured out how to solve the parking problem (I think). I even had a pre-5 year plan to build up to the renovation. I incorporated my daydream and created a fantasy file cabinet with student registrations and accounting necessities.
Yup.
I kinda go overly practical in my daydreams folks.
I know I know.
I'm just a little quirky.
The city I live in, currently, is in the center of the brick making industry. Everything in the old downtown is made with brick. I love it.
I love brick. I love the amazing variations of tone and styles. I love the way it looks when it's perfectly new, and the way it looks when it's old and settled into a true character of history and scratches.
I detest it when people ruin brick.
Have you ever seen that? They paint it over in some hideous high gloss paint, trying to... I don't know, make it *not* look like brick? Why would you have a beautifully crafted brick building and go "Nah - I wanted Plasticine..."
Ugh.
Anyway - there is just such a building on the corner, the main corner (our downtown is only about 4 square blocks) of downtown. It's one of the tallest buildings. It's one of the worst eye sores.
Right now, it's a pub. And a really seedy hotel. All rolled into one amazingly horrifying prospect.
I had a daydream the other day about opening a fine arts school, dance, music, theory - the works. I dreamt that I turned that ugly, mistreated, dirty old building into a place where beautiful things are made. In my mind I stripped out the insides and remade them into dance studios and music rehearsal rooms, with a dance wear boutique and sheet music shop on the main floor.
I took out the brick that fills the archways, and restored the full storey height arched windows and revolving doors.
I sandblasted the horrendous plastic-y red paint off the exterior and left it looking like actual brick. I added a meditation/sunroom/greenhouse onto the roof. I included an elevator, because it actually is a large building.
And then, because over attention to details in unnecessary situations is one of my quirks, I mapped out the legal and financial journey that would have to take place to accomplish such an undertaking. I mentally coerced some of my musician and dancer friends to take an interest and run their studios there. I figured out how to solve the parking problem (I think). I even had a pre-5 year plan to build up to the renovation. I incorporated my daydream and created a fantasy file cabinet with student registrations and accounting necessities.
Yup.
I kinda go overly practical in my daydreams folks.
I know I know.
I'm just a little quirky.
This is NOT a quirky idea. It has real merit.
ReplyDeleteWe should do more then think about it- maybe ask some questions? Find out who the building owner is???
Love you MOM