Tag Archives: foreclosure

American abandoned houses


There is something eerie about abandoned homes. Especially if parts of the inhabited past is still there, like furniture, curtains or other traces of the times when people called it home. Photographer Kevin Baumann photographed a 100 of them. Each of them with a story that the spectator is left to guess or fantasize about. Was it the crunch that drove the occupants away? Or did they die alone with no family left to take care of their homes? I love this series.

all photography in this article by Kevin Baumann

Kristen Bell victim of the crunch


This is always sad. Posing proud in your newly decorated home in 2006 and seeing it end up in foreclosure less than 6 years later. The crunch is hitting us all I guess. But it is likely that much harder when the whole world blogs about it….

Kristen Bell, of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Gossip Girl and Veronica Mars fame, apparently moved out quite a while back. The why behind the foreclosure remains a mystery. The house is quite modest for Hollywood Standards and Mrs Bell currently stars in House of Lies which seems to be doing well….

Own a bit of architectural history; The Affordable Frank Lloyd Wright


In 1895, when this block of apartments was designed, Wright was just starting out as an independent architect. He would need a couple more years to claim his fame with his better known works.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed Chicago townhouse

Frank Lloyd Wright designed Chicago townhouse

The Waller Apartments were designed as a set of five party-wall buildings, each of which was subdivided into four apartments. Wrights usual ornamental and decorative signature is missing. Clean, simple and understated lines showcase the use and functionality of the building; cheap housing.  Though the facades now appear dark and covered with grime, segments have recently been power-washed, exposing the brickwork’s original egg-yolk like colour which make it look a lot brighter.

Over the past century, the apartments have undergone long periods of neglect and abandonment. In 1968, the fourth unit burnt down, and its remains removed. In that time, two of the buildings were converted into town homes, including the two-story townhouse now for sale. After going into foreclosure last year, the three-bedroom, 1,200 square feet unit was put on the market, originally listed at $169,000, but since lowered to an unthinkable $60,000. Extensive interior restoration is required but still, after that you could be the proud owner of a real Wright for a very friendly budget.

source: Architizer Blog