A window to yesterday

I have to agree, fantastic shot!

interesting find…. the decay and the different elements of the building make me want to photograph this myself :)

Awwwwww share please..where is it ??? Great image, great place!

Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne

great photo =]

such an artistic building, i just love grunge and dirt!

I think the “coke” might refer to the burning variety.. (and yes, the limbs were exceedingly long..ta for commneting)

Old derelict places are like old derelict faces – so much character behind them, and always photogenic!

This is teriffic… You have captured the character of this ole place so well… Great shot…LOVE it

I love the dichotomy of the crumbling structure and the exotic text. It holds an echo of more hopeful times.

Peter, I have an obsession with derelict buildings…this one is just fantastic..

Wonderful lines and textures in this old building….great find!

Love the subject matter and the capture is fantastic, nice frame fill too!

Regarding the french text:

Gros – Wholesale
Detail – Retail
Bois & Charbon – Wood & Coal or possibly Charcoal. Charbon du Bois translates as:
‘Coal of wood’. Charcoal is wood that has been partially burnt so burns hotter and smokes less. It was mainly used to make iron and as a fuel.
Coke – Coke is coal that has been partially burnt as per charcoal above.

Until Abraham Darby devised a method of using coke to make cast iron around 1709, charcoal was used for this purpose. The problem of deforestation also contributed to charcoal’s decline. It was also used for cooking and heating.

see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal
http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~scsharip/Charcoal.htm
for more info.

On a tour of the Abbotsford Convent recently, I was told this very evocative building was built 10 years ago as part of a film set. As an architect I am amazed at the detail created by the builders.

Great portfolio, Peter. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Hope to see more of your work…..when you are not too busy.
By the way – love the textures in this shot.

great shot and as davoid says above, they are selling wood and coal.

Yeah I feel the history too…this is a really dynamic statement….worth preserving….

Ahhh, such stories these old buildings could tell! Beautifully shot. Great lighting on the roof.

I love it….i like old stuff like this. I love textures.

I’m in to derelict buildings too – there’s an old cow shed in the field opposite my house that I take a picture of every six months or so to record how it degenerates into it’s component parts.
Places like this are just a mass of untold stories.

wonderful texture, great exposure. now i want to take pics like this!

Love it. Well done, Peter!
Looks like the house I grew up in.
(only this one has a better paint job)

what a great shot.

Awesome snapshot back in time Peter! I love old worldy too… well done! Wendy

i did a show at abbotsford convent and kept walking past this and thinking how fabulous i thought it was. nice one.

Really nice shot, I can hear the walls cracking and the paint falling!!

stunning shot

I was drawn to this place too. I spent a day wandering around Abbotsford Convent and it wasn’t nearly enough. Love your take on this old girl.

Great capture. So much in this shot – many different materials and textures.

[ Old derelict buildings fascinate me …]

me TOO!
i love this one for that same feeling of wonder it evokes..

Fabulous stuff, Peter. Adorable, decrepit, angsty, and perfect. Thanks for sharing this. :)

i do the same thing, love old buildings, they have so much character.
I think how many people have been here, and what were their stories,
love this old building and the old signage

What a great image …. please add it to the Shopfronts group where it would be perfect

love the old coke font
tho it may not be the drink it could mean the charcoal style stuff…

:{D

I love this, the textures are great will be great in a painting :)

Excellent shot peter! Great find too! I love the old abandoned buildings as well

Interesting old building and great capture Peter!

love this