Feral Houses

A great link from GOOD magazine shows off the work of Detroit photographer James Griffioen and the return to nature of 'feral houses' - those abandoned by use by never by nature. "Feral houses are no longer domesticated, having reverted to a different state, like horses in the west who roam free of any rider, stable, or whip. They have transmuted into a different state of being, yes—but they do be. They are not, nor are their neighborhoods, as many like to call them, “dead.”


:: image via GOOD

Invasive vines, Alianthus, and other vigorous pioneer species and weeds interact with the planted foundation plantings on these sites to reclaim, envelope, and slowly return these sites to nature. Perhaps the best version of re-burbia i've seen amidst all of the somewhat disappointing entries in that particular exercise. More of Griffioen's images show that the inevitable process of 'renaturing' will do just fine in restoring ecosystem health on a somewhat slower but perhaps more authentic timeline.






:: images via James Griffioen

Check out the full range of Griffioen's work at his site... some amazing stuff.