Project
Resist erasure. Capture the legacy of a vanished era.
Concrete Wastelands preserves memory through photography, mapping, and research.
Why this exists
These works are disappearing. Concrete decay, redevelopment, ownership gaps, privatisation, contested memory, functional obsolescence, and stigmatisation leave most structures unprotected and vulnerable to removal.
Public art and architecture colour monotone urban landscapes. Preservation brings economic benefit through tourism, cultural production, and adaptive reuse. Contested memory invites reinterpretation. Reuse over demolition means lower embodied carbon.
What's in scope
- Monuments
- Mosaics
- Sgraffito
- Reliefs
- Sculptures
- War memorials
- Bus stops
- Buildings
How to use the archive
- Explore the map and filter entries by country, category, classification, or year.
- Follow the chronology to trace historical context across eras.
- Read the digest for in-depth research and field reports.
Participate in preservation
- 1. Document — photograph and record works before they vanish.
- 2. Share knowledge — contribute historical context or corrections.
- 3. Engage institutions — connect archives, museums, and local authorities.
- 4. Seek protection — advocate for heritage listing and legal safeguards.
- 5. Increase visibility — cite, reference, and share the archive.
- 6. Support restoration — fund or volunteer for conservation efforts.
Current focus
- Moldova — active
- Armenia — next
- Mongolia — planned
Credits
Dylan van de Ven
Project Lead
Independent archival project