philip jarmain documents detroit’s architectural past

lee plaza hotel, architect charles noble, built 1929
all images courtesy of philip jarmain

philip jarmain
meridian gallery, san francisco
now through october 20, 2013

canadian photographer philip jarmain presents ‘american beauty’, a series of images that document the rapid destruction of detroitʼs early twentieth-century architecture. the haunting captures depict abandoned, forgotten spaces of a bygone era, cataloging the ingenuity and innovation of the american city that has since spiraled downward.  the interiors and exteriors of monumental public buildings are tired and worn, some deteriorated beyond recognition. opulent architectural structures like theaters and hotels, which once beautified detroit streets, are currently being destroyed at an exponential rate. the collection of photographs emphasize the form and detail of the buildings themselves, archiving a forgotten era and the lost art of significant architects. ‘these are the last large format architectural photographs for many of these structures.’, says jarmain.

woodward presbyterian, architect: sidney rose badgley, built 1908

eastown theatre, architect: V.J. waiver, built 1930

mackenzie high school, architect: wirt c. roland, smith group, built 1927, demolished 2012

highland park police station, architect van leyen, schilling & keough, built in 1917, demolished in 2011

fisher body plant no. 21, architect: albert kahn, built 1919

belle isle aquarium, architect: albert kahn, built 1904

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