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Destroying the experience of place: torn down train stations
A cautionary tale for our times, given the current lust for flashy, ego-driven architecture: 11 beautiful train stations that fell to the wrecking ball, often at the behest of brutalist architects in the 1960s. These train stations were more than Beaux Arts masterpieces; they were often the heart of their communities. Ripping them out, and replacing them with trendy 1960s Soviet-style blocks, were the starchitects of their time, designing for short-term fashions rather than the actual usage of the building or its connection with the community. The long-term consequences have been disastrous.
The link above includes great before-and-after photos. This is my favorite, from Rochester, NY. Here's the train station built in 1914, before it was torn down in the 1960s:
And here's what got built on that site, in 1965:
Sad. The sixties were not architecture's best decade. While I wouldn't categorize this redo as brutalist, it reminds me that after the riots in the late 1960s banks began to design their branches with few windows (less glass to break during uprisings). This example is simply uninspiring.
Although many beautiful train stations were destroyed, there are many which survived and have, in recent years been restored: Baltimore's Penn Station, DC's Union Station, and LA's Union Station.
OMG. Quite a horrific change... Btw, bottom left on the old pic - love the guy/kid on the scooter!
We're so fortunate in Cincinnati to have found a way to reuse our old Union Terminal station (a few years ago, they even moved the Amtrak station back in there - not that Amtrak is remotely useful as a transportation in this part of the country -- yet).
Back in the '80's or '90's, we managed o save it by converting it to the Cincinnati Museum Center. It now houses the Natural History Museum and the Cincinnati History Museum. There's an IMAX theater as well.
Lots of pictures, videos, history and so forth here: http://www.cincymuseum.org/explore_our_sites/union_terminal/presentation.asp
I would recommend a book called the Geography of nowhere by James Howard Kunstler. He goes into these types of issues in some depth. A great read.
Another book recommendation, for the younger set: William Low's Old Penn Station (http://u.nu/2ech)
The reason these stations were no longer useful is because the various governments developed a subsidized highway system which the railroads (almost entirely dependent on user fees) were not able to compete with.
I bet the new one's a lot easier to heat and cool, won't fall down in an earthquake, and (as Mr. Lamb said) more aptly serve the vastly reduced rail traffic.
But, yes, they sure are ugly.
Although our nation's rail history is now in the hands of nonprofits trying to preserve what is left of it, my husband and I are part of one just starting in our little town of Boerne, Texas. This is where the Texas Hill Country has its own rails history with the Old #9. With the new Friends of the Old #9 and another in San Antonio, Texas, we hope to see history revived if those who have a passion for rails and trails in Texas come on board! If you know of any grants or private donors interested to help in FON9's worthy endeavors, just email me. Fortunately, some city planners are part of the vision. So, maybe we will luck out in the years ahead to resurrect some of that history, even a museum. We can all dream can't we?! Thanks for the great history review of this article.