Just a short stroll from the Unisphere, these are the observation towers from the World's Fair, part of the NY State Pavilion complex, which is now essentially in ruins, a shell of its former self. It's hard for me to imagine it in the original form.
One of the neighborhood regulars chatted with me about it, said they were going to tear it all down a few years ago - what a shame that would be. It's also a shame that they can't make better use of the structure, the open interior would be an interesting outdoor theater space, and it is after all right next to the Queens Theater, which was built recently in the spirit of the World's Fair architecture:
But as of now the old pavilion is simply gated up and overgrown with weeds and stray cats.
It really are architectural beauties and deserves to stay.I hope it will. Thanks for showing.
ReplyDeleteThese buildings and the entire site should be renovated and preserved to remind everyone there was a time when we had a more can-do attitude and hopeful view of the future. Of course, it was a bit over the top and grandiose in many ways, but did celebrate a sort of forward-thinking perspective we've seem to lost. I'm just sayin'…
ReplyDeleteBTW - Nice sharp, dramatic images again, Michael.
Im just amazed by these old pavillions. Wonderful space age architecture. Built from a time of optimism and the post war economic boom. I am not sure if we will ever see those times again.
ReplyDeleteGreat images!