# How abstract would you consider the inside of a large industrial building? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114 "2014-01-18T00:12:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![compositejoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/compositejoe/32/7232_2.png) [@compositejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/compositejoe)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/1 "2014-01-18T00:12:03Z")
As the thread title asks, how abstract would you consider the inside of a large industrial building to be? Especially one that is mostly empty? One of my dreams I just remembered having as a child which featured the inside of a large industrial building inspired me to create this thread. ---
**Author:** ![runningdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/2 "2014-01-18T00:52:25Z")
šŸ˜• Depends on the industry? Some factories built in the 1800ā€™s may be configured around a series of belts to power equipment. The belts would ultimately originate at either a paddle wheel or steam turbine. The factory may thus have numerous passageways for the belts. Smaller/older mills would follow the same theory. Modern factories tend to just be large open spaces, with equipment arranged as convenient because its now mostly electrical. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/3 "2014-01-18T03:13:10Z")
I assume you mean abstract like art? I think abandoned/deserted places are fascinating to look at. You can google for imagesā€“Hereā€™s a few good ones. > **[Deserted Industry: 7 Abandoned Factories, Mills and Mines - WebUrbanist](https://weburbanist.com/2008/11/20/7-intriguing-abandoned-factories-mills-and-mines/)** > > Our factories and other industrial buildings tend to outlive their primary use. What happens then? These 7 factories, mills and mines were left to crumble. And this one ESPECIALLY! > **[These Abandoned Toy Factories and Shops Will Haunt Your Nightmares](https://gizmodo.com/these-abandoned-toy-factories-and-shops-will-haunt-your-1458651194)** > > Once these stores and factories sold the stuff of children's dreams, but now that they lie abandonedā€”filled with decaying displays and disembodied doll headsā€”they are more likely to inspire nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/4 "2014-01-18T03:24:40Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > And this one ESPECIALLY! > > [These Abandoned Toy Factories and Shops Will Haunt Your Nightmares](http://io9.com/these-abandoned-toy-factories-and-shops-will-haunt-your-1458651194) Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/5 "2014-01-18T04:26:05Z")
I think of that as homey. And Iā€™ve spent some time under those flat leather belts and big cast iron spoked pulleys. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/6 "2014-01-18T05:18:09Z")
Not sure about the space inside, but the stuff around it is generally concrete. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/7 "2014-01-18T09:13:26Z")
I assume youā€™re asking whether the inside of an industrial building can be seen as a piece of abstract art. There are photographers who specialize in this type of art. I have done a fair amount of this myself, and would post links except that theyā€™re on a commercial site and I donā€™t know whether anyone would object to it. Most of my photos of this type are of the outsides of buildings, mainly because I canā€™t get inside these places without trespassing. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/8 "2014-01-18T09:31:54Z")
One very famous example is the main [turbine hall of the Tate modern](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate_Modern) gallery in London. It has been home to some major abstract works but can be considered as an abstract entity in itself. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/9 "2014-01-18T16:39:53Z")
Iā€™d consider the interior of an industrial building the opposite of abstract; itā€™s often the ultimate in functional. Whether the shapes and space and light could be \*interpreted \*as abstract artā€¦ certainly. Like Jeff L, Iā€™ve spent a lot of time photographing old industrial buildings and itā€™s a fascinating combination of the absolutely utilitarian and strikingly beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/10 "2014-01-18T17:28:04Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Iā€™d consider the interior of an industrial building the opposite of abstract; but a turbine hall without turbines?..likeā€¦whoah man. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/11 "2014-01-18T18:40:45Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > but a turbine hall without turbines?..likeā€¦whoah man. An industrial interior refurbished and refinished in industrial-ish colors and textures that never would have been used (or survived) while turbines were operating and being maintained thereā€¦ thatā€™s _whoa_. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/12 "2014-01-18T19:03:05Z")
Itā€™s amazing to me that you guys are all able to answer this question. Iā€™m curious what **compositejoe** means but as itā€™s written it sounds about as nonsensical as ā€œIs a pair of pants angrier than a tree?ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/13 "2014-01-18T19:59:24Z")
> [@compositejoe](#): > > As the thread title asks, how abstract would you consider the inside of a large industrial building to be? > > Especially one that is mostly empty? > > One of my dreams I just remembered having as a child which featured the inside of a large industrial building inspired me to create this thread. Please define what you mean by ā€œabstractā€. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/14 "2014-01-18T21:21:39Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > Iā€™m curious what **compositejoe** means but as itā€™s written it sounds about as nonsensical as ā€œIs a pair of pants angrier than a tree?ā€ I took it to mean, ā€œIs it possible to look at the interior of an industrial building as if it were a piece of abstract art?ā€ That is, if you removed it from its context and considered it as a set of shapes, colors and textures (rather than as something real), would it work as a piece of art? ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/15 "2014-01-19T17:17:29Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > I took it to mean, ā€œIs it possible to look at the interior of an industrial building as if it were a piece of abstract art?ā€ That is, if you removed it from its context and considered it as a set of shapes, colors and textures (rather than as something real), would it work as a piece of art? I just think youā€™re meeting him more than halfway. He didnā€™t mention art in his post at all. The only detail was that the question is connected to a dream, which doesnā€™t support the art interpretation. I admit, I canā€™t think of any interpretation that makes sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/16 "2014-01-19T23:44:37Z")
Zero abstracts. Any physical thing is the opposite of abstract. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-abstract-would-you-consider-the-inside-of-a-large-industrial-building/679114/17 "2014-01-20T00:27:55Z")
The question reminded me of the painter Charles Sheeler. Heā€™s known for exteriors, not interiors, but I think youā€™d like to see his work. Just do a google image search on his name for tons of examples.