Woodlands

There was a palpable sense of relief for some as the asylum on the hill smoldered; those darkest of memories up in black smoke. For others it highlights the neglect, not only in preserving our heritage, but in housing our homeless who, in the great irony of de-institutionalization are themselves suffering from mental illness.

A few years ago Michael De Courcy had the chance to document the building before it was gutted by scrap metal enthusiasts. His haunting pictures will no doubt invoke images from The Shining, the dank red carpets, the stained yellow wallpaper, the 70s modernist additions so awkward and bulky.

I too had the opportunity to go inside Woodlands. Well, by opportunity I mean there was a good size hole in the fence. With the ghostly howl of freight trains in the background, I shot this video. There was ancient pornography and plastic wire coating everywhere, and the wet winter light just illuminated the dank misery of the crumbling castle. It was surprisingly easy to get inside, which in the end would lead to its downfall. But surely the municipal government could've been more proactive in preserving the place. I'm sure Onni is pretty stoked it doesn't have to put in for some future amenity. Hmmm.....