Last Man Standing

Ragge Runarson's Business Building by LegoJalex

Ramshackle Road - (BTT) Letting go is hard to do. It seems like only yesterday that everything was shiny and new, from the bright-eyed optimism of the upstart business owner to the exterior of the buildings he and his team inhabited. Perhaps a board got loose here and a crack appeared there, but those were to be worn as badges of pride, proof of a hard day's work. Then one day you look out your window and find the rest of the world has moved on without you. Torn between the memory of what was and the reality of what is can be bittersweet to say the least, but surely having a few extra badges is better than having none at all.

Morning Glory

Courtesy Untitled by at94

West Side- (BTT) Who knew that so much character could fit into something as small as this? It seems to tell a story of its life, from the time it was new, and the future looked bright, to now, with it fighting for its last gasp of air. Hopefully some kind citizen will appear one day, and rescue this building, and return it to its prior glory. As for the building side of this MOC, all is excellent. The slightly askew tiles, entropy of the sidewalk, and offset of the windows all lend to a unique style of something that appears to be broken, but was simply made to be that way.

One Man's Trash

Courtesy Untitled by at94

Detroit, Michigan- (BTT) With the tough economic times that hit the United States, and the world recently, some places weren't hit as hard as Detroit. With a city built around the automotive business, major bailouts of the main automotive makers doesn't bode well for the city. This MOC, built at the beginning of the economic crisis, this MOC produces a perfect image of abandoned buildings, or those on their last legs. The cracked sidewalk,broken fire escapes, and downed power lines are all great details of decapitation, but through all of the gloom, a few bright spots shine out. A couple of beautiful flowers seemed to have been able to get a new lease on life in the cracks of the dying buildings.

Portrait of Ruin

Courtesy Ashmore Estates by ZombieMutts

Abandoned Alley - (BTT) In the real estate world, where they are prone to put a positive spin on even the most dire dwellings, this "handyman special" just needs "a little TLC." In the real world, or quite possibly a post-apocalyptic one, a bulldozer might come in handy more than a hammer and a can of paint. Still, it's clear that this house (or at least what parts haven't been overrun by the local flora) has a lot of character and might be worth salvaging should anyone feel especially ambitious.

Stick in the Mud

Courtesy Victorian on Mud Heap by !snap!

Northeastern United States - (BTT) It's going to take more than a mop to get this Victorian Stick Style house cleaned up, but will it ever be worth it in the end! The amount of detail is simply staggering, from the railings on the porch to the tips of the steeply pitched gable roof, making it impossible to take in everything at once. Best to just take a seat and enjoy the view for a while.

Breaking character for a moment, you really need to experience this photo at a larger size than is shown above to see just how breathtaking it is - please visit Mike's flickr page and prepare to have your mind blown.

Desserts Deserted

Courtesy Abandoned Cafe by Sabby M.

Forgotten Lane - (BTT) Nothing lasts forever, and those in the restaurant business know this better than most - they say more than half will close in their first three years.  You may have to go elsewhere to get a cup of coffee and a decent piece of pie now, but there is something strangely appealing watching this former cafe slowly decaying as the years tick by.

Property Values Rise!

Courtesy Derelict Building by Marin Stipkovic

Well...not really. In reality this would be an eyesore, but in LEGO, it sports a realism factor rarely seen among models. The brickwork behind the facade is so cool. Keep it up!

Creepy

Dillon has created this truely original building called The House of the Inventor. It would be good to know some more about it. Hopefully you can get in touch Dillon.