Last week I entered this photo for Leanne & Laura’s «Monochrome Madness Challenge».
Østblokka – The Eastern Bloc
The unofficial name (which is basically only used/known by locals) of this apartment complex in Oslo is «Østblokka».
Østblokka means Eastern Bloc and it refers to the architectural style of the building, which resembles the style used in the old communist countries of Europe – in the Eastern Block.
Make sure to check out Leanne and Laura’s Monochrome Madness. This week I sent them a B&W photo of some kids that are playing football in Jerusalem – some you might have seen it in my blog before, but there’s a lot of entries from other bloggers that are worth a look.
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I’ve seen many pictures of that archtectural style, and have noticed the how the attempt to design such buildings with extreme efficiency even affects their aesthetics. They look ultra-simple yet intimidatingly robust, like big clay monsters; golem.
Great description Allan. I’m very glad I don’t live in one of those, because they seem very impersonal.
Nice! It looks bleak. I like that capture
Thanks. It is a bleak building. It doesn’t fit in at all in the neighbourhood (which mostly consists of colourful and low buildings – 4 storeys).
That’s what makes buildings like that awesome
Great capture, CG! The building does look very impersonal…
I agree. It seems like the kind of place where no-one knows their neighbour.
Here it is! I think I couldn’t find this on your blog when I clicked on the link. In any case, it’s a wonderful image!
It’s because I didn’t publish it in the blog until today. I wanted it to be exclusive for Leanne’s blog during last weeks challenge, but the photo in this week’s Monochrome Challenge has been published in this blog previously.
Oh! No wonder lol. Thank you for that. 🙂
A great shot and a strong message with the metal fencing partially obscuring the view of such a depressing building…
Thank you. The metal fence is there to keep people away from the real gem of the neighbourhood: the train tracks with squeaky, noisy trains that pass by the working class people’s bedroom windows. .
Superb, atmospheric shot, Cardinal. I really liked your contribution to Monochrome Madness too.
Thank you Richard. There was a lot of great photos in the Monochrome Madness this week. Better than the previous ones I think.
What were you doing in that neighbourhood? 😉 I like everything about this shot… most of all the subject matter 😀
This time I was just passing by, but we used to live in that neighbourhood. If you want to compare this shot to other buildings nearby, check out this tag: https://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/?s=gamlebyen
It sure was aptly named! LOL
They’re all over Sweden too, built in the 60’s. What were they thinking?!
City planners and architects… Sometimes the world would have been a better place if they were executed.
‘old communist countries of Europe ‘
very very cool.
Thanks Gavin. A lot of people call Norway ‘The last communist country of Europe’.
I love how you shot this CG
Great impression! Where in Oslo do I find this one?
If you stand at Dyvekes Bro in Gamlebyen and look towards Vålerenga you’ll see it. It just across the railroad tracks.