This mobile edition of Dave's Depots takes us to Burlington, Iowa. Burlington is on the bank of the Mississippi River, and along the mainline of the Burlington's main east-west line. The depot, a modern one, built around 1940, looks more like something you would see in a Heywood Wakefield furniture catalog, or something designed by Ray and Charles Eames.
The depot is in use, for Amtrak service, and as the local transit company's bus terminal. Otherwise, the building looks abandoned, and is well-worn. The waiting room is abandoned, with a sign laying on the floor that says "This Place Matters," laying where it fell after once being on display in the window.
3 comments:
Dave,
That is a pretty good looking modern style depot! That is modern 1940. It would look awesome if it was restored and had some sort of adaptive re-use as well as still serving as a train/bus station. Think how Mies van der Roh buildings in Chicago look sort of historic from the perspective of 2010. Architectural design has far advanced from this era. This is now on my list of sights to visit one day. Thanks!
John Csoka
John,
Thanks for the post. While I'm no expert of design or architecture, I have noticed a resurgance in interest in design/architecture of the 1940s-1960s. A lot of those designs were "modern" but used natural materials, like stone or wood.
Now if I could just afford an Eames lounge chair and ottoman.
Dave,
The current condition of the depot may be the result of flooding it experienced in June in 2008. Most of this area was under about a foot of water for several weeks.
John Bimrose
Raleigh, NC
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