The Colossus of Prora   41066
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Location: Prora      by: Jan Lindgaard Rasmussen
Area: Germany      Date: 2013-11-23, 11:27
The pano isn't perfect; neither technically nor aesthetically. It was however the best, I could do that shows the magnitude of this building complex. Leonhard Huber has showed the "shining up" (look in "the viscinity). I also think the un-polished side deserves to be on the site, so until somebody does it better, it can stay...

It is one of the few buildings I have wanted to see with my own eyes from just reading about it. As a dane, the dimensions are hard to grasp; the idea of housing so many people simply for recovery and recreation reasons are one of these little differences we notice, when visiting "big" countries.

The fate of the complex is all the more sad, as it after the war could have served is purpose in a peaceful world also. When we visited, a limited renovation had started, but still a large portion of it was in decay.

More information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prora

Pano made from 22 HF pics (RAW), Canon 550D, 50 mm, iso-100, f/8, 1/320 sec, developed in DPP (daylight, neutral, moderate sharpness, ALO off), stitched in PTGui pro, downscaling and sharpening in Irfanview.

Comments

Very interesting. I had never heard of it.
2019/01/20 18:34 , Giuseppe Marzulli
many thanks, Jan. 
I knew the existence of Prora, its genesis, the overall historical significance. It would not be wrong to consider it one of the largest and most successful examples of "phalanstery", as defined by Fourier. It is really a pity that such a monument to a certain idea of Germany, in any way you want to judge it, does not have the renown it deserves, if only for its cyclopean dimensions. Also in Italy there are many buildings built in the same political-historical period and with the same ideological motivations; but nothing so colossal.
Many radicals, especially in Italy, think it is necessary to break down all the memories of such an obscure and tragic past; but in my humble opinion the "damnatio memoriae" is not a solution, and moreover, when the things of the past are purified from any ideological super-structure, only art, or architecture, remains, which is an aspect of human culture that must be preserved. Otherwise we become like the Taliban who destroy with dynamite all the testimonies of art and culture in contrast with their perverse ideology.
I would ask our German friends to tell us what they think of Prora.
Ciao, Alvise
2019/01/21 10:24 , Alvise Bonaldo
As you admit, technically not perfect. Aesthetically, the building cannot be attributed to the photographer, but I do like the "Bildaufbau" with the cut in the middle. Have never been there myself, so cannot contribute much more to the discussion. Cheers, Martin
2019/01/23 19:33 , Martin Kraus
Martin, with aesthetically I meant the cutting of the building, which is very much due to the fotographer :-)

I thank you all for interest; especially Alvises comment I agree to.

BR Jan.
2019/01/23 20:46 , Jan Lindgaard Rasmussen

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