Incredible vintage garage

lowfastbus · May 18, 2011

Just found these pictures off an amazing garage in the centre off Ghent, Belgium.
This was first a circus in early 1900s until the second world war. After the war it was sold to become a Renault and afterwards Fiat garage. Closed it's door in 1978 and stood empty ever since.
Pictures were taken 2 years ago by someone who managed to enter. Since it's in the centre off one off the biggest city's in Belgium it's well secured and almost impossible to enter.
More pics on this link off the circus and afterwards the garage in there full glory:
http://www.dewaalsekrook.be/19de-eeuw-tot-nu#amusementswijk
The text is in dutch but the pictures speak for themselves.

z28snksknr · May 18, 2011

That is an incredible place.

larryv · May 18, 2011

Cool, love the 3rd picture.

Dan in Pasadena · May 18, 2011

Oh man, my imagination runs wild with what I could make that garage look like if I ever won the Lotto..and moved to Belgium! :bounce:

williaty · May 18, 2011

That's beautiful. Any info on the structure?

lowfastbus · May 18, 2011

Check the link I provided, there are some plans and vintage pics...

lowfastbus · May 18, 2011

Dan in Pasadena said:
Oh man, my imagination runs wild with what I could make that garage look like if I ever won the Lotto..and moved to Belgium!

Yeah the Lotto would able me to do some cool stuff with that place

The city off Ghent made a monument off it, it will most certainly become a public space...

Cryptic1911 · May 18, 2011

wow, very cool place

hh76 · May 18, 2011

One of my favorite questions to ponder is "if you could pick any building in the world for your home, which one?"

With some TLC, this is the new leader.

Jack Olsen · May 18, 2011

I think of two things, immediately. One is 'why does all paint pigment eventually drift to that medium brown/gray?' These kind of urban spelunking pictures wouldn't be half as pretty or 'scultpture-ish' if everything held its original color.

The other is to wonder how much asbestos, lead, petroleum and other hazardous stuff would have to be removed, along with the structural/plumbing/electrical work that would be needed to bring the place up to current code.

But if the Lotto payoff is big enough...

bchee · May 18, 2011

untouched for years

nperkins · May 18, 2011

wow... I wish I could have those in high enough res to print & frame...

filipvdv · May 18, 2011

i knew i once saw it on tv. the movie is in dutch, but can have a look at the place and some old cars and ongoing restorations.

http://www.garagetv.com/video-gallery/djvensterke2/jambers_circus_mahy_old_timers.aspx

lowfastbus · May 18, 2011

nperkins said:
wow... I wish I could have those in high enough res to print & frame...

check this link, click on the pictures, they are higher resolution

Skyline · May 18, 2011

bchee said:
I also wonder how such a large structure sits unused, untouched for 30 years.

Let's hope it got something akin to Landmark Status. That is an incredibly cool building, and would be a crime to tear down.

lowfastbus · May 18, 2011

filipvdv said:
i knew i once saw it on tv. the movie is in dutch, but can have a look at the place and some old cars and ongoing restorations.

http://www.garagetv.com/video-gallery/djvensterke2/jambers_circus_mahy_old_timers.aspx

Very interesting link, appears to be mid 90ies. It's the collection off the person that owned the garage from the fifties till late seventies. Over 600 cars were stored there.
Wonder what happened with them...

Oldtymeflyr · May 18, 2011

I was skeptical when I saw "Incredible" but it is!

This property has huge potential for a variety of uses.

Hope it is developed in a way that keeps its character intact.

Rick

930dreamer · May 18, 2011

That would be a great project.

Zeke · May 18, 2011

Think what Ken Block could do in there.

madstat · May 18, 2011

bchee said:
I also wonder how such a large structure sits unused, untouched for 30 years.

Ever been to Detroit?

http://detroityes.com/downtown/38michtheat_pan.htm

HOTFR8 · May 19, 2011

Very Art Deco in design.

Mr Mushman · May 19, 2011

This has to be one of the most amazing places I have seen. This would definitely be a great place to live in and play. Plenty of space to store, play and wrench on cars and what an incredible history this place has. It is interesting though that it's been vacant for the past 30 years or so and that not even the city ever did anything to preserve such a monument. I am sure though that it could not be destroyed as it must be classified as a Historical Monument.
Great link thanks !

fergus · May 19, 2011

We should get enough of us together, pool our money and start a brewery/woodworking shop/fabricating/race car shop in there. Or...I could forget I ever thought of this and remain married....

lupin · May 19, 2011

Would love some hi res copies of a few of those pics.

Kevin54 · May 19, 2011

http://www.dewaalsekrook.be/19de-eeuw-tot-nu#

Click on the above link and scroll to the bottom of the page to the OP's garage he has posted. In the bottom row of the pics, right in the middle pic, there is something protruding out of the wall, between the cars and the airplane. Is that a Gondola for a blimp or Zeppelin or is it some type of trolley car?

OOps...forgot to mention....very cool pics. I'd also like to win the lottery and have the money to fix that place up :thumbup:

6SpeedBowtie · May 19, 2011

That place would make one heck of an automotive enthusiast club space. VERY neat building.

I'd think it would also make a great place to put a newer dealership.

Steve from Socal · May 19, 2011

Kevin54 said:
http://www.dewaalsekrook.be/19de-eeuw-tot-nu#

Click on the above link and scroll to the bottom of the page to the OP's garage he has posted. In the bottom row of the pics, right in the middle pic, there is something protruding out of the wall, between the cars and the airplane. Is that a Gondola for a blimp or Zeppelin or is it some type of trolley car?

OOps...forgot to mention....very cool pics. I'd also like to win the lottery and have the money to fix that place up

The caption sez it is a cabin from a Zeppelin. That is just soo cool, I don't know about the indoor gas pumps though.

Steve

Mikie · May 19, 2011

I dream of places like this!

lowfastbus · May 20, 2011

Here's a birds eye view off the place...
As you can see it's in a heavily builth area, center off the city.

magnusk750 · May 20, 2011

fergus said:
We should get enough of us together, pool our money and start a brewery/woodworking shop/fabricating/race car shop in there. Or...I could forget I ever thought of this and remain married....

A big happy hippie/shop/brewery collective :bounce:

Yea, I'm with you!

No problem with wifes, don't be square, let's just share them

Or put it like this perhaps, wifes can share me...

lowbucktruck · May 20, 2011

Whoa! I can't find the words... that place is something else! Does have the potential for one heck of an auto museum, doesn't it? The arial photo seems to indicate only one way in.

Hey, I'm with Magnus... a gearhead shop collective and brewery! What a concept!

sscustom · May 20, 2011

amazing

Incredible vintage garage

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