Even the mightiest buildings succumb to the ravages of time. This huge complex was once the administrative headquarters of one of the biggest steel companies in France. This was the repository of all the industry paper records, documenting the deals and finances over the decades. It was purpose-built in the 1890s to both store records as well as to showcase the company’s steelwork. The huge atrium boasts an impressive skylight. All that glass and concrete is held up by the iron girders, which they manufactured in their own nearby steelworks. The French steel industry collapsed in the 1980s, and the offices were closed and left to decay.
The bold atrium is the main attraction here for a photographer of industrial ruins such as myself. However, the rest of the labyrinthine building is amazingly photogenic. Photographed by Janine Pendleton.
Upstairs, An Interesting Relic Can Be Found: A Vintage Typewriter
Ornate Metalwork Supports The Glass-Covered Atrium
The Long Dark Corridors Have Been Abandoned Since The 1980s
More Of The Steel Company’s Metalwork Can Be Seen To Form The Stair Handrails And Elevators
The Atrium Of This Administration Office Is A Wonder To Photograph, Even In Ruins
Even The Darkest Corner Offers Some Interesting Photographic Opportunities, Thanks To Some Gentle Evening Light
Viewing The Atrium From The Upper Floor, More Details Of The Metalwork Can Be Admired
The Architecture Of The Location Is Stunning, With The Subdued Colours Allowing The Diverse Textures Of Decay To Dominate The Photographs
Yellow Paint Still Clings To This Stairway, As Concrete And Plaster Crumble
The Immense Skylight Is Still Standing Strong, A Testament To The Fine Steelwork This Company Produced
These Shelves Were Once Packed With The Financial Records Of This French Steel Empire
Only A Few Scraps Of The Paperwork Remain, On Shelves That Are Mainly Empty
