Monday, July 7, 2008

Paseo Architecture




The Paseo District in Oklahoma City was constructed as a commercial and multi-family dwelling development back in the 1950s.  It thrived for a while, then it and the surrounding neighbors went into a long period of decline and neglect.   In the 1980s artist "discovered" The Paseo.  It's psuedo-Spanish architecture gave it a funky charm and its decrepit condition made for relatively cheap studio and gallery space within the city.  The Paseo Arts District was born.

Some of the old building have been restored; some have been replaced with new structures that do not match the surrounding architecture.  Studio and gallery space is no longs as cheap as it used to be, but the Paseo will probably be saved from total gentrification because it is a small area surrounded by housing projects and some neighborhoods that are still on the rough side.
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2 comments:

smilnsigh said...

Glad this one was saved! It's very pretty. I like everything about it. The white... The contrast colors used... The architecture... Very nice relic from the 50's.

Mari-Nanci
Smilnsigh blog

Petrus said...

Yes this could be Spain .. though a lot of the new build in Spain is like anywhere else - little boxes ..

It's nice to be able to go to somewhere that is a little different.