RBAB2: Funky spaces

Whether in San Francisco, Nashville, New York or Youngstown, some of my favorite places to be specialize in funky design. First, there’s something about the space itself that’s unique–perhaps its basic shape or location, perhaps significant structural features. Then, interior design plays a role.

As we moved from space to space during last week’s Rust Belt to Artist Belt 2 conference in Cleveland, the novelty of place played a role in creating an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. I want to share a few pictures from one such space, a Romanian Orthodox Church on Detroit Avenue, just east of 65th Street.

St. Mary’s was the first Romanian Church built in the United States, in 1904. Though the congregation since moved to a new structure, the building remains a part of the Detroit-Shoreway cultural scene, as evidenced by its unique decorations pictured here.

Once again, the contribution that unique, historic spaces make to the fabric of a community emphasizes the need for their preservation.

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