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With social media platforms such as TikTok revolutionising the way we do things, documenting our world, sharing our experiences and most importantly… the obsessions of popularity and fame in a virtual world… it’s a double edge sword.
Urban exploration, better known as urbex (or UE particularly in Europe), consists of venturing into abandoned structures and ruins.
Its boundaries are constantly shifting and changing and at times, includes so much more including tunnels, and drainage systems.
It has nothing to do with popular consensus, like making places explorable when they are NOT abandoned.
Recent times have seen groups, stereotypically young people who appear to be between 12-24 and desperate to FIND new places to explore, show no respect for places they’ve decided is ‘abandoned’.
Many businesses and companies are struggling, some have been forced to close whether temporarily or permanently, whilst they recoup their losses. This makes them a target, particularly for people who see it as okay to use force to enter a place that doesn’t belong to them.
Urbexing has never been so freely used as a cover for burglary!
The Origins of Urbex
Urban exploration has its origins traced back to November 3, 1793 when Philibert Aspairt famously explored the Paris Catacombs (a network of underground tunnels) where he met his demise.
Contention
There is no legal justification to trespass, unless you’re delivering mail, asking for directions or help.
With that said, our reasoning may be different although it DOES NOT serve as a legal excuse. Morals are a personal thing:
Thousands of buildings are being demolished every year, with or without a heritage status that developers may have managed to selfishly bypass in the pursuit of greed.
Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Every building has a story. Someone’s story, not ours.
Almost no one grants permission to document buildings legally and for some places, they are at times documented and photographed by Heritage Advisors. The subsequent output, more importantly the photos, are RARELY shared in the public arena. Some photos may even be lost or destroyed after some time.
It always amazes me how many people, who are quick to condemn urban exploring, appreciate the photos once a place is gone or has changed.
Vintage Fascinations
Urban exploring documents what is left behind. Hundreds of places that are quite old, often contain things we take for granted on a daily basis:
the style of building,
old door handles and locks,
light fixtures,
decorative and stained glass windows,
transom windows and milk doors,
grooved wall and door panels,
antique vent covers,
colourful and/or rare tile and carpet designs and styles,
vintage curtains and fabrics,
crown mouldings and motifs,
fancy fireplaces,
ornamental plastering…
and so much more.
It seems rare for new houses to incorporate these designs or vintage elements. Nor are many of the trades to make them still continuing, particularly in Australia. Hence why we try to document it all before they’re destroyed.
Urban History
Over the years, I’ve tried to separate myself from ‘urban exploration’ and more to ‘urban history’, particularly as urban exploration is continuingly being given a bad name from feral maggots who just want to smash places up.
With ‘documenting’ at its core, I’ve noticed others around me and on local social media, starting to incorporate the word into their experiences and posts.
Urban history is about photographing places like many people already do but with a major focus on the little elements and details most people don’t see. Whether it’s the building materials used or anything in the above list of features, to the way people lived and what remains of their story.
Upon obtaining photos, it’s hoped that EVERY location on the Perth History Database (Streetkid Industries) will one day be collated with a full history of the place, records, documents and more importantly… people’s experiences there.
Rules for Urban Exploration
None of these rules are new. They’ve been in place for a longer time than I’ve been around and can be found all over the internet.
1. Never go alone
Lately big groups of young people have gone into places, attracting attention to neighbours who then call the police. It’s not surprising this ‘gang mentality’ leads to peer pressure and trying to look cool in front of each other by doing stupid shit like smashing things or spraying fire extinguishers everywhere.
2. Dress appropriately
With all the amateurs of late, some just have no clue. Always wear sturdy closed shoes and where possible, long pants and sleeves to protect yourself.
Abandoned and pre-demolition places are full of dangers, including broken windows (often the result of maggots desperate for attention and/or with an array of emotional issues), nails, syringes from squatters, unstable floors, collapsing ceilings and other sharp objects.
3. Be prepared
At a minimum, a disposable P2 dust mask is always best to wear, as just about every abandoned and demolition-pending buildings are prone to:
Asbestos – commonly used in buildings materials between 1930-1980s and can be found airborne, crumbly material or panels that have been damaged
Synthetic Mineral Fibre - often used as insulation and a replacement for asbestos (includes glass fibre, mineral wool and ceramic fibre)
PCBs – the insulating fluid in electrical transformers and capacitors in older electrical systems
Lead paint – used up until the 1970s, it contains high levels of lead carbonate. Dust and even one small chip can stay in carpets, floors and the soils for decades to come but for people, it can easily cause lead poisoning which can damage your nervous system.
Mould – whilst there are hundreds of different types of mould particularly in places that are cool, dark and damp, it can quickly cause breathing difficulties (especially with those who suffer from asthma and many other health conditions).
Sewerage and wastewater – can contain bacteria, funguses, parasites and viruses
Bird and bat poo – a very high risk if you disturb large piles of concentrated, dried droppings. There are many infections you can easily be contaminated with including:
1. Histoplasmosis: inhalation – lowers your immunity and can make you very sick
2. Cryptococcosis: inhalation and it can even cause meningitis (an infection of the brain),
3. Psittacosis: inhalation can cause mild to moderate respiratory problems and even pneumonia,
4. Gastrointestinal illness: swallowing dust particles or contaminating your hands – can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
It’s also incredible how many people go for an explore without bringing the basics:
A full bottle of water
A fully charged phone (and even a battery pack WITH your cable)
Snacks (in case you get stuck or take hours)
Torch (check the batteries are fully charged!)
4. Be respectful
Do not vandalise It’s not yours and it doesn’t matter if it’s going to be demolished.
These days, places get trashed as quickly as one week. Feral wannabe thugs go around to places, whether they’re abandoned or not, just to inflict as much damage as they can. Especially as they know they can get away with it or because they’re under 18, they have a self-proclaimed belief that they can’t get charged or held accountable (I dare you kids say that to the cops!)
So many places are covered in scribble shit and tag graffiti that look so trashy, especially when the whole wall is covered in crap. Back in our day, we used paper to practice but obviously in this technological age, that’s a thing in the past for these self-entitled kids. (Although some people as old as 46 get excited writing crap in hard-to-reach places!)
5. Don’t take anything but photos (and video)
Yes, entering a place is trespassing.
TAKING anything that doesn’t belong to you is STEALING.
Trespassing AND stealing amounts to BURGLARY. That ain’t urbex!
6. Don’t share locations
Lazy self-entitled people are the first to whinge and moan about not being given locations, which often turns to abuse, threats and blackmail. There are sooo many ways of finding places but most people say they don’t have time (hence why they wouldn’t have time to urbex if they WERE given locations!).
Posting Videos of Locations
Returning to the issue of TikTok and people desperate for fame and popularity, many people badly want to become ‘the first’ into places (who gives a crap if you are?), often resort to using force to gain entry.
That’s NOT urbex. It’s burglary, ya fkwits!
They then immediately post their video onto TikTok. After a week or so, some of them post dumbass comments saying “it’s got security now” or “I can’t believe the place got trashed so quickly”.
No shit dickhead! That’s why we don’t post about places until they’re gone!
Which is why I’ve had to remove a lot of current locations from the Perth History Database (Streetkid Industries) and I rarely share locations with other than people I can trust (I haven’t run out of fingers!)
It’s not hard to WAIT until a place is renovated, redeveloped, reused or demolished before you post.
It’s not hard to AVOID making a place abandoned just because you think you deserve to break into it and pretend you’ve found something, when the struggling owners just needed a break or a lifeline!
With that said, MOST people who urban explore are legitimate good people and MOST start out quickly posting videos after a new explore, sharing locations etc. until they see the consequences and begin to care more.
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