If You Build It, They Will Come

The confluence of two presiding social trends (especially among young people) – understanding how things work and rediscovering one’s roots – makes it unsurprising, perhaps, that architecture would obtain a new level of cultural relevance. Enter location-based apps (currently used for things like running for mayor on Foursquare and, now, being able to assert your sense of placeness on Facebook) and curious gadget heads can transform into virtual explorers, unearthing the architectural and historical significance of buildings we see every day.

SepiaTown: Ever wondered what historical gem existed in your neighborhood before the retail giants and fast food joints moved in? SepiaTown is a new website that explores “from here to then” by mashing up Google Maps with vintage site photos, thus allowing users to get a snapshot of what various locations looked like before strip mall facades crowded the landscape. In addition to viewing images already on the site, users can upload photos from their own collections and pinpoint their locations for other digital historians to explore. More than 500 images have been uploaded to the map already, with the highest concentrations coming from Los Angeles, New York, London and Paris. New features, including a mobile app, sound bites, video clips, and even a 3D version, are in the works. While we love examining the old time photos, we can’t help but feel nostalgic for the mid-century modern drycleaner that used to be down our street…it’s now a Mickey D’s.