Beyond its construction and subsequent useful function, the lifespan of a building culminates in a period without use, without care, without routine human interaction. That period during which it is left to itself, when only time and the forces of nature are its agents of change, is evidenced by incremental ruin of the structure’s fabric and integrity. In this important work, Henry J. Browne’s lifelong vision and Kevin MacNutt’s outstanding photography come together to present the curious reader with a wide variety of aging structures in Virginia and Maryland, as well as new models for historic preservation. Their work honors the skills, needs, challenges and creativity of those who came before us, and encourages honest reflection about the spirit of progress and the inevitability of time.

All photography provided by Kevin MacNutt