totally lost uncovers architectural heritage sites linked to totalitarian regimes

first image © mirna pavlovic

totally lost is an open photographic and video research project that discovers, surveys and maps abandoned architectural heritage sites linked to the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century in europe. photographers, video makers and urban explorers are invited to contribute to the evolving documentation of desolate buildings, in order to generate discussion and bring attention to the form of each historic structure. 

villa girasole, italy
image © linthout lorenzo

totally lost has involved 186 photographers from all over europe and has mapped almost 300 places linked to totalitarian regimes. the project has so far collected over 2,600 photographs of buildings from over 25 nations including; factories, mines, power stations, homes, bunkers, resorts, radar antennas, monuments, memorials, entertainment venues, fascist compounds, sanatoriums, hospitals, and watchtowers.

the extensive collection will be recognised in an exhibition from the 9th to the 18th and from the 23rd to the 25th of september 2016 in three different locations including; casa del mutilato in forlì, the acquedotto di spinadello, forlimpopoli and the casa del fascio di teodorano, meldola.

video courtesy of spazi indecisi

sanatorio de abades – tenerife, spain
image © joakim berndes 

defenders of stara zagora, bulgaria
image © peter franc

mine komsomolets gorlivka, ukraine
image © gianmatteo cirillo 

fake cemetery, ratonneau isle, france
image © leonardo crociani 

german and soviet military base, germany
image © piet farlakes

sbarramento di pian dei morti, resia pass, italy  
image © marco gioia

slovak national gallery, bratislava, slovakia
image © trevor patt 

bunker, denmark
image © michael jödicke

hotel igman, bosnia
image © anida kreco

‘die verbotene stadt’ military base, wünsdorf, germany  
image © reginald van de velde

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: hollie smith | designboom