12 Insanely Beautiful Abandoned Buildings

For most, signs barring entry to a forgotten factory or a decaying tunnel are sufficient deterrents. For Matt Emmett, these warnings are a gateway to his art.

The British photographer has spent the past three years ignoring official caveats—trudging through debris, wading in water, spelunking in man-made caverns—all for the sake of creating images that celebrate the unique appeal of abandoned architecture.

Emmett, who wears a hard hat while photographing, has shot at deserted locations throughout the U.K., Luxembourg, Belgium, and France, in schoolhouses, on military bases, and in factories, many of which have remained untouched for decades. He belongs to a tight-knit community of photographers known simply as urbex (short for “urban explorer”) who keep a watchful eye on derelict structures around the world for potential subject matter. Once an eligible structure is discovered, the coordinates are discreetly distributed to the group. New members are carefully vetted before being allowed to join to ensure that they will keep locations secret—preventing unwanted sightseers or, worse, looters.

For Emmett, traversing dangerous terrain is more than a matter of seeking thrills. “These places that were once alive with sound and movement are now silent and still, but they are no less mesmerizing,” he says. “Immense and powerful beauty resides in forgotten places.”

Look through Matt Emmett’s rule-bending portfolio.