Hypothetical Development Organization's real estate fictions

Theater Of Escape 2

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(photo by Charles Franklin, rendering by Michael Doyle)

Rob Walker, he of the NYT's Consumed column and also last year's profile of BB in Fast Company, is co-founder of a fascinating and provocative group in New Orleans called the Hypothetical Development Organization. According to Rob, the group "dreams up absurd uses for abandoned buildings" to create new urban fictions about the future built environment. They then create large real estate-style large signs advertising the re-imagined properties. I love their slogan: "You won't 'believe' our plans." The Organization has a gallery show of their artifacts, titled "Implausible Futures for Unpopular Places," opening April 7 at NOLA's Gallery Du Mois.

Hypothetical Development Organization

"Implausible Futures For Unpopular Places" at Gallery Du Mois" (Facebook)