Deep into the Mattresses

Exploring the Heiden Hotel was a very unique experience. Over twenty years of water seeping into the cracks of the old place had transformed the interior into a pulsating, living organism in the midst of summer. Algae, moss, and ferns sprouted from the mattress seams, clung to dusty mirrors, and inhabited dresser drawers in the small rooms. Colonies of mold created their own unique patterns on top of velvet flocked wallpaper designs from the 1960s. My interest in architecture had instantly shifted to focus on these miniature environments; instead of looking up I was crawling on the ground, scrutinizing the details formed in rotting cavities.

I had hoped to return to the Heiden very shortly to capture more of the place, especially architecturally, but unfortunately a fire had razed the entire building shortly after these photos were taken.