London's Tate Modern
Cleveland's aquarium
New York's High Line
- Former life: Freight railway
Vienna's Gasometer City
- Former life: Gas storage tanks
In the 1990s, Vienna converted four former gas storage tanks into apartments, shops and offices.
The tanks, known as gasometers, were originally used to store town gas -- a fuel similar to natural gas that's made from coal. This was what many cities used to run things like street lamps in the late 19th and early 20th century. Vienna's gasometers remained in use until 1986, and were featured in the 1987 James Bond film "the Living Daylights."
Now the giant brick cylinders are known as Gasometer City, and are home to several hundred people.
Atlanta's BeltLine
- Former life: Railroad tracks
Atlanta is transforming a 22-mile ring of former railroad tracks into a multi-use transit corridor and public space.
The old rail corridor -- which is anywhere from 44 to 200 feet wide -- will have paths for bicyclists, pedestrians and a new track for a modern street car. Adjacent to the line will be parks, affordable housing, restaurants, shops and other attractions. The ring will intersect Atlanta's existing public transit system at several points, and ultimately connect 45 neighborhoods.
Construction started in 2008, and over $350 million has already been spent to complete several miles of trail. It's projected to be finished in 2030, with a final price tag of $4.4 billion.
The entire project was the brainchild of Ryan Gravel, a then-graduate student at Georgia Institute of Technology.
Germany's Tropical Islands
- Former life: Airship hangar
The Germans are taking life under the bubble to a whole new level.
In 2004, a Malaysian company turned a large hangar originally meant for airships (think blimps) into an indoor tropical paradise just outside Berlin.
The hangar -- larger than 10 American football fields and tall enough to fit the Statue of Liberty -- was built in 2000 to house airships designed to carry extra large pieces of cargo. When that company went bankrupt, the Malaysian firm took over.
Now the hangar hosts a lagoon, a 600-foot long beach, the world's largest indoor rainforest (with a half-mile hiking trail), a spa, bars, restaurants and a 198-room hotel, among other other things.
Parts of the roof have even been modified to l
Paris' Promenade Plantee
- Former life: Railroad tracks
New York's High Line has received lots of attention over the last few years, but it was actually inspired by this elevated railroad park in Paris.et in ultraviolet light, allowing sunbathers to get a natural tan.
The nearly three-mile trail, opened in 1993, was built on a former railway that was active from 1859 to 1969. The elevated portion -- one of the first elevated parks in the world -- stretches for about a mile. It's built on stone viaducts, the arches of which are now filled with small shops and cafes. The park then drops to street level, at times passing through tunnels.
The entire park is draped in lush vegetation, with some breaks offering commanding views of the city. The park is fully enclosed when passing near office or residential buildings.
Matadero Madrid arts center
- Former life: Slaughterhouse
This former slaughterhouse and livestock market in Spain's capital is now a multipurpose arts center, which has housed galleries, stages, recording studios, offices and more since 2007.
Construction on the original complex started in 1908, and included a surrounding wall measuring over a mile long that still stands today. It served as a slaughterhouse until 1996.
During renovation, architects tried to preserve as much of the original structure as possible, adhering to a concept called reversibility -- that is, it could easily be converted back to a slaughterhouse.
San Sebastian's bike tunnel
- Former life: Railroad tunnel
This former railway tunnel through the hills in northern Spain is now Europe's longest bike tunnel.
The nearly half-mile tunnel links two neighborhoods in San Sebastian, which has a population of around 400,000 and is trying to increase bike commuting. The tunnel opened in 2009 at a cost of $3.7 million.
For visibility, the tunnel's walls were painted white and lighting was installed throughout. It also contains 29 security cameras, a guard, and is closed overnight.
London's famed modern art museum is housed in a former oil-fired power plant on the banks of the River Thames.
Built in two stages between 1947 and 1963, the power plant featured a massive turbine hall over 100 feet high and nearly 500 feet long -- as well as a towering smoke stack in the center.
The building was nearly dormant from 1981 until work on the museum began in the late 1990s. The turbine hall was transformed into a grand entrance and display area -- its vastness often showcasing large pieces of art "to jaw-dropping effect," as Time Out London put it. The boiler rooms became the galleries. It opened in 2000, and is now one of the top three tourist attractions in the U.K.
Built in two stages between 1947 and 1963, the power plant featured a massive turbine hall over 100 feet high and nearly 500 feet long -- as well as a towering smoke stack in the center.
The building was nearly dormant from 1981 until work on the museum began in the late 1990s. The turbine hall was transformed into a grand entrance and display area -- its vastness often showcasing large pieces of art "to jaw-dropping effect," as Time Out London put it. The boiler rooms became the galleries. It opened in 2000, and is now one of the top three tourist attractions in the U.K.
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