Between Richness And Decay: An Interview with Søren Ryge Petersen

How do we experience decay in the city? Usually, we try to avoid it, demolish it, and replace it with something new and shiny. But in some cities, we can be lucky to experience places floating between richness and decay.

By The Empty Square

---

Søren Ryge Petersen. Photo: The Empty Square

How do we experience decay in the city? Usually, we try to avoid it, demolish it, and replace it with something new and shiny. But in some cities, we can be lucky to experience places floating between richness and decay. It’s never the result of planning strategies; on the contrary, it only grows without our interference.

Beautiful decay provides cities with an extra layer of meaning, reminding us of the natural cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. It reminds us of our roots and the fact that everything is part of a process of transformation. The only constant is change.

This conversation is not about cities. It’s a story of a garden and a yard told by one of Danish television’s grand old men, Søren Ryge Petersen. But the essence is of great relevance to towns and cities: It’s about organic growth and acceptance, even awe, towards the relentless decay accompanying time.