A Week of Photography 21: What the Bricks Remember

Exploring the forgotten brick factory of Zagreb through photography

Photo by Dubravko Grakalić.

Photo by Dubravko Grkalić

The first two images were taken to show what it used to look like.

Located in Črnomerec, this brick factory was built in the late 19th century and for decades served as a key plant for brick production – the material that built much of the city. Today, its cracked halls and crumbling chimneys tell a different story.

Ruins are something I keep returning to because they awaken an adventurous spirit within me. As you walk over shattered tiles and squeeze through overgrown passages, you feel the silence in which the sounds of past production still echo. Plaster, bricks, beams, broken glass, and graffiti have taken over what was once full of workers and machines.

Inside, there's a half-darkness, but when the sun breaks through the cracked roof – everything becomes cinematic, like a scene from a film about lost places.

This location reminded me that beauty is often hidden in the untidy, neglected, and even forgotten. And that what seems like an end – can be experienced as a new starting point.

Below are a few of my photographs.

Each one is my attempt to capture that feeling – a trace of the past reflected in the present moment.

All the photos were taken with the Fujifilm XH2 and a 16-80 f4 lens.

A cup, though emptied, holds the infinite potential to be filled again—and you can fill it up, if you please. Thank you for your support. 💛

About the Author: I am a passionate photographer and a philosopher of both photography and life, a TEDx speaker, a Master of Molecular Biology, and a product manager. I curate two newsletters: Lens of Perception, where I explore the intersections of photography, travel, and philosophy, and Thoughtful Corner, where I share ideas, reflections, and insights for curious minds. Thank you for taking the time to enjoy my work.