From empty mansions and disused factories to hidden tunnels beneath cities, urbexers – Urban Explorers – uncover the hidden corners of cities, capturing glimpses of the past in buildings frozen in time. For some, it’s about documenting history; for others, it’s the thrill of accessing dangerous, abandoned spaces. For Dublin-based Louis, the man behind the lo.u.rbex account, it’s a bit of both.
As long as there have been abandoned spaces, people have been drawn to explore them. In the 19th century, “cataphiles” explored the abandoned catacombs of Paris, documenting their discoveries in text and photographs. Parisian police would frequently clash with these groups: in the mid-1850s, there are numerous records of groups of young men caught exploring the off-limits tunnels. These early urban explorers navigated the labyrinth of catacombs by candlelight, mapping them simply out of curiosity and for thrills. When police discovered cataphiles, they arrested or fined them for trespassing, concerned about public safety and the risk of the unstable, neglected tunnels collapsing. This crackdown on illegal exploration marked an early attempt to control people’s access to the underworld of their cities.
The modern urbex explosion traces its roots to the 1980s, when people worldwide began documenting adventures into decaying urban landscapes. An American often credited with popularising the movement, Jeff Chapman (known as Ninjalicious), founded a zine called Infiltration in 1996, and is believed to be the first to have used the term “urbex”.
The movement gained further momentum in the 2000s, as the rise of online blogs and social media allowed urbexers to more easily share their findings with a wider audience. There is something in the human psyche that draws us to these forgotten places; while many of us may be reluctant to explore such locations ourselves, we remain fascinated by the work of those who do. The photographs they capture often convey a haunting beauty, offering a unique glimpse into worlds both eerie and captivating.
A Chance Encounter With Urban Exploration
Louis’ journey into the world of urban exploration began somewhat by accident. “There was a big abandoned manor in my village,” he recalls, “My mates and I were looking for a place to chill and decided to find a way in. But instead of just hanging out, we ended up exploring the place, and we enjoyed it so much that we started going around on our dirt bikes, searching for more places to explore.” This developed into more and more of a hobby until Louis discovered that what he was doing had a name – urbex – and that it was a global subculture. From that point on, he took it more seriously, documenting his explorations with photos.
Urban exploring is a weekly activity for many of the most committed urbexers. From abandoned soviet factories in Russia to derelict military bases in Germany, explorers worldwide venture into decaying infrastructure, capturing the remnants of their former grandeur. The thrill is undeniable, but so is the deeper connection many feel with the history behind these forgotten places.
For Louis, urbex isn’t just about wandering through crumbling buildings or sneaking into private properties. “Urban exploring is not only about discovering the past,” he explains, “it’s keeping a record of these buildings doomed to disappear. It’s about understanding how people lived in different time periods, understanding architecture, walking through buildings like time stopped, and enjoying the peace and calm they offer.”
In his eyes, every abandoned place tells a story. These spaces are windows into a bygone time, and the stillness within them offers a unique kind of tranquillity.
Urbex also holds an element of surprise: “There’s also the pleasure of discovering the unknown,” Louis adds, “Exploring tunnels, for example, is great because you’ll never know what you’ll find in them. It’s the same when you spot a manor on the side of the road and find a way in. Discovering every room is so exciting.”
Risk and Reward
Urban exploring is not without its risks. In most places, entering abandoned buildings is considered trespassing, and urbexers need to be cautious. In Ireland, however, trespassing is more of a civil issue rather than a criminal one. “Legally, not so much,” he says when asked about the legal risks of his hobby. “I don’t damage or steal anything, so if I get caught, they can only kick me out.” In his experience, unless a security guard is in place to keep people out, most people don’t mind too much when they find him on their property. “Some may be intrigued and just ask what I’m doing, and once I explain, they let me continue.”
Louis has had run-ins with what he calls “the odd Karen” who might demand that he leaves. “They can call the Garda, who can tell me to leave, but I usually just ignore them.”
While the legal risks are low, physical risks are potentially a bit higher. Old buildings often have damaged staircases, weak floors, and other factors that can cause serious dangers. “Stairs and second floors can be dodgy,” Louis admits. “Sometimes you have to make the decision: What will I miss, what is the risk? Sometimes the risk just isn’t worth it.”
Louis’ explorations aren’t limited to Dublin or even just Ireland. He takes urbex into account when booking holidays and often plans around places with a good range of buildings to explore, much as a football supporter might plan a holiday based on attending games.
Community and Clout
Within the world of urban exploration, there’s a divide between the committed explorers and those Louis refers to as “tourists.” According to him, the urbex scene in Ireland is small but growing. “There’s a fairly big community, but nothing compared to other countries in Europe,” Louis explains. “A lot of people have started over the past one or two years.” The growth in the movement has caused a degree of tension between old-school explorers and the new generation.
Louis describes his resentment toward what are known in the urbex world as “tourists”: “Being called a ‘tourist’ in urbex is like being called a ‘toy’ in graffiti,” he says. “Tourists just go to spots they find online with no effort. They don’t bother with finding a way in; they just make one.” Some in the Urbex community are opposed to what they view as social media clout-chasers who visit locations, often posting them on TikTok and Instagram without much thought. “Tourists want views and attention, not to find good spots. They’re ruining them for the actual community.”
Like many counter-cultural movements that exist on the outskirts of respectable society, urbexers have a love-hate relationship with social media. While it’s a platform that allows someone like Louis to share his discoveries, he believes it also contributes to the decline of authentic urbex culture in certain cases.
For Louis, the ultimate “tourist move” is giving out the location of an abandoned spot publicly for the sake of gaining more followers or views. It’s a move that not only potentially invites vandalism but also diminishes the spirit of urban exploration. “I’ve only started being active on social media years after I began exploring,” Louis says. He shares his photos to showcase the beauty and history of these places, not to attract crowds or encourage reckless behaviour. “I share what I see for those who like it, not locations or videos of running away from the police.”
The Ethics of Urbex
Ethics play an important role in how Louis approaches urban exploring. He maintains a high level of respect for the places he visits: “It’s not mine,” he says. “I’m only a visitor there. If it wasn’t for CCTV footage and maybe a few footprints, you wouldn’t know I’ve been there.” For Louis, the respect shown by explorers before him allows him to enjoy these spots, and he hopes to do the same for the next generation of urbexers.
While some may question the ethics of trespassing, he believes there’s a fine line between urban exploration and the kind of vandalism or theft that often plagues abandoned places: “It makes perfect sense that neither private owners nor the council let anyone roam free around these places.” At its core, his passion for urbex comes down to a deep love of history and architecture. “I love the history behind the places,” he says. “Discovering architecture is one of the main parts of urbex. It’s not just about visiting but also learning and understanding the past.”
For Louis, every exploration is a journey through time — a chance to see how people once lived, worked, and interacted with the world around them. Urbex allows him to step into that frozen moment, and for a brief time, it’s as if the building still holds the echoes of its former life. In the ever-evolving world of urbex, he remains a dedicated and passionate explorer, documenting the beauty of forgotten spaces while navigating the challenges of a growing and sometimes controversial hobby. Through his lens, these abandoned places are more than just crumbling buildings; they are time capsules, waiting for their stories to be told.
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Ethan Rooney is a journalist from Dublin focusing on subcultures and international conflict. You can find more of his work on his website.
All photos ©lo.u.rbex, used with permission. For more photos of Dublin’s lost and abandoned places, check out lo.u.rbex on Instagram.
