Industrial Aesthetic

For my upcycling project, my goal is to create something that blends natural and modern aesthetics. When I think about what’s completely opposite of that, an 1800s steel mill is the first thing that comes to mind. It’s all hard edges, smoke, and machines—no nature, no warmth, just industry. It feels cold and mechanical, the total opposite of anything natural or sustainable.

The first image I chose is from Britannica, showing a homestead steel production plant during Carnegie’s time. What stands out to me is how old-school everything looks. There are no computers or fancy digital tools—just gears, chains, and a whole lot of manpower. Workers are using mechanical systems with pulleys and heat to shape steel. It’s cool to see how things were built back then, but it’s also super clear how far we’ve come. Today, modern design is all about being efficient and sustainable, but this image shows a time when production mattered more than the environment. It’s wild to think about how this was once considered cutting-edge, but now it feels so outdated and the complete opposite of the eco-friendly designs we value today.

The second image, from CoPilot, shows a steel mill pumping smoke into the sky from its massive furnaces. Honestly, this image makes me think about pollution and how much damage old factories caused. Back then, no one really cared about the environment—getting the job done was all that mattered. But now, with so much focus on sustainability and cleaner energy, this kind of scene feels totally opposite of modern values. It’s kind of crazy how something can be both old and industrial but also the opposite of what we consider “modern” today.

This is my sorry attempt of a steel plant. It is meant to display hammering bars being pulled up by pullies to form the steel head.