Brothels of Munich.

[Jerome Marot]

For reasons too long to explain, I realised lately a whole series of photographs on local brothels, seen from the outside.

Some explanations about the local laws may be necessary for a better understanding. Brothels are legal in Germany, but they are restricted to designated areas. In most large German cities, these areas are rooted in history and not necessarily extremely far away from the city centre. Not so in Munich: before the Olympic games of 1972, the city tried to clean its reputation and closed the historical places. Consequently brothels are confined to peripheral zones outside the city centre. In the same zones, one will find small and medium size industry and, at least to my eyes, the mixing was strange. One will for example see body car repairs or construction firms in the same street, sometimes even in the same building.

I took the pictures in the morning. The places are lighted to be more enticing at night, but I wanted to show the places in a more abstract, documentary manner. Curiously, there are many pictures of brothels from the inside on the Internet, but very few pictures of the actual houses. Of course, they are simply houses and that is not considered interesting.

I'll post a few selected pictures from the series, not the whole series.

 

[Jerome Marot]

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[Jerome Marot]

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[Jerome Marot]

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[Maggie Terlecki]

Wow, Jerome.. insane how bland they actually look. I certainly would never have guessed that anything hot and fiery was happening inside. Ha!

Cool project!
Maggie

 

[Asher Kelman]

Where are the neon signs? This wouldn't work here!

Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

Wow, Jerome.. insane how bland they actually look. I certainly would never have guessed that anything hot and fiery was happening inside. Ha!

Well, there are a few houses with more visible signs but I chose the ones who looked especially bland to be posted here. Indeed I found that contrast puzzling.

Still: the attentive watcher will notice that each house has some kind of signal, usually in the form of a red light.

 

[Jerome Marot]

Where are the neon signs? This wouldn't work here!

I thought that brothels were illegal in California, where you live. If they are illegal, they probably do not have flashy neon signs, yet I am pretty sure that they still find customers.

 

[Asher Kelman]

I thought that brothels were illegal in California, where you live. If they are illegal, they probably do not have flashy neon signs, yet I am pretty sure that they still find customers.

Los Vegas is a short skip and a jump from Los Angeles and people by plane or 6-7 hrs, I think, by car.


Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

Las Vegas is a short skip and a jump from Los Angeles and people by plane or 6-7 hrs, I think, by car.

Prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas. In Nevada, prostitution is only allowed outside of large cities. Actually, I did a quick search and found a wikipedia article about prostitution in Nevada which has some pictures. It would seem that the legal brothels of Nevada are about as bland as the ones in Munich. Probably this kind of business requires less flashy neons that one would believe.

 

[Antonio Correia]

Thank you for posting an interesting perspective about this business.
It is curious how the buildings look like the others where a far different activity is made, apart some kind of small signal.
You have shown one which I think, is an auto repairer at the same time.
In Portugal prostitution is not legal - perhaps it should be - but this activity has been increasing with the evident crisis the country is divided in.

 

[Jerome Marot]

Thank you for posting an interesting perspective about this business.
It is curious how the buildings look like the others where a far different activity is made, apart some kind of small signal.
You have shown one which I think, is an auto repairer at the same time.

Indeed it is. This is one of the things I found surprising: that such different activities can take place in the same building.

In Portugal prostitution is not legal - perhaps it should be - but this activity has been increasing with the evident crisis the country is divided in.

Maybe you have a project to do, then...

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Antonio,

Thank you for posting an interesting perspective about this business.
It is curious how the buildings look like the others where a far different activity is made, apart some kind of small signal.

You have shown one which I think, is an auto repairer at the same time.

A "body shop", in fact. How apt.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Antonio Correia]

It would be an interesting work to.

It would be something similar to project a space for certain politicians.

 

[Jerome Marot]

A "body shop", in fact. How apt.

You made me laugh.

 

[Michael Nagel]

It would be an interesting work to.

It would be something similar to project a space for certain politicians.

I believe that this is just one of the many options...

Best regards,
Michael

 

[Michael Nagel]

Hi Jerôme,

That's an interesting project - seeing the unseen (or not officially seen ).

I just have to drop in this reference:
Skandal Im Sperrbezirk by Spider Murphy Gang, a song from 1982 which was quite popular at the time and deals with with the restricted areas (Sperrbezirk, actually the area where brothels are not allowed).

Best regards,
Michael

 

[Alain Briot]

The inside is what I'd like to see…

 

[Jerome Marot]

The inside is what I'd like to see…

Use the google search function. Brothels being legal in Munich, they have web sites with pictures of their facilities. You may want to use the following keywords: FKK, Laufhaus, Terminmädchen, etc...

 

[Asher Kelman]

Prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas. In Nevada, prostitution is only allowed outside of large cities. Actually, I did a quick search and found a wikipedia article about prostitution in Nevada which has some pictures. It would seem that the legal brothels of Nevada are about as bland as the ones in Munich. Probably this kind of business requires less flashy neons that one would believe.

I think you might be search with the wrong keywords, LOL! Hotels needs such "workers" in their lounges to attract business! Look here. In Vegas, it doesn't matter that is illegal, as long as the girl wears the right clothes and is smart so as to avoid Law Enforcement entrapment.

When a girl above your romancing station or "batting average", in a fine dress, approaches you at the bar, without you having given her attention first, for sure she's their to earn money for her time! ?

Vegas is for such "full service" entertainment - gambling, shows and women. I do not gamble and am fastidious about germs, LOL! There are already enough shows in LA so there's never been any reason for me to set foot in the place! ?

Still, the brothels in Munich might be a safer bet for men lacking other outlets as there's a good chance that the business is under health supervision.

Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

I think you might be search with the wrong keywords, LOL! Hotels needs such "workers" in their lounges to attract business! Look here. In Vegas, it doesn't matter that is illegal, as long as the girl wears the right clothes and is smart so as to avoid Law Enforcement entrapment.

When a girl above your romancing station or "batting average", in a fine dress, approaches you at the bar, without you having given her attention first, for sure she's their to earn money for her time! ?

Asher, I am perfectly aware that prostitution exists in Las Vegas. The discussion started when you said neon signs were required and I answered that when prostitution is illegal neons signs are out of the question.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Asher, I am perfectly aware that prostitution exists in Las Vegas. The discussion started when you said neon signs were required and I answered that when prostitution is illegal neons signs are out of the question.

Now I understand! Went off track again!

They have the Neon signs but just to advertise the fun inside! The availibility of girls is just understood!

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

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The statues in the first and simple sign in the second suffice to tell the gentlemen that they are indeed at the right address!

If caught there he can always say he was looking for the auto body shop!

In a Chicken Ranch in Nevada, if caught one would have no excuse at all!

Asher