The ruins of the digital age: exploring a vast abandoned Olivetti factory

Founded in 1908 in Italy, Olivetti was once a well-known brand in Europe in the field of typewriters and computers.

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The company began its journey by manufacturing typewriters, office equipment that was very popular years ago but has now been completely replaced by personal computers. In the 1940s, after the end of the Second World War, Olivetti launched its first electric calculator. For a long time it remained a brand open to innovation. In fact, in 1959 it manufactured the first commercial computer made in Italy, a behemoth of which it sold 40 units.

In 1964, Olivetti produced its first desktop computer, called the Programma 101, considered one of the precursors of personal computers. In this last segment, Olivetti's first PC, called the M20, was launched in 1982. The company eventually had large factories in several countries.

However, over the years and under pressure from more powerful multinational brands, Olivetti went into decline until it sold its personal computer division in 1997. Today, the Olivetti name is retained as a trademark of Telecom Italia. Last week, Forgotten Buildings posted an interesting video exploring one of its abandoned factories:

You can see some screenshots from this interesting video here. In this image we can see the enormous extension of this factory. At first glance it almost looks like an active factory.

However, a closer look reveals the damage to the factory, the result of many years of neglect.

One of the factory's offices. The false ceiling is slowly falling down. Curiously, there are still computers on the desks.

One of the computers left in the office, which looks like something out of a Salvador Dali painting. It is wrinkled, as is the keyboard, perhaps due to excessive heat in a room that hasn't had air conditioning for years. By the way, the computer is an HP, a competitor's brand.