The interior of an abandoned building where the floor has completely decayed and has been replaced with overgrown plants. (Thomas Windisch/Caters News)

Houses reflect the personalities of the families that live in them. But in the case of the homes that have been abandoned and left to the elements, a different kind of family—Mother Nature’s—takes over, creeping into the nooks and crevices of the neglected structures, transforming lived-in homes to mysterious empty spaces.Austrian photographer Thomas Windisch traveled to various European countries to capture such places. “The idea was to show how Mother Nature turns dead buildings into living places again,” Windisch said.Places built to withstand the harshest conditions are still vulnerable to the forces of nature. “No matter what the building is made of, nature always finds a way in,” he said.So far, Windisch traveled to the United Kingdom, Croatia, Belgium and Germany to photograph abandoned buildings. “They are all different places, a selection of hospitals, villas, greenhouses or industrial sites,” he said. He said his favorite subject, though, are photos of the ceilings, because “they look a bit surreal.”The subject itself is captivating, even more so when the lighting works to the photographer’s favor. “The special mood of the light and the minute details make these places very special to me,” Windisch said. “Many of them are simply breathtaking.”