The built environment’s most amazing and poignant stories are revealed in the shortlist for the 2018 Art of Building photography competition.
The 12 images include a home built from old televisions, a skyscraper still under construction and yet soaring above the clouds, and an 18th century palace in Naples which has conserved a staircase that mimics the graceful curves of two swans.
The competition, run by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), now enters its final stage as the public vote for their favourite shot after judges sifted through thousands of entries. The photograph with the most votes will earn that finalist the coveted title of ‘Art of Building Photographer of the Year’ and a cash prize of £3,500.
“There is a cornucopia of styles and stories in this year’s final,” commented Saul Townsend, CIOB spokesman. “In a world full of high definition colour technology it is how the photographer observes the subject that moves us. Voters are in for a visual treat and we hope will be inspired to look at the built environment in a new way and to take part themselves next year. Congratulations to all the finalists.”
Now in its ninth year the contest celebrates creativity in the construction industry. The voting opens on 3 December 2018 and closes on 11 January 2019. The winner is announced on 30 January 2019.
For more details on the competition and to vote, log on to www.artofbuilding.org.
The 12 finalists
Title: Sunset above the skyscraper
Photographer: Mikhail Proskalov
Location of shot: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Photographer’s comment: “There’s a man at the top of the tallest skyscraper in Europe. It is very romantic to see such a beautiful sunset from that place.”
Title: 21 inches
Photographer: Jamshid Farajvand
Location of shot: Bijar, Iran
Photographer’s comment: “A different and strange construction.”
Title: Hope Hole
Photographer: Rasol Bayati
Location of shot: Qom, Iran
Photographer’s comment: “This photo belongs to an ancient art ceiling in the carpet market.”
Title: Christmas in Fish Skeleton
Photographer: Yi Cherne Juang
Location of shot: New York, USA
Photographer’s comment: “This picture was taken at Westfield World Trade Center. This spectacular architectural design fascinated me.”
Title: Casa Confetti
Photographer: Hans Wichmann
Location of shot: Utrecht, Netherlands
Photographer’s comment: “Modern architecture can be very colourful. The colours of the passer-by are wonderfully repeated on the upper floors.”
Title: Urban Mountain
Photographer: Hamed Younesi
Location of shot: Baku, Azerbaijan
Photographer’s comment: “Baku is a city with beautiful architecture, With different and modern elements that become a great architecture by the hand of Zaha Hadid. One of her great works is this building which is a cultural center.”
Title: Avala
Photographer: David Meredith
Location of shot: Avala, Serbia
Photographer’s comment: “I just like the fact its a self-supporting structure, a concrete tripod and that its possible to take in some very nice views while having a beer or coffee on the observation floor. The original tower was destroyed.”
Photo: Spiral
Photographer: Shahbaz Majeed
Location of shot: Edinburgh, Scotland
Photographer’s comment: “From a normal view, this is just another staircase but by getting on your back and looking right up, you can get a completely unique perspective that leaves the mind wondering what the photo is actually of.”
Title: Working Overtime
Photographer: Beverly Jay
Location of shot: Manitoba, Canada
Photographer’s comment: “I felt I was watching a beautiful choreographed scene set against the setting sun. The workers movements and positions were almost as though they were performing a dance, notice too, they all used their safety lines, which adds to the strength of the image.”
Title: White Women
Photographer: Hossein Farahani
Location of shot: Medina, Saudi Arabia
Photographer’s comment: “The Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, performed by Muslims. Pilgrim women have changed their regular clothes to special white ones in Miqat Dhul Hulifa Bir Ali which is a historical mosque near Medina. Changing the clothes and being ready for pilgrimage is part of this ritual. This is a big interaction between people and architecture.”
Title: Roof Resident
Photographer: Ana Tchankvetadze
Location of shot: Nuremberg, Germany
Photographer’s comment: “This picture was taken in Nuremberg. The eyes make this roof different and give an individual living effect.”
Title: Swans
Photographer: Roberto Conte
Location of shot: Naples, Italy
Photographer’s comment: “These stairs in an 18th century palace in Naples show pure elegance. The dynamic and curved shapes of the construction and of the railings, create a unique and almost swan-shaped harmony of lines.”
