Explore a further 25 extraordinary architectural photographs, each one a Finalist in the 2022 One Photo Challenge. Let us know which are your favorites on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #OnePhotoChallenge!

“The determination of light” by sergio armillei

“The darkness looms hard. From above it seems to want to swallow everything underneath, sometimes it succeeds but not completely other times the light contrasts powerful and illuminates the structures of the city and nature. The darkness tries again but the light manages to reject the non -reality, the non -vision, the nothing. The light fills the voids and full down down and calls if those who observe giving the hope that it will always be there to give us strength and hope.

A school, architectural structure , infrared shot, Nikon D5000 at 720nm IR full spectrum”

Camera: Nikon

“Bleeding Lights” by Sean Wolanyk

McGill University

“Walking through the historic streets of Kyoto stands as a stark contrast with much of the rest of Japan with its sleek skyscrapers and neon lights. This city feels much smaller and ancient, with its quaint wooden houses and narrow streets. However, even in a place as old as Kyoto, the new has still found its way into the fabric of the city.

This photo captures this juxtaposition of the old and the new, with neon lights seamlessly bleeding into the narrow historic pedestrian street. A single man walks between these two contrasting worlds, emblematic of the perfect mixture of tradition and future that is so natural and common in this beautiful country.”

Camera: Canon

“The CICES at Dusk” by Mohamed Fakhry

Zimmer Gunsul Frasca LLP.

“The CICES is a commercial center located in Dakar, Senegal. Every two years, the CICES host the FIDAK(Dakar International Fair), one of Africa biggest economic convention complemented by many trade events throughout the year, to showcase senegal’s and Africa’s diverse and rich cultures. Built in the early 1970s by French architects Jean-François Lamoureux and Jean-Louis Marin, the center includes 7 triangular pavilions in Senegalese Art deco style.

Since each pavilion represents one region of Senegal, materials characteristic of each region were used on the facade through craftwork by local artists. The facade’s red stone called laterite and a fresco made of sand and concrete highlight Senegal’s vernacular artistry at the intersection between architecture and Modernism.This photograph of the CICES captured at dusk reminds me that the world we live in is heterogeneous. However, the possibilities to create an architecture that genuinely reflects a given place at its core, are limitless!”

Camera: iPhone

“The Window” by Xialu Xu

SKIDMORE OWINGS & MERRILL LLP

“This photo was taken in Dia Beacon in upstate New York. Looking out, the surrounding nature has become vague silhouettes and paint brush like colors around the clear glass at the window. One then focuses almost only at the limited pocket of beauty, details highlighted, colors embellished, like a camera focusing on a target. When the light shines through, it’s the most magical moment.”

Camera: Sony

“Kadoguchi_” by Manon Duparc & François Pain

Think utopia Studio

“Our studio likes to compose the image through the detail of geometric and enigmatic scenes, leaving room for the imagination to take flight.

During our shooting of the new Albert-Kahn Paris museum for the Kengo Kuma studio, our architectural photography workshop “Think utopia” focused on the concept of threshold that governs this project. Kuma wanted to offer future visitors a Japanese-style journey in several stages.

In this shot, an enigmatic silhouette stands in the tunnel, taking us from the noisy, ultra-luminous and totally mineral tumult of the city to the entrance patio, which immediately lulls us into a softness of sound, vision and vegetation. This passage is made by a transition to black where the sounds are distorted, the light disappears and the path to be taken is like a perspective in the distance.”

Camera: Canon

“Snow White” by Xi Chen

School of Visual Arts

“On a sunny day after the snow, the Farnsworth House, a Mies van der Rohe classic, was fully integrated into the surrounding snow. It was the last day of the open season. The kindly old lady just finished her last guided tour. She carefully arranged the tables and chairs, drew all the curtains, locked the door, left the house on crutches, and stepped slowly through the snow. Both the lady and the masterpiece will rest to welcome new visitors from all over the world in the spring afterward.”

Camera: Sony

“Vertical Life” by Xi Chen

School of Visual Arts

“In New York City, the world-famous concrete jungle, people live their lives up in the air. But there are always oases of peace on the ground, providing breathable green places among concrete and steel. The gaps in Central Park’s foliage naturally form a viewing window, showing the vertical lifestyles of New Yorkers.”

Camera: Sony

“Flood Of Light” by Xi Chen

School of Visual Arts

“When entering the Yale Center for British Art from the corner, passing through a dark and forbidding foyer, once inside, I was rewarded with a beautifully proportioned atrium where light floods down from above. Dark-hued steel, oak, travertine, and concrete, all the materials were elegantly finished and just the right blended. Under the flood of light, people were appreciating this architectural masterpiece designed by Louis Kahn, just like appreciating an artistic painting.”

Camera: Sony

“Future Perfect” by Sunalika Sinha

“Museum of the Future in Dubai is a collection of interactive experiences that take visitors into a vision of the near future. The magnificent structure is based on a diagrid structure with the skeleton forming the main support. Inside, the space is entirely without columns. In the cavernous lobby, the Arabic calligraphy (that covers the entire building) also functions as windows and decoration. The visual and physical experience in this space is surreal and ethereal!”

Camera: Canon

“Community” by Tony Leung & Derek Yu

Urb design

“The project is located on a densely populated district in Hong Kong, the rooftop of Happy Valley market complex. The Architect creates a vibrant focal point especially for higher level residents by choosing a spectrum of colors for the waterproofing membrane on the rooftop, representing different streets of the district.”

Camera: Hasselblad (Drone)

“Paris Opera House” by Wayne Reckard

The Kubala Washatko Architects

“In June 1861 Charles Garnier won a competition for construction of a new opera house in Paris. In December 1861, Garnier wrote to Count Walewski to ask permission to produce a model: “When the composition of a building comprises different planes offering a variety of perspectives and aspects …, the best way [to judge the project] is to construct a complete model of the building. This model may consist of different parts that can be moved independently, making it possible, by trying out the various proposals for these parts, to give the model, and ultimately the monument, a satisfactory overall design.” *

Today, a replica of the model (the original disappeared in 1922) constructed of cherry wood is on display at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. The opera house itself was completed in 1875 and is located in the 9th arrondissement.”

*text credit: Musée d’Orsay

Camera: Other

“Tyrol Snowfall” by Wayne Reckard

The Kubala Washatko Architects

“Three generations work and live on the the side of the mountain, in the shadow of the Kitzbüheler Horn, one of Austria’s most prominent peaks. The ornate heavy timber farmhouse is built in the traditional Tyrolean ‘einhof’ style, where both residential and agricultural spaces are shared under one roof; visitors will find cattle and other livestock in the lower level, while humans comfortably make their home above. There is little need for a modern garbage disposal when one merely needs to walk down a few steps to feed the evening’s table scraps to the pigs.

On this particular day a silent winter snow quietly blanketed the mountainside. It was a year of heavy snowfall, and our friend went outside yet again to clear a path.”

Camera: Fujifilm SLR

“Jakobskreuz” by Wayne Reckard

The Kubala Washatko Architects

“Perched atop Buchsteinwand Mountain in Austria’s Tyrol region, Jakobskreuz is the largest accessible summit cross in the world. Situated at an altitude of 1456m, with four viewing platforms and observation deck, the 29m structure offers 360 degree panoramic views of the surrounding Pillersee Valley, the Loferer and Leogonger Mountains, and the summit of Kitzbüheler Horn. The landmark is accessible by foot trail in summer; in winter, downhill skiers reach the summit via chair lift.

In addition to spectacular views Jakobskreuz offers a venue for seminars, weddings, and lectures. The well-known ‘Jakobsweg’ (The Way of St. James) followed by pilgrims and spiritual seekers around the world winds through the valley below, making the cross a destination for quiet contemplation and renewal.”

Camera: Fujifilm SLR

“Morning Glory” by Nachiket Garge

Killa Architectural Design

“The photo is of recently completed Address Beach Resort project located in Dubai, UAE.

The twin towers have a total height of 301m which are connected at top levels for the penthouses, spa and rooftop infinity swimming pool.

The tower’s pure form is an ellipse in plan with a void in the center that serves to increase daylight penetration and views to beach, Arabian Gulf and the horizon.

The orientation of the towers allows the morning rising sunlight to penetrate through the central void and reflect against the glazing symbolizing a bright, energetic start of the day.”

Camera: iPhone

“Once upon a time in Chile” by Emilio Deik

“Four years ago, I went with a group of photographers to northern Chile. For many hours we wandered the area, capturing industrial buildings under the glittering stars. It was way past midnight, and the experience was both exhilarating and mysterious. It seemed to me that, in the cold desert atmosphere, the silence wanted to speak.

It’s hard to imagine this building as one of the mainstays of the Chilean economy at the beginning of the 1900s. Inside, saltpeter—a highly valued mineral in that era—was processed after it was extracted. Companies built communities around industrial plants as well as railroad tracks and ports. Approximately 400.000 people worked mining the “white gold”. In the late 1920s as the economy collapsed, so too did Chile’s belle époque.

Today I revisit that visual memory in the desert and am left with the sense that sometimes silence speak louder than words.”

Camera: Nikon

“The Kiss of the Morning.” by Trevin D’Souza

SIR J.J COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, MUMBAI

“The first light of the morning pierces through the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, one of the busiest and oldest stations in India. It is one of those rare moments when the station is almost empty, when one has the chance to look up and adore the huge steel trusses and columns while slowly drifting along the platforms, something impossible to do during the rest of the chaotic day. The magnificent height and expanse of the roof renders a breath of fresh air to the incoming crowds. It’s almost as if first light of the sun is a harbinger for the chaos that would ensue, the peace before the storm. An analogue to the character of the station as the beginning of the many train journeys that ferry the people of India across the country. These are those special moments in time where one can relish the beauty of a bygone era.”

Camera: Other

“child in penguin pool” by Xiang Gu

“The Lubetkin penguin pool was once a landmark at the London zoo, designed by Berthold Lubetkin of Tecton in 1934. The elegant reinforced concrete ramp provides a playful stage for the penguins, and it was also one of the first works designed by the famous British engineer Ove Arup.

The pool was closed in 2004, due to penguins’ infection caused by walking on concrete. Before any renovation could be done, the pool still empty until now. Occasionally children would sneak in, try to experience what it would be like to be a penguin in this piece of early modernist architecture.”

Camera: Canon

“Mikimoto Ginza 2, Tokyo” by Stephanie Mills

“Toyo Ito’s Mikimoto Ginza 2 is a beautifully crafted, jewel like box where the composite steel and concrete façade forms the enclosing supporting structure that enables the inside to be column-free while also providing the flexibility to experiment with irregular, free form fenestration. In the restaurant the diaphanous, sheer curtains mask daylight entering from the irregular shaped windows, which, together with the suspended LED lights give the space an ephemeral and intimate quality. The filtering and layering are quintessentially Japanese. The diners were unaware of me taking a few discreet photos on my iPhone and continued to be engrossed in conversation.”

Camera: iPhone

“Fifth Floor, Tate Modern, London” by Stephanie Mills

“As an architect-photographer I’m constantly attracted to abstract patterns generated by the interplay of shadows and light. Adapted by Herzog & de Meuron, the robust, former industrial architecture of London’s Tate Modern provides countless opportunities for this kind of photographic abstraction. I captured this image as I was walking up the stairs to the Fifth Floor Members’ Bar overlooking the Thames. Through the naturally backlit frosted glass, my attention was drawn to the partial silhouettes of two seemingly ghostly people on bar stools facing one another. Beyond that is a collage of different abstract shapes, architectural elements and human forms adding depth of field and further interest to the image.”

Camera: iPhone

“Chasing the light” by Shiva Talebi

“Immersing your body in borderless art and experiencing the light and the art at Team lab Photo was captured depicting shadows getting smaller as they get deeper into the art installation and eventually disappearing. Much similar to “following” idols on social media and people losing their own authenticity to fit the mold and follow the light.”

Camera: iPhone

“A great moment of light” by Rigoberto Moreno Santana

“This photograph is taken in Hagia Sofia one of the most important Mosque of Istanbul and the world. A lot of people visit the Mosque in different ways, some as a tourist attraction, others as a cultural visit to admire the grand, impressive and important architecture of the building and some others the Muslims people as a prayer place of Islam. In my opinion, this is the most important use of the building. I felt a great moment of light there, the interior light on me, the light of each person around, the light of the souls praying and the special light of the building in itself. That’s why this image is unique.”

Camera: Nikon

“High-Low Freedom” by Youyuan Lin

McGill University

“Through the dramatic visual impact of the bird’s eye view, this photograph intends to render the vibrant culture of the LGBT community thriving in Davie Village, Vancouver, Canada. Featuring the ultra-wide angle, every object beneath the feet flows in a smooth rhythm, exhibiting a unique melody full of inexhaustible energy. Immersing in the warm colour scheme, the crystal pool, the scattered orange on the grey rooftops, and the colorful cars heading Rainbow Crosswalk in the shade of trees projected by sunlight all depict the diverse and welcoming atmosphere calling for freedom. Yet, on the other hand, the heavy shadow caused by high contrast covering the balcony on the top symbolizes the “cage” restricting liberty: it questions the sensitive yet ongoing journey of gender minority acceptance— is the existence of the neighbourhood itself the evidence of othering?”

Camera: iPhone

“Golden Gait” by Michelle Simmons

“This is the story of a monument: a sculpture that talked to a building, the sun, the sky and to me; a conversation that gave me a photographic understanding I had never encountered before.

I was so excited to experience Dubai Expo 2020 that I traveled to the grounds directly from the airport. I intended to do a walk-through first but was taken aback by a sculpture at the Qatar pavilion and stayed there until nightfall. Qatar’s pavilion, designed by Santiago Calatrava, is a modern interpretation of Qatar’s Coat of Arms: two swords encompassing a dhow amidst an island with palm trees.

A golden sculptural monument outside the main structure represents the palm trees. Although static, the sculpture moved; and I was challenged to find a way to photograph its dynamics. This photo of the 20-meter-high sculpture was taken by standing inside the 5.5-meter square base using a wide-angle lens.”

Camera: iPhone

“Ce n’est pas un arbre” by Francesco Epifano

“This picture was taken years ago in Paris, but it’s only recently that I have rediscovered its metaphoric content of an urgency to interact with nature, especially in a time of pandemic restrictions.

We are at the Petit Palais, a building where the rigidly sequenced exhibition spaces and the circular portico seem to find a solution in framing a tree, an archetype of nature, in a logic of symmetry, coherently with the construction elements. Furthermore, the presence of an observer intrigued more by the garden than by the museum collection suggests a subordination of human artefacts and expressions (architecture and works of art) to a harmonious contact pattern with nature.
Finally, the protagonist tree seems to hang on the wall like a painting, reminding us how nature can also be the object of human manipulation and design, blurring the boundaries between man and the environment.”

Camera: Nikon

“Like two lovers under a crimson sky” by Jakub Dračka

Brno University of Technology

“GREY. PINK. INDUSTRY. HUMAN. PEOPLE. MACHINES. JOY. LOOK. MOMENT. TIME. TRANSIENCE. SUN.

It is late evening. An almost perfectly symmetrical scene with trucks in the foreground and an administrative building regularly punctuated by window openings in the background forms a solid foundation of initial interest in the industrial district of the German Weimar. The overall impression is enhanced by the contrast of the grey earth and concrete with the poetically bright crimson sky and the reflection of the sun in the windows of the second floor. The regular and harmonious composition, together with the innocent pink, radiates peace and harmony, perhaps even a sense of security, stability, despite the uncertainties and fears that were and must be faced every day. More than ever, you need to look for beauty in the little and mundane things around you.

Seeing is forgetting the name of the thing one sees.”

Camera: Fujifilm SLR

Explore a further 25 extraordinary architectural photographs, each one a Finalist in the 2022 One Photo Challenge. Let us know which are your favorites on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #OnePhotoChallenge!

“Dreaming While Awake” by Alex Nye

Alex Nye Art

“A man is huddled inside of his isolated yurt in the dead of a frigid night in Fairbanks Alaska. He hears the sound of sled dogs barking in the distance. He’s interested to look outside but doesn’t want to leave the comfort of his cozy wood stove-heated space. Curiosity finally overpowers him. He opens the door and discovers a spectacular dancing aurora above his head. He feels the freezing cold air pour into his hut but is too awestruck to care. He loses track of time just staring at the light show. It’s like a firework show that doesn’t make a sound. Is he awake or dreaming? Is this reality? As fake and surreal as this moment feels, it is a powerful reminder of the stunning beauty that exists in our natural world. But sometimes, one needs to experience discomfort in order to fully appreciate it.”

Camera: Canon

“Guangzhou Opera House” by Yu Liang

“Two women walked through the corridor of Guangzhou Opera House in the night. There was a kind of mystic atmosphere with the building when the light of an LED screen shined on the wall. It looks like they were walking into a space base. Guangzhou Opera House is located at the city center in Guangzhou City of China. It was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.”

Camera: Samsung Galaxy

“Dreams come true – MüPa, Budapest” by George Palkó

“This is the main concert hall of MüPa, Budapest (HU). I photographed the building for my first book – Budapest Architecture 2000-2020 – , and this image ended up on the cover of the book. You can see my little daughter in the middle of the stage, what makes this photograph my all time favorite for me. She accompanied me on this photoshoot and I could gave her the chance to feel the atmosphere of a huge concert hall from the main stage. She just stood there for a couple minutes and then she started to dance… (Her dream is to become a famous ballerina.) This makes that photoshoot unforgettable for me.”

Architect: Gábor Zoboki – ZDA Architecture

Camera: Nikon

“Nostalgia” by César Belio

Cesar Belio

“Immersed in a forest of oak and pine trees, the house is protected by a wall of local flagstone, which separates the garage from the rest of the residence. The singularity of the formal language of this house is inspired by traditional Japanese architecture, designed in a single volume of apparent geometric simplicity where family activities are housed.

The protective vocation of the complex is evidenced through the use of wood as the main material, which in the interior is natural pine, covering floors, walls and ceilings, which generates a feeling of warmth, comfort and nostalgia, leaving a single opening that maintains a constant dialogue with its surroundings and is accompanied by a mirror of water that helps to enhance the essence of the place.”

Camera: Sony

“Reaching for the morning light” by Hugo Lütcherath

Hugo Lütcherath Photography

“I came around a bend, and there it was.. Playfully looking over the ridge together with it´s friend. It was reaching for the morning light, looking to see if the new day was bringing something good their way.
So I made the picture…”

Camera: Canon

“Portal to the World” by Matthew Buchalter

“Architecture helps us separate the internal from the external, the finite from the infinite, the actual from the theoretical. This traveler at the Mexico City Airport reminds us how confined we’ve all been these past two years and how cut off we’ve been from each other, while allowing us to imagine what might be. I like the idea that he takes a moment from his routine journey to contemplate other pathways he might follow. The portholes, perfectly arranged glimpses of the world beyond, capture the feelings of entrapment at the airport, while the large picture window reminds us of the infinite possibilities that airline travel allows.”

Camera: iPhone

“Less laws, more freedom” by laetitia Khachwajian

Architectural Association school of Architecture

“I’ve had a fascination in seeing buildings not as static, yet as a moving expression, as a playful language awaiting for interaction with the wind, light, and people. Oftentimes there is a misconception of architecture being characteristic of rigidity, differentiation, but there is life between buildings, in its essence and how we interact with it which has the power to break these barriers.

This intimate moment of two brothers chasing each other I captured at the forest tower in Denmark reveals the raw emotion of release; of purity and the adrenaline that comes from letting go in the arms of the structure. Located in the middle of nature, the continuous ramp allows for escape from the laws and noise of the city and provides a more inclusive, accessible sensory experience of freedom. The rhythm in the vertical patterns of the railings accentuates fluidity, translucency and harmony between architecture and oneself.”

Camera: Canon

“A Song Dedicated to Cangshan Mountain” by Terrence Zhang

Terrence Zhang Photography

“The Yangliping opera is located in the artist’s hometown, Dali city, Yunnan province. The architecture itself is like a symphony which composed for local Cangshan Mountain. The near is hills and lawn, to the far is the famous Mountain, height of 4000 meters. As a reflection of the mountain and Erhai Lake, Yangliping Opera, immersed in the sunshine, is opening her arms to welcome citizens who coming for joy, leisure and arts appreciation.

Yangliping Opera is one of the most breath-taking completed architectures in domestic China during recent years. The opera is always open to the public except only its interior stage. The outdoor area forms into an open view platform, which can be also used for a stage for performance.

In this photo, photographer carefully captures lights to make the opera visually elevating from sunken plaza, creating an inner connection among the opera, visitors and nature.”

Camera: Other

“The Weekend House – By Knut Hjeltnes Arkitekter” by Mark Elst

Mark Elst Photography

“This photo of the ‘Weekend House’ (also shown in Netflix’s documentary “Most extraordinary homes” is photographed for Knut Hjeltnes Arkitekter. Situated on a small island from the coast of Remøy.

The Weekend House is a modern interpretation of an old fishing hut. Captured during a late summer evening with a vary dramatic sky and a low sun rays that creates a focus on the house and shows a reflection in the water.”

Camera: Canon

“BEYsometrica” by Peti Lipták

BPLA

“Beirut went through a lot of things lately, but as Lebanese people, we always have to see the best in every situation. Beautifully renovated buildings, amazing colours and hopeful vibes are all around — marking the next chapter of the city and it’s effort to put its darkest day behind /4.8.20/!”

Camera: iPhone

“Arc de Triomphe Wrapped” by Mathieu Fiol

MFL Photo

“Being part of history, living it, at the same time, in the same place as it’s happening, that’s what you feel in a big city, where there is always something incredible happening. That time (septembre 2021) was Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s new temporary work: the Arc de Triomphe Wrapped. Even more meaningful because it was Christo’s posthumous work of art.

I went with the idea of capturing the Sunset as the background for my picture. While the sun was going down, and i was turning around the arch, the reflection of the Sun setting on the metallic fabric seemed more interesting and appropriate. As the art installation, that moment too, was temporary.”

Camera: Canon

“To Love Karachi” by Rabbiya Ahsan

Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture

“It is hard to love my city. It is hard to love a city with a tragic story, its constant battles and its broken structure. To love Karachi is akin to loving a broken person, and yet the citizens do it every day. They have held the city’s hand and walked with it through the worst of times. They have sat and mended the city when it broke. And in turn, Karachi has provided them with hope. The dilapidating structures and the polluted markets have become home. Pictured here is Peetal Gali in Saddar, one of the oldest markets of the city which deals in copper. Those who work there in the hot and cold face several challenges, but they still give their all. It is hard to applaud that determination. This city stands tall in the face of turmoil every time. This city is resilient. This city is home.”

Camera: Samsung Galaxy

“Hotel Marcel from IKEA Cafeteria” by Andrea Brizzi

Andrea Brizzi Photography LLC

“A case of successful repurposing. Marcel Breuer brutalist building in New Haven, CT, completed in 1970, originally known as the Armstrong Rubber Building, later as The Pirelli Tire Building, now converted to a high tech hotel. It opened this year. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The picture is taken from the cafeteria of the adjacent IKEA. The camera I use, a PhaseOne XT with a 150MP IQ4 digital back, delivers the highest resolution available commercially.”

Camera: Other

“Thirst for shade” by Valeria Flores

Handel Architects

“Summers in NYC are eagerly awaited by most but can also be particularly daunting to the vast majority… With overflowing public transit and towering buildings that reflect back concentrated beams of heat unto unforgiving concrete surfaces, the scattered plazas and public spaces around the city are burdened with a heavy task. Surely, they provide a pocket to break free from the city’s relentless grid but, at times, they fall short to shape an adequate environment for enjoyment. A number of these, with their manicured planting and their lackluster attempt to give some space back to the public, are remnants from a modernist era. Herein, they fail to be a desperately needed oasis for the thirsty citizens of an increasingly warming concrete jungle.”

Camera: Leica

“Loughborough estate” by Rui Nunes

“The photograph depicts a group of 4 slab buildings at the Loughborough Estate in London. These are just one of several post war brutalist housing estates distributed throughout the City. The photograph detaches the buildings from the surrounding urban fabric, allowing them to exist in their utopian Modernist form and obscuring their ambivalent relationship with the context and its inhabitants.”

Camera: Canon

“Parkaden” by Tõnu Tunnel

“Parkaden (Car Park) 1964 by Hans Asplund in Stockholm, Sweden
Between a steady flow of cars going through the centrum, there was a 1-2 second moment with this man walking. One of the two shots I managed quickly was this.

It was only later that I noticed that the patterns in the wall are floor numbers in mirror!”

Camera: Fujifilm SLR

“History of Toronto” by William Wong

WILLIAM WONG ARCHITECT

“The British established the town of York in 1793 with the installation of Fort York. The Town of York was later incorporated and renamed as the City of Toronto in 1834. This photo was taken standing on the Fort York historical site looking east towards the iconic CN Tower which is the world’s tallest free-standing structure since construction in 1975 to 2007.

The foreground/closest structure is one of Fort York’s Blockhouses with the CN tower as the furthest structure at approximately 1.5km to the east. There are a number of recent residential developments ranging from stacked townhouses to a 38-storey tower along Fort York Boulevard that are coincidentally compressed into one photo.”

Camera: Olympus

“Morning view” by Jose Davalos

“From my roof deck, I see what makes this city great…Las Vegas. The photo was taken early in the morning, when the yellows and ambers of summer were in full bloom. My location is within approximately 8-miles of the Stratosphere. These iconic buildings have a created an oasis in the desert, a mecca for everyone looking for entertainment and just a little more. Standing at 1,149 feet it’s the tallest building and a beacon of some sorts to many. It stands as an idea of what a dreamer can achieve in a city of no limits, Mr Bob Stupak was that dreamer. All the major resorts create and outline in this desert valley, being the tallest structures in the area. These structures not only depict strength and longevity but also possibilities for travelers trying their luck for riches. Sipping on my coffee I glance at the horizon and dream BIG.”

Camera: Canon

“Future & past” by Damir Otegen

“Baku is a rapidly developing but still quite conservative city. The neo-futuristic Heydar Aliyev Center built by Zaha Hadid Architects expresses technical development and an optimistic look to the future. However, security watches this high-tech building while sitting on an old chair.”

Camera: iPhone

“Neighbors” by Adam Kroll

HLB Lighting Design

“In the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan, a new residential tower dominates its neighbor, appearing ready to engulf it. The buildings fit together geometrically like Tetris blocks, but in every other way seem to share nothing except their physical location. The regularity of the monolithic glass and stone tower contrasts with the diminutive scale and ornament of the older structure. What does the owner of the Tarot reading shop think about the new neighbor? Do the tower residents visit the Mani/Pedi salon in the smaller building? Or do the occupants reside in different worlds despite their proximity.”

Camera: Sony

“Home alone” by Damir Otegen

“Esentai Apartments is a unique residential complex in Almaty city. The complex is part of one of Kazakhstan’s most ambitious projects – Esentai Park, developed by the world-famous Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Esentai Apartments is the embodiment of global construction trends and an exclusive luxury lifestyle in the neighborhood with the world’s leading brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, The Ritz-Carlton, etc.

This complex is a striking piece of urban architecture. But despite the above, almost no one lived there for many years.”

Camera: iPhone

“56 Leonard” by PAUL TURANG

Paul Turang Photography

“56 Leonard Street is an 821-foot-tall, 57-story skyscraper on Leonard Street in the neighborhood of Tribeca in Manhattan, New York City, United States. The building was designed by the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, which describes the building as “houses stacked in the sky.”

Camera: Canon

“Saddleback Sports” by PAUL TURANG

Paul Turang Photography

“Aerial detail of new Sports Complex.”

Camera: Canon

“Post-Pandemic?” by Nathan Swords

Virginia Tech

“There is an architectural graveyard at Virginia Tech. It is not on any map.

Beyond the scrapped solar houses and rotting models is a large concrete cube. I visit this cube frequently, especially during or after interesting weather. It is a space to experience time.

Even though it can seem like the pandemic is behind us, if we look closer we can see that the world we once knew has changed. Moving forward, we will always see things through the lens of the pandemic.”

Camera: iPhone

“Homerton College Dining Hall” by David Valinsky

David Valinsky Photography

“Feilden Fowles’ dining hall for Homerton College in Cambridge is an enigmatic creation, a celebration of bespoke materials and textures that is undoubtedly one of the most significant architectural contributions to an architecturally-rich city in recent years. The rough, board-marked concrete loggia provides a robust base for a cliff-like wall of glassy ceramic that is delicately pleated, absorbing and reflecting the light around it, more so without direct sunlight.

From this sharp angle, however, the folds, pleats and sculpted upper level become a rugged monumental mass. All glazing on both levels is all but hidden by deep reveals: extenuated fins to the clerestory and deeply sculpted concrete to the loggia. At blue-hour the material qualities and rich coloring of this sculptural object are brought to the fore, heightened by shooting angle that all but denies the fenestration. Only the lighting implies the inhabitation of this beautiful form.”

Camera: Fujifilm SLR

Explore a further 25 extraordinary architectural photographs, each one a Finalist in the 2022 One Photo Challenge. Let us know which are your favorites on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #OnePhotoChallenge!

“Tempus Fugit” by George Messaritakis

“Immediately before I pressed the shutter while photographing this summer house conversion of an old barn house, the architect walked across the room to stand in front of the window and see what I was up to, perfectly silhouetting himself against the lights and merging in a fleeting instance building, creator, time, and space.”

Camera: Fujifilm SLR

“Perfect marriage” by José Benito Garcia

“Maat Museum in Lisbon, Portugal. The building blends with the river as a perfect couple.The location and the multiple ways you can interact, cross, feel, touch and love this building makes it an unmissable reference in Lisbon modern architecture.”

Camera: iPhone

“Maggie on the Mountain | French Broad House by Sanders Pace Architecture” by Keith Isaacs

Keith Isaacs Photo

“Maggie on the Mountain was captured one morning early in the pandemic, where we stood and waited, and waited for the fog to break, to gift us a ray or two of light. It was a feeling very akin to feelings of that 2020 spring, when we were all waiting for a ray of light. The house is located on a very secluded site in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. It was very peaceful there, almost enough to forget what was going on around the world. Then there was Maggie, who followed us around the whole day as we photographed the house, always happy and blissfully oblivious to what the human world was going through. She and the home were a nice reminder of the peace we can find in the moment and our immediate surroundings, especially when they’re glistening in a ray of light.”

Camera: Sony

“A Moment of Calm Above the Tokyo Skyline” by Ben Richards

Ben Richards Studio

“When first thinking of Tokyo, one might usually imagine towering cityscapes, bright lights and bustling pedestrian crossings. However, living in Tokyo during the pandemic, I experienced a different side to the city – one where I found moments of calm and peace.

This particular image was taken at Aman Tokyo, 33 floors over the dense built landscape. The space itself is designed as an urban sanctuary, and I wanted to create an image to tell this story and give the viewer a sense of calm, distilling the scene into only a few elements. Time of day was very important, with the soft golden light providing an ideal backdrop for the mood I wanted to represent.

Moving into 2022, Tokyo’s borders remain largely closed, and I hope through my images I can share a side to the city that is unknown to many, inspiring a sense of calm to future visitors.”

Camera: Canon

“A serendipitous anchor” by Khush Khandelwal

Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, NMIMS, Mumbai

“The photo frames the Buddhist monastery- Tashichho Dzong in Bhutan. A Dzong is home to the Buddhist monks, and stand as a strong pillar of the foundation of their ideology. The Dzong consciously reflects these ideologies at different wavelengths, from space planning to elemental ornamentations. The Bhutanese window in the frame- Payab Gochu, is one strong instance of the symbolism. The spatial manifestations reflect their principles of simplicity and minimalism. Through the architecture, consciously or subconsciously, one is always reminded and rooted to their beliefs and teachings.

The frame portrays these peculiarities, using multiple spatial layers to add depth to the portrayal, literally and metaphorically. A monk is seen traversing this depth, serendipitously anchoring the layers. A subtle sense of scale is felt, as one is rendered to focus on the intricacy of the monk-sized window, set between the integration of adobe stones, with a juxtaposition of stair risers.”

Camera: Other

“A Totem of Beijing” by Rex Zou

Aaron&Rex

“The existence of super-tall buildings shows the wealth and vitality of this city with a population of tens of millions, and at the same time, super-tall buildings are easily looked up by people from all directions. When I looked at it again on the roof of an already high building, this trophy (Chinese Tripod) – like building was within reach, almost completely grasped. CITIC Tower (China Zun), like a totem of Beijing, stands upright in the land and radiates its direct and powerful ability.”

Camera: Fujifilm SLR

“The shape of Arch” by xiao Mike

mmcm studio

“As one of the earliest architectural structures, arch is often translated into different shape of forms in modern architecture. This photo was taken in a teaching building of the Polus college. The atrium of the building is surrounded by arches to shape a shared public space of corridor, which reflects a sense of sequency.”

Camera: Canon

“The Zipper” by Lars Gruber

Lars Gruber Architekturfotografie

“The photo shows my assistant looking out over the city of Düsseldorf from the roof terrace of the RKM740 project by J. Mayer H. Architekten, also known as “The Zipper”, because of its striking facade. Some of the construction workers call the roof terrace the “Shark’s Mouth” – also a pretty good description in my opinion! Our shooting day started with fog, but luckily right on time the sun came out and created this wonderful light and atmosphere.”

Camera: Canon

“Deserted” by Boran Hrelja

“Image showcasing the ABSOLUTE WORLD condo complex in Mississauga, Canada, was designed by MAD Architect and viewed from the adjacent parking. In the last couple of years, we globally witnessed an unprecedented event of conquering the whole world by invisible microscopic creatures. Humanity strike back with everything we have. One of the options was to reduce the mobility and movement of the population to reduce the risk of exposure.

This measure drastically changed our cities, where we live, and places we love were transformed into empty, deserted shales. We created ghost towns. At that exact time, nature was going business as usual; it was raining, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the grass was grooving. Despite the uncomfortable emptiness of places, we can occasionally be surprised by the warmth and beauty of the light. It gives us hope and appreciation of architecture and life itself.”

Camera: Canon

“Seattle Public Library” by Paul Vu

Here And Now Agency

“A former architect visits the library designed for the future in Seattle, Washington. He admires the multi-faceted space and how its visitors are using it – for work, for community interaction and for discovery.”

Camera: Leica

“Incoherence” by Alan Curtis

drive architecture

“Looking outward from inside the Snohetta designed 911 memorial pavilion.

Humans search for meaning shape our interventions in the natural world. In this photo nature is present but only as a reminder that it exists within multiple contexts, layers and scales of discordant human narratives.”

Camera: iPhone

“Thoughts” by Monica Graham

“Early in the morning, walking in front of One Manhattan West, in New York City, I saw a man taking a moment to rest and reflect.

One Manhattan West is part of Brookfield Properties’ Manhattan West development. It is an extension of the larger Hudson Yards neighborhood which is built above active train railroads to create buildable land where none existed before.

Skidmore, Owens and Merril designed this building without perimeter columns. This allows passersby to appreciate the 45-foot-high lobby through the equally impressive tall windows. The central, sculptural pedestal is the reinforced concrete and steel core that bears the full load of the perimeter columns of the 67 floors above.

The man is creating a personal moment by leaning his weight on the massive column.”

Camera: iPhone

“Graduation day” by Jeff Durkin

Breadtruck Films

“During the covid school closures I became the teacher at home responsible for my daughter’s education as my wife moved into working from home. I told my 6 year old that if she worked really hard I would buy her balloons and take her to the University California San Diego campus on graduation day 2021. And we did it…She graduated kindergarten and I snapped this stunning photo as a memory of getting through a difficult time.”

Camera: Canon

“blade runner” by Jeff Durkin

Breadtruck Films

“I was in Dallas Texas spending an afternoon at I.M. Pei’s City Hall when group of Challenged Athletes ran past my camera. It turns out it was a 5K race with hundreds of runners, and cyclists with prosthetics that helped them compete. They moved quickly and I snapped off a few frames…Ending on this shot here…

With the strong diagonal line and negative space it really forces the eye to focus on the human subject and his running blades. The blades are a new innovation for people who have lost limbs juxtaposed in front of the equally innovative Dallas city hall that was unlike any thing ever built at the time. I wonder what I.M. Pei would say about the forward design and form of the new prosthetics. I think he would really love this shot…”

Camera: Canon

“Alfa” by Shoayb Khattab

Shoayb Khattab Photography

“Designed by Foster+Partners, Alif – The Mobility Pavilion was unveiled at this year’s Dubai Expo. I intended for the picture to capture the essence of every successful architecture entity; people, form, function, mood, sense of scale and a sense of place presented altogether in a harmonious composition.”

Camera: Sony

“Apple Fifth Avenue” by Louis Pounders

ANF Architects

“We live in a high-tech world and our built environment has been greatly influenced by innovations in technology.

Apple has been a leader in tech development for over 45 years and here, in the middle of New York City, one can appreciate its tech-driven architecture as expressed by Foster + Partners.

Reflecting the skyscapers surrounding the underground store, Apple’s mirror-polished skylights link the city’s past with its future.

Exposing the photographer humanizes the urban environment.”

Camera: Panasonic

“stair builder” by Jeff Durkin

Breadtruck Films

“I was on assignment at University of California San Diego shooting for Perkins & Will on their new engineering building when I shot this photo. It was the end of a late summer day, and the job site had been full of building materials, dust and a lot of junk. As I was walking out I had noticed that they had cleaned up the ground level area and I snapped this suspended stair twisting out of the ground reaching to the sky. It captured construction in its most sculptural form with a touch of yellow and a worker heading home for the day in the evening light. The building is finished now, and this view will never been seen outside of this captured moment.”

Camera: Canon

“Urban Oasis” by Kevin Siyuan

“This is a photo of CapitaSpring, a biophilic commercial building in Singapore jointly designed by Bjarke Ingels Group and Carlo Ratti Associati.

The building gave me an impression of an enigmatic oasis hidden behind its sleek metallic facade, which are pulled open at a few specific areas to reveal elements of nature. I hope to capture the eye opening design from the street level to show a sense of scale, and this is the best spot I found to appreciate the grandness of the facade up close. At first I was waiting for a green car to drive past but a bird decided to model for me instead. Together with the street landscaping, the scene felt like a big urban oasis.”

Camera: Sony

“Cantilevered Competitors” by Dylan Corr

“The Denver Art Museums sharp and shimmering cantilever was surely not to be outdone by a measly traffic light… The museum and its urban competitor stretch their wings across 13th Ave, piercing through the crystal clear blue sky. Across the street, Gio Ponti’s Martin Building is content to reach up instead of out, in search of sunlight that will sparkle off its gray glass tiles.”

Camera: Sony

“Above the mass.” by 易暹 李

YHLAA

“This is a golf club designed by Siza.
When I went there, I saw a staff climb up on the roof to do some inspections.
He gave the place a better sense of scale.
Otherwise the sense of scale is lost when seeing this carefully arranges mass.”

Camera: Leica

“Yuandang Bridge” by runzi zhu

Fusion Photography Studio

“Yuandang Bridge designed by BAU architects connects Suzhou and Shanghai on Yuandang lake with a pedestrian bridge. People living nearby come a lot for walking and chill, especially in the early morning and dusk, and the sitting area in the middle was appreciated by users. My photo captures the peaceful mood of these two-person, facing the opposite direction and chilling in their own peaceful world.”

Camera: Fujifilm SLR

“Behind the gate” by Yang Chen

whyseeimage

“Many old towns or historical living blocks in urban area of Shanghai are in the process of being demolished or renovated. Majority of the residents have signed agreements and move out already, but there’s still some of them insist on living in their original houses. The exits between inside and outside are usually blocked using steel gateways with an opening on it for daily open-and-close. This is a view of one the openings.”

Camera: Canon

“A decorative doorhead and a little girl” by Yang Chen

whyseeimage

“A little girl walks by a sealed decorative doorhead, waving her badminton rackets. It seems like she’s waiting for her playmate.”

Camera: Canon

“Black and White” by Huanhai Cheng

“Black mesh wall defines white sky.
Black lines divide white marble floor.
Woman in black walked behind men in white.
She wore white sneakers while they wore black sandals.
Sometimes I wish I could easily tell black and white from what I see,
but it never follow your flow, just like you don’t know if those colors were true as above.
With filters applied, subjectivity overrides objectivity,
Black and White, I wish I could remove all filters to see the real world.”

Camera: iPhone

“Eye of the Beholder” by Benjamin Rosenthal

“What does it take to be noticed when all the world’s marvels are available from the palm of your hand?

The Broad in Downtown Los Angeles is undeniably a work of art. A museum as beautiful and complex as any of the collections being housed within it. But what happens when beauty is no longer enough?

This image encapsulates the catch-22 of design innovation made possible by modern technology and the same technology that impedes us from experiencing it.

I took this photo in awe of the Broad’s undulating, almost otherworldly façade while equally struck by how the experience was completely lost on my fellow passerby, too distracted by his phone to even notice.”

Camera: iPhone