Architectural Photography in Focus

Architectural painting emerged as a genre in Europe as early as the 16^th century. A few decades later, with the invention of the camera in the 1830s, people started documenting their surroundings using photographic techniques. Buildings were an ideal subject for the very long exposure times required by early image-making processes. The first surviving permanent photograph, View from the Window at Le Gras (1835) by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce (1765-1833), is also the earliest view of a human-built structure. Another famous example is Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre’s (1787-1851) daguerreotype plate, titled Boulevard du Temple (1938), which also captures a Paris street. During the 20^th century, architectural photography became an established profession. Architects were hiring professionals to document their constructions. Recently, exhibitions such as the Royal Academy’s Light Lines: The Architectural Photographs of Hélène Binet in 2021 and Vitra Design Museum’s upcoming Moments in Architecture – centred around Iwan Baan’s images – show that this strand of image-making remains relevant today.

Architizer’s Vision Awards recognises individuals and studios who are capturing the breadth and scope of built environments today – through drawings, photography, physical models, renderings, videos and more. This year’s inaugural edition marked the biggest award dedicated to architectural representation to date. Chosen from hundreds of entries over 30 categories, its winners form a vibrant showcase of architectural imagery and videography, setting a new benchmark for the industry. Here is a selection of winning projects.