20 Stunning Finalists of the 2018 Architectural Photography Awards

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The Piazza Duomo from the Arengario Balconi of the Palazzo dell'Arengario, Museo del 900 in Milan, Italy by Italo Rota and Fabio Fornasari,” Sense of Place shortlist. (Photo: Marco Tagliarino/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural photographers around the world submitted their best images to the Architectural Photography Awards and now the 20 finalists have been revealed. The competition, which is organized by the World Architecture Festival, attracted entries from 47 countries and the finalists will have their images on display at the WAF in Amsterdam.

The five images selected in each of the four categories—Interiors, Exteriors, Buildings in Use, and Sense of Place—highlight the artistry of architectural photography. From the interior of an abandoned Soviet-era sanatorium to the sleek curves of Calatrava's Liège-Guillemins station in Belgium, the photographs highlight each building's unique beauty. Interestingly, one piece of architecture was so inspiring that two photographers in the finals photographed it. Both Omer Kanipak and Jeff Eden photographed Wolfgang Buttress' The Hive at England's Kew Gardens, with each giving their own distinct spin on the space. Eden's image is a moody exterior shot of Buttress' structure in the winter mist, while Kanipak's demonstrates how engaging the building is for children.

An expert panel of judges, which includes Richard Bryant (photographer), Alan Capel (head of content at Alamy), and architect James Timberlake (Founder and Partner at KieranTimberlake), will select winners from these four categories as well as two additional areas—Portfolio and Mobile. The new Portfolio category looks at 46 photographs of one architectural project, while the Mobile category is for photographs taken on mobile devices.

The public will also weigh in by voting for a People's Choice winner over the course of the World Architecture Festival, which takes place from November 28 to November 30, 2018. Each category winner will receive a $3,000 cash prize at the awards gala that takes place on the final evening of the WAF.

20 images have been announced as the finalists of the 2018 Architectural Photography Awards.

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The Hive at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK by Wolfgang Buttress,” Buildings in Use shortlist. (Photo: Omer Kanipak/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The Hive at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK during winter,” Sense of Place shortlist. (Photo: Jeff Eden/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“A Soviet-era Sanatorium “Sacartvelo” with a stray dog and rubbish, in the town of Tskaltubo in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia designed by architect Kalashniko,” Buildings in Use shortlist. (Photo: Ryan Koopmans/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The ceiling of Liège-Guillemins station in Belgium by Santiago Calatrava,” Interior shortlist. (Photo: Suraj Garg/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“A semi-abandoned power station in Kelenfold, Budapest, Hungary,” Interior shortlist. (Photo: Roman Robroek/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The Vortex, Bloomberg headquarters, London, UK by Foster + Partners,” Interior shortlist. (Photo: James Newton/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“Swimmers on the riverside opposite the construction of Raffles City Chongqing, China by Safdie Architects,” Sense of Place shortlist. (Photo: Zhu Wenqiao/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“Castle Neuschwanstein in Winter,” Sense of Place shortlist. (Photo: Dirk Vonten/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“Apartment building in Yaiza, Lanzarote, Spain,” Exterior shortlist. (Photo: Marius Liutkevicius/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

All the photographs will be on display at the World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam.

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The Vantablack Pavilion, Pyeongchang, South Korea by Asif Khan,” Buildings in Use shortlist. (Photo: Laurian Ghinitoiu/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama,USA,” Buildings in Use shortlist. (Photo: Brad Feinknopf/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“Azur Arena in Antibes, France by Auer Weber architects,” Buildings in Use shortlist. (Photo: Aldo Amoretti/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The perforated concrete skin of Vm Estancia in Chennai,Tamil Nadu, India by KSM Architecture,” Exterior shortlist. (Photo: B.R.S.Sreenag/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The Théodore Gouvy Theatre in Freyming-Merlebach, France by Dominique Coulon & Associés,” Interior shortlist. (Photo: Eugeni Pons/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The Ouse Valley viaduct in Sussex, UK by David Mocatta,” Interior shortlist. (Photo: Andrew Robertson/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The Bank of China Tower, Ningbo China by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP,” Exterior shortlist. (Photo: He Zhenuan/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“Long Museum West Bund Shanghai, Chinaby Atelier Deshaus,” Exterior shortlist. (Photo: Pawel Paniczko/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Border Crossing Facility by ECADI,” Exterior shortlist. (Photo: Shao Feng/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards 2018 Shortlist

“The Seashore Chapel in Qinhuangdao, China by Vector Architects,” Sense of Place shortlist. (Photo: Ai Qing/APA18/Sto/Dornbracht)

Architectural Photography Awards: Website
World Architecture Festival: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by the World Architecture Festival.

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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