Announced during the prestigious closing ceremony at the annual World Architecture Festival (taking place this year in Amsterdam), the 2019 Architectural Photography Awards are always a highly anticipated event in the architectural calendar; rewarding established and new photographers, as well as celebrating the art of photography overall, and its huge importance in the representation of architecture.
This year, photographic submissions were announced for six different categories: Exterior, Interior, Sense of Place and Buildings in Use, Portfolio and Mobile. A shortlist of 24 photos for all categories were displayed during the festival, while visitors voted for the winning piece for each one, as well as an overall winner - who was revealed to be Laurian Ghinitoiu from Romania with his photograph of The Twist Museum, Kistefos Sculpture Park, Jevnaker, Norway by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
Overall winner: The Twist Museum, Kistefos Sculpture Park, Jevnaker, Norway.
Ghinitoiu indeed scooped more than one honours, also winning the Portfolio category with his photos of the GHI transformation project – part of the Cité du Grand Parc in Bordeaux, France by Lacaton & Vassal, Druot, Hutin; and the Buildings in Use category with his photo of Skanderbeg Square, Tirana, Albania by 51N4E.
‘These awards confirm my belief that if one devotes their focus and hard work to passion, it can lead to great, acknowledged results,' said Ghinitoiu. ‘The feeling that I’m appreciated for my work is definitely giving me energy and will to keep doing what I do, and I hope my example will inspire others to follow their dreams just like the work of other professionals inspired me before.'
The Architectural Photography Awards – sponsored by Sto and supported by the World Architecture Festival (WAF) – is an anonymous competition, which in 2019 attracted a staggering 2000 entries from 42 countries.
Buildings in Use category winner: Skanderbeg Square, Tirana, Albania by 51N4E.
Interior category winner: BingDing Wood Kiln Factory in Qiancheng village, China.
Mobile category public winner: Chongqing Railway Station in China
Mobile category WAF winner: Bathing Pavilion Tossols-Basil, Olot, Spain
Sense of Place category winner: The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, Lisbon, Portugal
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