The architectural photographer, James Brittain, presents a series of large scale colour photographs documenting Montreal’s Habitat 67, the residential complex designed by the Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie as the Canadian Pavilion for the World Exposition of 1967.
The contrast between the current, layered and patinated character of this extraordinary building and the projective, idealised drawings for its inception, prompts questions about the representation of architecture and its inhabitation, the capacity architectural form has for embracing change and the way in which buildings, and photographs of buildings, can articulate the passage of time, or attest to enduring and monumental qualities.
“Photography has always been central to our understanding of and engagement with modern architecture. Is it still possible to photograph the places where we live and work, the spaces around us, thoughtfully and usefully? And if so, how do we do that? I’ve been thinking about layers and traces of life left on architecture over time. I’ve also been considering the way Habitat 67 itself has aged, how it’s used and inhabited, and how both public and private space at the complex has been adapted by the residents. The photographs are also a response to the daily dose of digital imagery of architecture on social media and the web. Mainstream photography of architecture has largely withdrawn from communicating the experience of buildings and spaces, and specific moments spent in places. The line between digital render and photograph has also become increasingly blurred. In the pursuit of standing out in the visual noise, much contemporary imagery of architecture has reduced itself to the ordinary – clean, similar and mundane.” ~ James Brittain
Anonymous asked: Although it's an architect blog, I figured it'll be fun to know the person who runs it a bit more ^^ If you had to chose a location (be it country, city, or monument) to visit, where and why? ¿Qué curiosidades de cuyo lugar te llama la atención?
Javier de Riba is a creative Catalan designer and artist born in Barcelona, Javi has worked at various agencies and studios in the role of Art Director. Nowadays, he works as part of the Reskate Arts & Crafts Collective, who develop graphics and communication projects with a focus on sustainability and humane treatment. With each new endeavor, his restlessness brings him to question his personal style, and reinterpret it to best serve each project. For Javi, each piece challenges his aesthetic, driving him to try new styles and techniques while balancing his existing abilities with his desire for growth and exploration. His journey is an ongoing battle against stagnancy, in favor of versatility and innovation.
Walls that talk and listen Ljubodrag Andric creates large-scale photographs that dominate the entire field of vision, absorbing the viewer. Their visions linger on architectural details devoid of the human figure and are shot frontally, highlighting the metaphysical fixity of the walls and the horizontality of the lines that continue beyond the margins of the image.
The walls Andric presents may be bare, but they are not silent. Abstract and naturalistic elements merge as the colourful backgrounds reminiscent of abstract painterly techniques are abruptly interrupted by details of concrete reality. Slowly we notice patches of damp creating a bloom of discolouration, imperfect layers of cement, cracks reaching across the façade, a resilient tuft of grass, or an incongruously placed door handle.
