The world’s best built-environment pictures have been unveiled in the Chartered Institute of Building’s annual Art of Building photography contest.
“Bricks” by Alain Schroeder of Belgium, depicting men working in a Bangladesh brick factory, won this year’s Judges’ Choice award.
Also in Bangladesh, Azim Khan Ronnie’s “National Mosque of Bangladesh” photo won the Public Choice award.
Each of the winners gets a £1,500 cash prize.
Judges picked 15 finalist photographs from more than 1,500 entries.
While they deliberated over their choice, members of the public voted online for the Public Choice award.
More than 2,000 voters (68% of the votes) chose Khan Ronnie’s “National Mosque of Bangladesh” as their favourite.
Filled with light and colour, it shows men at prayers from an arresting vantage point two storeys up, with worshippers framed concentrically by curved galleries.
Schroeder’s more sombre photo captures the dangerous conditions at brick factories in the country.
“Bangladesh needs a lot of material to push forward its development and that is why you can see a lot of brick factories in the country where men, women and even children work in difficult and dangerous conditions,” he said.
“The men in the image are covered with dust, transforming them into earth statues, which endangers their health.”
Overwhelmed by ‘incredible’ entries
Saul Townsend, CIOB’s head of communications, who was on the judging panel for the competition, said: “We were once again overwhelmed by so many incredible entries into this growing, global competition – capturing the built environment for all its beauty.
“The winning images are very contrasting, with Azim’s photo showing the true harmony outstanding architecture can bring while Alain’s picture is a powerful reminder that for all the wonder of the built world, there are far too many people – including children – who suffer appalling injuries due to terrible conditions.
“We’re so grateful to everyone who submitted a photograph to this year’s contest and we’re already looking forward to reopening the competition in late 2024.”
