This Photographer Spotlights the Urban Actors You’ve Been Overlooking
If all the world’s a stage, it’s in the bustling cities where much of the narrative flashpoints take place. But it’d be simplistic to put this down just to the higher population density; for photographer Sebastian Weiss it’s the buildings themselves that are important players too. This fascinating idea has spurred his continuing series Dramatis Personae, a crisp photographic study of some of Sebastian’s favourite urban architectural characters. Check out the images from the first two installments here.
Choux de Créteil
Location: Créteil, France
Architect: Gérard Grandval
The Hamburg-based creative works full-time as an architectural photographer, and is a long-term photo columnist for AD Architectural Digest Germany. As is fitting for such a cerebral artist’s work, his shots tend to be the result of scrupulous planning and research. But he welcomes chance encounters with buildings, too. Mankind has built an eclectic cast of structures during our time on earth, and – like people – you’ve got to keep an open mind. It’s not the most famous buildings, but rather the most dramatic or arresting architectural ‘personalities’ that catch his eye.
La cité Curial-Cambrai
Location: Paris, France
Architect: André Coquet
THE PLUS: What is it about concrete architecture that appeals to you?
Sebastian Weiss: I search for the interaction of shapes and materials, and I intend to document a building’s syntax. My aim is to abstract urban shapes and carve out their forms and structures. I intend to liberate buildings from their spatial context and known surroundings.
Cité de la musique – Philharmonie de Paris
Location: Paris, France
Architect: Jean Nouvel
TP: What do you look for in a publicly performing building for the Dramatis Personae series?
SW: The city is like the “theatre of life”, and the “dramatis personae” metaphor derives from this idea – the cast of main architectural protagonists on the stage of the city, which in turn provide us with an appropriate space for our daily performances.
TP: Which building character from this second series do you think you would get on best with, and why?
SW: Probably the Choux de Créteil, I am fascinated by its organic shapes, which also remind me of a plant or a tree. I admire the powerful vibes and soft lines. To shoot this building was a highlight.
Stade Jean-Bouin
Location: Paris, France
Architects: Rudy Ricciotti
TP: Do you have a dream building you’d most like to ‘meet’ next?
SW: I cannot name one dream building, but I would love to shoot architecture from e.g. Oscar Niemeyer or J. Mayer H.
TP: We assume you’re a city guy more than a country-lover, then…
SW: You assumed right. I just love the cultural diversity of cities in many respects – the architecture, arts, events, people. For me this urban surrounding is very inspiring.
ZAC du Coteau
Location: Arcueil, France
Architects: ECDM Architectes
Le Centre National d’Entraînement
Location: Paris, France
Architects: unknown to me
Tours Aillaud
Location: Nanterre, France
Architects: Émile Aillaud
Grande Arche
Location: Paris, France
Architects: Otto von Spreckelsen and Paul Andreu
Centre des nouvelles industries et technologies
Location: Paris, France
Architects: Robert Edouard Camelot, Jean de Mailly and Bernard Zehrfuss
SILOS 13
Location: Paris, France
Architect: VIB Architecture
Cité de la musique – Philharmonie de Paris
Location: Paris, France
Architect: Jean Nouvel
La cité Curial-Cambrai
Location: Paris, France
Architect: André Coquet
Casa da Música
Location: Porto, Portugal
Architects: OMA (Rem Koolhaas & Ellen Van Loon)
Parking Garage of the Leipzig Zoo
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Architects: HPP Architects
Danfoss Universe
Location: Nordborg, Denmark
Architects: J. Mayer H. Architects
Elbphilharmonie
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Architects: Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron
Palacio de Justica de Gouveia
Location: Gouveia, Portugal
Architect: Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects
Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, ETSI
Location: Valencia, Spain
Architect: Corell Monfort Palacio Arquitectos
Gare de Saint-Exupéry TGV
Location: Lyon, France
Architect: Santiago Calatrava
Living Foz
Location: Porto, Portugal
Architects: dEMM Arquitectura
Centre Pompidou-Metz
Location: Metz, France
Architects: Shigeru Ban Architects
Municipal swimming pool
Location: Espinho, Portugal
Architect: unknown to me
Euler Hermes Building
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Architect: Titus Felixmüller
DIY-Store
Location: Berlin, Germany
Architects: Thomas Müller Ivan Reimann Architekten
Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Architect: Yrjö Lindegren, Toivo Jäntti
Leave a Reply