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
