There are so many amazing buildings and structures to photograph all over the world. For some inspiration, I’ve put together a list of the top five architectural wonders you should capture.
Heydar Aliyev Centre (Baku, Azerbaijan)
The Heydar Aliyev Centre has been Baku’s main architectural icon since it opened in 2012. The center contains an auditorium and also houses a library, different exhibitions on multiple floors, and a collection of vintage cars.
Designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid — who is well-known for her distinctive architecture and flowing, curved style that makes her buildings timeless and iconic — the Heydar Aliyev Centre is a dream for any architecture lover. In fact, many people come to Baku just to admire this fluid-structure.
Phoenix International Media Center (Beijing, China)
Completed in 2014, this doughnut-shaped building serves as the headquarters for China’s largest private broadcaster, Phoenix Television. Designed by Chinese firm BIAD UFo, the building resembles a giant steel and glass shell nestled within Beijing’s Chaoyang Park.
Both the exterior and interior are spectacular to photograph. If you’re allowed to get inside, you will see that the outside shell includes two independent towers connected and surrounded by a series of platforms and sky ramps. On a bright, sunny day this space is absolutely stunning to capture with your wide-angle lens.
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The Interlace (Singapore)
The Interlace is one of the largest and most ambitious residential developments in Singapore.
It was designed by German architect Ole Scheeren, who is known for conceptualizing some of the world’s most interesting buildings.
The Interlace’s 31 apartment blocks are stacked one on top of each other, twisting at different angles. The visual effect is unusual, with the building’s corners providing space for roof gardens, sky terraces, and large balconies of cascading greenery.
The Interlace is truly a sight to admire and capture from as many viewpoints as possible.
Medibank Headquarters (Melbourne, Australia)
The Medibank headquarters in Melbourne features a dynamic interior designed by the HASSELL studio.
The focal element of the interior is a series of staircases and ramps that wrap around, connecting all the levels. The use of vibrant colors makes the view through the atrium even more appealing. This is my favorite place to photograph in Australia, but you need to know that you’re allowed to take photos here only once a year, during the Melbourne Open House. Don’t miss that chance!
Stuttgart City Library (Stuttgart, Germany)
Korean architect Eun Young Yi won the competition to design the new central library in the city of Stuttgart.
Yi has created a monolithic white cube with two floors underground and nine above. The library features an open plan with the levels connected by open staircases. Books line the outer walls of each floor, giving a touch of color to the otherwise completely white space.
For some, this library is way too sterile, while for others, it’s a beauty to be captured.
About the author
Nancy Da Campo is a freelance architecture and interiors photographer born in Milan, Italy, and currently traveling extensively to discover and capture the beauty of the built environment. She’s always looking for new and interesting angles to capture her interpretation of a building with her camera or drone. Nancy regularly works with architectural and cultural institutions, tech brands, and tourism boards.
