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In pictures: The Art of Building 2017

13 December 2017

Twelve finalists have been chosen from this year's Art of Building architectural photography competition. From abstract details to abandoned buildings, here are the chosen images.

Mehmet Yasa's photograph is called "the eye of the tower" due to his ingenious positioning of the staircase and bell in this tower in Verona, Italy.

MEHMET YASA The eye of the tower in Verona, Italy — Mehmet Yasa's photograph is called "the eye of the tower" due to his ingenious positioning of the staircase and bell in this tower in Verona, Italy.

Hanqing Qu's image was taken at Malaysia's National Mosque. "When the sunlight sprinkles into this building, light and shade meet each other in a dreamlike scene," he says. "It reminds me of the film called Inception."

Hanqing Qu A man in a temple in Kuala Lumpur — Hanqing Qu's image was taken at Malaysia's National Mosque. "When the sunlight sprinkles into this building, light and shade meet each other in a dreamlike scene," he says. "It reminds me of the film called Inception."

Taken at the Cultural Centre in Aviles, northern Spain, Hans Wichmann documents a young cyclist. He calls the museum "a successful integration of modern buildings in an old industrial site by architect Oscar Niemeyer, a place for large and small people".

Hans Wichmann A bicycle rider in Aviles, Spain — Taken at the Cultural Centre in Aviles, northern Spain, Hans Wichmann documents a young cyclist. He calls the museum "a successful integration of modern buildings in an old industrial site by architect Oscar Niemeyer, a place for large and small people".

Francis Meslet chose to look upwards in this picture, taken in a French memorial marking the centenary of World War One.

FRANCIS MESLET The interior of a memorial — Francis Meslet chose to look upwards in this picture, taken in a French memorial marking the centenary of World War One.

"This historic theatre is built in a typical oval shape, with the stage on one end and multiple floors and balconies all around the rest," says photographer Linda van Slobbe about this theatre in Bar-le-Duc, France. "This one has beautiful decorations."

Linda van Slobbe A theatre in Bar-le-Duc, France — "This historic theatre is built in a typical oval shape, with the stage on one end and multiple floors and balconies all around the rest," says photographer Linda van Slobbe about this theatre in Bar-le-Duc, France. "This one has beautiful decorations."

This image by Robert Cassway is part of a larger series called "The Vanishing West" about Fresno, Montana, USA. "This photo shows the ravages of time and weather on a building that was left to decay by benign neglect, after the families that lived in Fresno moved away," he says.

Robert Cassway An abandoned building in Fresno. — This image by Robert Cassway is part of a larger series called "The Vanishing West" about Fresno, Montana, USA. "This photo shows the ravages of time and weather on a building that was left to decay by benign neglect, after the families that lived in Fresno moved away," he says.

The St Andrew's Cathedral Tower is a neo-Gothic building built in mid-19th Century Singapore. Andrean Hadhianto Kwee says it stands "majestically in its surroundings, where it has still preserved its originality".

Andrean Hadhianto Kwee St. Andrew’s Cathedral Tower, Singapore — The St Andrew's Cathedral Tower is a neo-Gothic building built in mid-19th Century Singapore. Andrean Hadhianto Kwee says it stands "majestically in its surroundings, where it has still preserved its originality".

Cemetery of the 21st Century is the title of Petr Starov's image shot in Ryazan, Russia. The photo captures the suspended construction of a shopping centre.

Petr Starov An abandoned shopping centre in Ryazan, Russia — Cemetery of the 21st Century is the title of Petr Starov's image shot in Ryazan, Russia. The photo captures the suspended construction of a shopping centre.

Guo Ji Hua's image of these roads in Guangdong, China, is titled Cross Bridge Waltz and was shot using a drone. "The intersection of this work has an abstract line of beauty," he says.

Guo Ji Hua Roads in Guangdong, China — Guo Ji Hua's image of these roads in Guangdong, China, is titled Cross Bridge Waltz and was shot using a drone. "The intersection of this work has an abstract line of beauty," he says.

Another photographer, Dmytro Levchuk, also chose to look upwards in this representation of bold colours and form in Dubai.

Dmytro Levchuk Architectural detail in Dubai, UAE — Another photographer, Dmytro Levchuk, also chose to look upwards in this representation of bold colours and form in Dubai.

Hossein Younesi captures the experimental architectural forms of this modern residential building in Iran.

Hossein Younesi Architectural detail in Iran — Hossein Younesi captures the experimental architectural forms of this modern residential building in Iran.

"Rugged textured cable pipes ran over my head at a train station in New York, creating a trance-like, frightful pattern," says Gautam Kamat Bambolkar. "They ran from the edge of the entrance to an infinite end. It looked nothing less than a scary man-made cave."

Gautam Kamat Bambolkar The subway in New York — "Rugged textured cable pipes ran over my head at a train station in New York, creating a trance-like, frightful pattern," says Gautam Kamat Bambolkar. "They ran from the edge of the entrance to an infinite end. It looked nothing less than a scary man-made cave."

The Art of Building is run by the Chartered Institute of Building.

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