Along the Grand Canal...

Since a few months I am cycling along the Grand Canal at least four times a day... new daily routine related to father's duties ;) 
I have a chance to observe surrounding of the Canal in more details than before and in various light. My eyes are focused mainly on architecture of course. It nicely shows how buildings are changing, how its shapes and character transforms in different light. It can be truly fascinating. Believe me ;)


Two buildings caught my attention - Fitzwilton House on Wilton Place and then former Bord Fáilte headquarters  (Irish Tourist Board) at the junction of Lower Baggot Street and Wilton Terrace. I know them very well as I was working for a few years in this area in my so called previous life.
...so after many moths of concentrating mainly on commercial part of photography and small jobs related to my Darkroom Service I decided to dust off my good reliable Sinar. Going big - the best choice.

Now I had a possibility to look at them through the lens of my camera.


It was also a good chance to check equipment and my own performance after such a long break. And what can I say? All works well and that’s the most important thing :)

I made first few photographs on Direct Positive Paper. Got only one good image which is not bad at all. On Monday morning I returned for more. This time with FP4+ loaded into holders and some more paper as well. 

My 'models' are really important from architectural heritage point of view as they may be gone pretty soon…as many other modernist objects from that period in Dublin. 

Both completely different in scale and both quite a tricky subjects to photograph due to some heavy traffic on Wilton Terrace at the time of the day when I could do my work. Bus stops and bus parking along the street didn’t make it easy as well.

At this stage I would like to push a bit my project ‘Unfulfilled Dreams’ which was on hold since almost the beginning of the year. It's a pity that sometimes it is so difficult to obtain a permission to get inside, if possible at all. That’s why I decided to change tactic, approach many structures in a different way and focus on external parts first instead of interiors. 
I will be very happy to come back and finish it out with interior photography as well but that's a next stage.

Fitzwilton House was designed by architects Emanuel Shoolheifer and Don Burley (hired by Ronald Lyon Estates) for Sir Basil Goulding and completed in 1969.  

It is an immense concrete structure but at the same time fragile in its visual perception.
Very complex facade made of few different concrete finishes creates sort of sceleton which makes all building invisible.
Nine storey tower with smaller, three storey base surrounded by carpark.
Very fine example of modernism in Ireland in my opinion.

In June 2016, planning permission was granted for its demolition...

Bord Fáilte headquarters, another architectural treasure, was designed by Robin Walker (of later Michael Scott & Partners) in 1961.  Robin Walker was the only Irish architect who worked for le Corbusier and studied under the direction of Mies van der Rohe. 

This very unique and beautiful in its simplicity structure is now for sale as a potential development site...

I just wanted to write something about it but doing research I found perfect article written last year by Robin Walker's son Simon Walker... I woudn't be able to explain it better. 
Just click HERE please to read it. 

At the end some technicalities of course.

All was photographed with Sinar F2 4x5 large format camera with Schneider Kreuznach Super Angulon 90/8 lens and Ilford FP4+ 4x5 sheet film.

Some photographs were made on Ilford/Harman Direct Positive Paper. I presented one of them on social media a few days ago. The rest will be shown in the same way so please follow me on FB, Twitter, Linkedin or Instagram.

Also please have a look at recently reorganised and updated 'Unfulfilled Dreams' gallery ...important Irish modernist buildings (just click gallery title please).

Thank you!

Modernism in Berlin - along the Landwehrkanal...

Architecture and Architectural photography always had a special place in my work. Looking through the ground glass of a camera and contemplating materials, texture, form, light and shadows is truly inspiring.

Architecture is a form of art where the final work can be not only admired  but also touched and used depends on its function. 

In my researches I am focused mostly on one and the only modernism with its fascinating simplicity, beautiful minimalistic form and raw materials. 
Creation of genuine designers. Creation with magic power of attraction. 

At the same time I am absolutely aware of the fact that for me it is almost like an obsession…and I am not afraid of using this word.

Once I know what I will be working with it sticks in my head for good. When I started my adventure with photography I thought it is just a temporary feeling and my mind will get cleared once I press the shutter but no, it stays…stays until I process negatives and then until I print them or just scan…and even after that. 

This is exactly what happened on my recent challenge - modernist architecture in Berlin.

It’s all started once I left the airport and got into the train. 

Late evening in the hotel. Couple of hours for preparation. Checking of all equipment, packing it in the best possible way, last look at the notes related to plans... what, where, when and how... and off to bed. 

…And of course I woke up 2.30am... There was no chance to get back to sleep. The plan for the day was too exciting. Looking at the ceiling I survived until about 5am and just left hotel. 
The sun was already there. Cafe over the corner open 24/7 helped me to get more energy. Coffee and cigarette… and a few minutes later I was sitting in the train going to my first location.

As I mentioned in my previous article (Modernism in Berlin - prologue) there was not much time for detailed photography of each object. Too much to see, too much to feel… 
The over all idea was to show the simple beauty of photographed buildings and places, their versatility and diversity.

What I will present in this particular article is a few photographs I made actually at the very end of the second day, the last day.

Two buildings created for similar purpose. Both located very close to each other and both equally amazing:

- The Neue Nationalgalerie

- Bauhaus Archive 

The Neue Nationalgalerie

A classic example of modernist structure. Creation of  the master Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

'(...) a temple to art on a man-made acropolis' 

/David Spaeth. Mies Van Der Rohe. London: The Architectural Press, 1985. p176/.

Gallery was opened in 1968. It was built on sloping terrain and consist of two levels where the top one is the open space entrance level and major exhibition hall. The lower one fits office, storage space, shop, cafe and smaller gallery. 

Main hall and the most important part of the building is covered by floating roof plane with only two columns on each side. Truly beautiful and simple.

The Neue Nationalgalerie ©Artur Sikora

The Neue Nationalgalerie ©Artur Sikora

When I was planning this project I had an idea to photograph Gallery at night with its internal light to emphasise the beauty of the space and overall structure. I did it about 6 years ago but wasn't really happy with the result. 

I visited Gallery back then to see extraordinary Paul Klee exhibition 'The Klee Universe'. 

My plan however wasn't possible to fulfil this time. Gallery has been closed for several years due to ongoing renovation after over 40 years of constant use. The major work will be handled by David Chipperfield (!) .

There was also large construction site on the other side of the road where I decided to set my camera. Not much space left but with help of smaller than LF camera, Hasselblad and wide angle lens I did what I wanted.

Building across the road with mentioned construction site around it's the Staatsbibliothek (Berlin State Library) which was also on my list and suppose to be one of the most important element of my trip. It was designed by Hans Scharoun and Edgar Wisniewski and opened in 1978. I visited it also in 2009. Absolutely amazing building which was shown so well in masterpiece 'Wings of desire' by Wim Wenders. Unfortunately after several requests for permission to photograph Interior of this treasure, permission was not granted for some reason.

                                                                     ...

I packed everything and moved towards the last building from my list…

Before that however on the way there is another very interesting structure - the Shell-House designed by Emil Fahrenkamp and finished in 1932. It is another absolutely classic example of modernist architecture. 

Its complicated (for equipment I was working with that day) location however and limited time made it impossible to photograph it in the way I would love to. 

Time to move on.

It was very cloudy with showers every now and then and weather was getting even worse. 

After 20 minutes I managed to set camera in the front of the destination building before getting wet.

Bauhaus Archive

Bauhaus was in the early 20th century modernist aesthetic movement and educational philosophy. It was founded as a school by Walter Gropius in Weimar. Bauhaus members include mentioned before Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Oskar Schlemmer and Lyonel Feininger. 

Bauhaus Archiv ©Artur Sikora

Bauhaus Archive is a documentation centre and exhibition space which was founded in 1960 and opened in 1961 in Darmstadt. After political decision of moving it to Berlin, original building designed by Walter Gropius in 1964 was redesigned according to new site and built by Gropius associate Alec Cvijanovic in cooperation with local architect Hans Bandel.

Only characteristic roof remained from original Gropius design.

Bauhaus Archiv ©Artur Sikora

I believe some of you who share my interest for architecture understand the overwhelming amount of history in described places, collection of unique and fascinating forms.
I would love to spend at least a day with each building to be able to show its real meaning.
Maybe one day...

Soon In another couple of articles I will present here more photographs of other buildings and places I visited.
Full information about mentioned architects and buildings they designed are widely available online. Just follow attached links please.

Also any comments or questions are more than welcome. 

Thank you!

homage to Mies van der Rohe...

Wandering down the Baggot Street it is impossible to miss this structure. Firstly because of its controversial location (Georgian Street) and some shameful moments in its construction history - demolition of Georgian houses at 5am on a Sunday morning 1 April 1973 in order to make a place for new building.
Secondly because of its wonderfully geometric, dignified form.

The Bank of Ireland head office, designed by Ronnie Tallon, of  Scott Tallon Walker Architects.

It is a perfect example of modernist architecture strongly influenced by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of a few pioneering masters of modern architecture and his 1950s Seagram Building in New York.
Bank of Ireland HQ has even the same type of facade.

Despite the history it is truly impressive, very elegant and well constructed building with its beautiful minimalist details, brown coloured cladding and tinted glass. 
It consists of three blocks constructed between 1968 and 1978.

All photographs shows only external part as there is no access to the building right now. It is vacant since about 2 years when Bank of Ireland decided to relocate after about 40 years.

Technical info:

Sinar F2 large format camera 4x5 with Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar-S 150mm 5.6 and Super-Angulon 90mm 8.0 lenses, Fomapan 100@64 4x5 negative film.