explore the imaginary spaces of architect + photographer cesar azcarate

explore the imaginary spaces of architect + photographer cesar azcarate
‘where pipes were’
all images courtesy of cesar azcarate

whether they have been recently built, or abandoned decades ago, buildings around the world can always be revitalized and retold through the lens of a camera. architect and photographer cesar azcarate explores this concept in ‘imaginary spaces’, a series that will be exhibited in the building of alvaro siza of the university of the basque country, bilbao.

(left) ‘divine door’
(right) ‘jesus and mary’

the name of the collection is based on the idea that between the ‘real’ and the ‘surreal’, an intangible, but present, boundary exists. by strategically placing his camera in an area, azcarate identifies how the constructed environment can actually invoke an experience and atmosphere that transcend what has been physically built. as the light shines onto the cracks in the walls or rain exposes the stains of the weathered materials, they narrate the enormous power of rundown landscapes and derelict structures, away from the noise of the production and the existence of machines, resulting in a type of anonymity or oblivion. ‘the photography thus acts as a tool in the passion of the architect to create spaces,’ azcarate explains. ‘at the same time, it attempts to illustrate a tribute to the anonymous authors of these useless places without human presence, silent, and almost forbidden scenes, as a guarantee of eternal silence approaching its inevitable final.’

‘a blade turned to the keen edge’

(left) ‘sweet temple’
(right) ‘space in concrete’

‘miss perfect’

‘hazard rhombus’

(left) ‘the vomit of zeus’
(right) ‘the concrete pachidermus’

‘le corbusier penthouse’

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.