The UK's Chartered Institute of Building has revealed the finalists of this year's Art of Building awards, an annual photography competition that highlights the beauty of the built environment. 2017's shortlist includes a dozen digital shots of buildings, roads, and other structures around the globe.
The Art of Building competition is open to both professional and amateur photographers and began back in 2010, with the aim of celebrating the creativity of those who work in the construction industry, their passion, and the impact their work has.
Read on to see our favorites, or hit the gallery to view all 12 photos, along with a brief description of each image by the photographer.
The Showstopper, by Linda van Slobbe
![The Showstopper was taken by Linda van Slobbe in Bar-le-Duc, France, with a Nikon D5200. "This historic theater is built in a typical oval shape that has the stage on one end and multiple floors and balconies all around the rest," says Slobbe. "This one has beautiful decorations."](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/0cb8c5c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1010x673+0+0/resize/1010x673!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2F2017-art-of-building-shortlist-10.jpg)
This beautiful shot of an aged theater in Bar-le-Duc, northeastern France, was taken by Linda van Slobbe with a Nikon D5200. The theater was constructed in 1900 and opened in 1902. It seats 400 people and there is currently an ongoing effort to restore it to its former glory.
Abandoned School in Fresno, by Robert Cassway
![Abandoned School Fresno was taken by Robert Cassway in Montana, USA, with a Pentax 6x7 II. "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," says Cassway. "It is part a larger series of photographs titled The Vanishing West."](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/8b9cb4a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1010x638+0+0/resize/1010x638!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2F2017-art-of-building-shortlist-7.jpg)
Time and weather have taken their toll on this school building in Montana, which was abandoned after local families moved away. The evocative photograph was taken by Robert Cassway with a Pentax 6x7 II and is part of a series titled The Vanishing West.
Bicycle Rider, by Hans Wichmann
![Bicycle Rider was taken by Hans Wichmann in Aviles, Spain, with a Fuji X-Pro1. "The photo shows the Cultural Centre of Aviles in Northern Spain," says Wichmann. "It is a successful integration of modern buildings in an old industrial site by architect Oscar Niemeyer. A place for large and small people."](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/ab0a728/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1010x545+0+0/resize/1010x545!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2F2017-art-of-building-shortlist-12.jpg)
Hans Wichmann captures the vibrancy of the Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre perfectly here with a Fuji X-Pro1. It's located in Avilés, northern Spain, and includes an open square, auditorium, observation tower, and other buildings.
If you'd like to cast a vote in the Art of Building competition, visit the source link below. Voting closes on January 8, 2018. The winner will be announced on January 30 and awarded a £3,500 (US$4,670) cash prize.
Source: Chartered Institute of Building