Photography: Stone Heroes by Léo Caillard

Stone Heroes, by Léo Caillard

Photography: Vending Machines by Benedikt Partenheimer

Japanese architecture is marked by vending machines. You can find them on almost every street corner and they have become an integral part of Japanese culture. Especially at night they become a visible reference of energy consumption and likewise emanate an absurd surreal and sad beauty.

Japan has the highest amount of vending machines in the world, about 5.6 million. That’s about 1 for every 23 people. Vending Machines sold more than $42 billion worth of goods in 2015. The Fukushima nuclear crises has changed the debate over energy policy, raised public awareness about energy use and sparked strong antinuclear sentiment.

Japanese vending machines consume about as much energy as one nuclear power plant produces. The Series calls attention to energy consumption and consumerism – do we need all the machines we create and do we want to live in a world that is becoming more and more “convenient”?

Vending Machines, by Benedikt Partenheimer

Guide to Computing by Docubyte and Ink

This colourful series of ten historic computers, created in close collaboration between INK and Docubyte, documents the beginning of our computing history. Featuring such famous machines as the IBM 1401 and Alan Turing’s Pilot ACE, Guide to Computing showcases a minimalist approach to design that precedes even Apple’s contemporary motifs.

What’s more, the combination of photography and retouching techniques has resulted in something wholly unique: the ageing historical objects as photographed by Docubyte have been ‘digitally restored’ and returned to their original form. As a number of these computers predate modern colour photography, Guide to Computing therefore showcases them in a never before seen context.

Guide to Computing, by Docubyte

Shulman Home and Studio by LOHA

LOHA’s restoration and modernization applies contemporary measures of performance and design to a historic building, enhancing its continued life as an exceptional family residence.

The Julius Shulman Home and Studio was originally commissioned by photographer Julius Shulman, designed by Raphael Soriano, and completed in 1950. It is one of twelve remaining built Soriano projects, the only with an unaltered steel frame, and a City of Los Angeles Historic–Cultural Monument. LOHA was engaged to not simply restore the significant home, but to update the space so that it could meet the specific needs of a young family.

For this project, LOHA undertook extensive research into the materiality and design intentions of the original structure, as well as other buildings from the period. As a notable landmark, the Shulman Home was restored under strict preservation guidelines supervised by the Los Angeles Office of Historical Resources. Due to the home’s status as a residence and not a museum, LOHA was granted more flexibility in upgrading the residence with essential contemporary features and important amenities. LOHA’s sensitive and light approach brought out the timeless nature of the Soriano’s elegant design.

Shulman Home and Studio, by LOHA, via Plastolux, Photography by Iwan Baan
Buy the book: Julius Shulman Photographer of Modernism

Photography: Montreal Metro’s Underground Architecture by Chris Forsyth

Montreal photographer Chris Forsyth captures the ideals of the city’s underground system through ‘The Montreal Metro Project’, an ongoing photo series that accentuates the beauty of each station and encourages others to acknowledge it, too. Forsyth shifts one’s attention to the striking designs of some of Montreal’s 68 metro stations — each one designed by a different architect and reflective of the architectural trends, such as Brutalism and Modernism, that were dominant during the construction of the metro system in the ’60s and ’70s.

Montreal Metro’s Underground Architecture, by Chris M Forsyth

Photography: Brasilia by Øystein Aspelund

Brasilia was built out on the brazilian savannah in four year during the 60s, based upon a masterplan made by Lúcio Costa. Most of the important buildings are designed by the brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The lay out of the urban plan resembles an airplane, containing two main axes with the main governmental functions in what would be the “cockpit” of the plane. The pilot plan with its huge open spaces, buildings, streets and public squares was meant to be represent an ideal city of future, true to the ideals of modernistic city planning of that time. Today Brasilia stands out as a well planned utopian future city from the past. Whatever the conclusion might be on the urban planning, the collection of buildings stands out as an impressive work of modern architecture.

Brasilia, by Øystein Aspelund

Midnight Modern by Tom Blachford

Australian photographer Tom Blachford presents the latest instalment of his series of modernist architecture photography Midnight Modern, a body of work that captures iconic Palm Springs mid-century residences in the chilling light of a full moon.

Midnight Modern, Palm Springs, USA, Photography by Tom Blachford

Photography: Bertone Series by Benedict Redgrove

In a distinct artistic approach that highlights geometry, architecture and engineering, Benedict Redgrove has captured some of the company’s most radical concept cars from the 1960s and 70s – some never seen before – including designs for Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini and Lancia. The series of images which was originally commissioned by Wallpaper Magazine, exudes a specialty in styling, coach building and manufacturing, with Bertone’s vision categorized by abstract angular frameworks, a use of unique materials for standard auto parts and super-sleek interiors built for luxury and functionality.

Photography by Benedict Redgrove, for Bertone Concept Car Design Studio

Photography: Niemeyer’s Brasilia by Andrew Prokos

Night photographs of the Brazilian capital created by architectural photographer Andrew Prokos are among this year’s winners at the International Photography Awards competition. Entitled “Niemeyer’s Brasilia” the series of photographs capture the surreal architecture of Oscar Niemeyer, who shaped the Brazilian capital for over 50 years.

“I became fascinated by Oscar Niemeyer’s buildings as works of art in themselves, and the fact that Niemeyer had unprecedented influence over the architecture of the capital during his long lifetime” says photographer Andrew Prokos. Niemeyer, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 104, was Brazil’s best known architect and the designer of the United Nations buildings in New York.

Niemeyer’s Brasilia, Photography © Andrew Prokos

Photography: FLOS Lighting by Carl Kleiner

Carl Kleiner has completed a series of product photography for the lighting brand FLOS.

FLOS, by Carl Kleiner, at MINK MGMT.