A photographer has won the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)’s Art of Building photography competition for a second time, becoming only the second person in the competition’s history to achieve the feat.
Azim Khan Ronnie from Bangladesh takes the contest’s Public Choice Award with his striking photograph, Living on the Edge, which captures a family home surrounded by floodwater in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh.
Azim won the Public Choice Award in 2023 and his latest success makes him only the second photographer in the contest’s history to secure a second win.
Speaking about his winning photograph, Azim said: “Living on the Edge was taken in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, where I documented a family home surrounded by floodwater, with its small compound reduced to an island by the swollen river. Despite the rising water, the family continued their daily lives, using sandbags to protect their home, livestock and belongings.”
Communities living on the front lines
He continued: “Through this photograph, I wanted to show the resilience of communities living on the front lines of environmental change, as well as the relationship between people, their homes and the natural environment. In Bangladesh, flooding is a recurring reality for many communities, and this image reflects both the vulnerability of their living conditions and their determination to adapt and protect what matters most.
“I’m especially pleased that this photograph has resonated with so many people. For me, photography is not only about documenting places and events, but also about telling human stories that encourage people to look more closely at the challenges communities face around the world.”
The second winner, picked by judges, is Birmingham-based photographer Damien Walmsley, whose image captures a hidden ballroom within the Secret Garden at the Library of Birmingham. His photograph showcases the building’s striking architecture, geometry and unexpected beauty.
Cash prizes
Both photographers, two of more than 1,500 entrants to the competition, will receive a cash prize of £1,500.
Damien added: “Winning is a great feeling, especially when you share the news with family and friends. Winning makes all the previous disappointments of entering competitions disappear, but I will still be keen to keep on entering them.
“Birmingham is home to many wonderful buildings, and if I am stuck for photographic ideas, then the Library of Birmingham is one of those places I go to take pictures. The building is so photogenic both within and outside. For this picture, I was really trying to take something different, and being in the secret garden at the library provided the picture of the hidden ballroom.”
The Art of Building competition is an annual international photography contest, open to both amateur and professional photographers. Organised by CIOB, it celebrates the beauty, diversity and significance of the world’s built environment, encouraging photographers to capture the buildings, places and people that shape our everyday lives.
Thousands of entries from around the world
Saul Townsend, head of communications at CIOB, said: “Every year, Art of Building reminds us just how extraordinary the built environment can be, and this year’s competition has been no exception. We’ve seen thousands of entries from around the world, each telling a different story about the places we build and the lives we lead.
“What I particularly love about our two winners is how different they are. Azim’s photograph is a powerful reminder of the challenges communities face from flooding and climate change, and the responsibility our industry has to help create a more resilient future. Damien’s photograph, meanwhile, captures the beauty, imagination and remarkable geometry of architecture.”
Visit www.artofbuilding.org to find out more about the competition and to view all the finalists’ images.
