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Areas of Outstanding Urban Beauty

There were more than 750 entries in our competition to find ‘Areas of Outstanding Urban Beauty’, in association with Dezeen and the Photographers’ Gallery. The winner is The Galleries car park by Christopher Hoare.

The entries presented a striking urban kaleidoscope from across the country, from Holbeck in Leeds to Weymouth harbour in Dorset. They were judged by the director of the Photographers’ Gallery, Brett Rogers, and Sarah Gaventa, a CABE Director. They felt that all the shortlisted photographs spoke to the strength of photography itself: good framing brings out the power in scenes and objects.

In awarding The Galleries by Christopher Hoare the first prize, they praised the powerful atmosphere of the picture: “You have that wonderful blast of colour from the ethereal Ferris wheel, contrasted with the cheap metal of the door panel and the surprise of the church tower. Just like urban beauty itself, this is about strong juxtapositions, and you can read it on many levels.”

Winner: The Galleries car park, Bristol by Christopher Hoare.

Winner: The Galleries car park, Bristol by Christopher Hoare.

The judges warmly commended the two runners up. Of Bradford by Martyn Sutcliffe, a picture of extraordinary depth and richness, they said: “Cobbles in the north of England are usually a cliché you can get in a blink. But not with this picture. You have to slow down and look hard, because of the placing of that cone.”

And they also loved London Aldgate by Jan Roth: “Of course we all look down at steps, because otherwise you trip up. But how often do you actually see them? This is a delightful picture which manages to capture the beauty of a functional product designed with thought. The angle and perspective bring a sense of movement. And that wonderful splash of blue.”

The photo competition was part of People and places, a project about involving people in shaping the look and feel of the places where they live.

More about the competition

More about People and Places

Competition partners

  • Dezeen architecture and design magazine

    Dezeen architecture and design magazine
    (media partner)

    Our mission is simple: to bring you the best architecture, design and interiors projects from around the world before anyone else.

  • The Photographers' Gallery

    The Photographers' Gallery
    (supporter)

    From the latest emerging talent, to historical archives and established artists - we are the place to see photography in all its forms.