Shortlisted entries

The 10 shortlisted entries for our Areas of Outstanding Urban Beauty competition.

Belsize Lane, North West London by Matt Taylor

There's something irresistible for me about the combination of man-made urban signage and the effortless, anarchic natural beauty of cherry blossom. I love the way they sit side by side in this picture and I especially like the fact that cherry blossom, unlike people, can park wherever it wants!

Belsize Lane, North West London. Photo by Matt Taylor.

Bethnal Green, London by Minali Liyanage

An urban artists blank canvas within an urban concrete London.

Bethnal Green, London. Photo by Minali Liyanage.

Birmingham by Tim Cornbill

Because beauty is the old and new standing together as one, unified by the canal system that worked to build the city of Birmingham.

Birmingham. Photo by Tim Cornbill.

Bradford by Martyn Sutcliffe

Just off Canal Road (adjacent to Wharf Street), this is the original route of the old Bradford Canal. ‘Reflecting’ the history of the city, the architecture within and the old wharf.

Bradford. Photo by Martyn Sutcliffe.

Hackney Wick, London by Michael Bodiam

For me, Hackney Wick is a sanctuary amongst the chaos of London. It is far from beautiful in the conventional sense of the word, but scenes that I come across often cause me to stop and marvel in their beauty, be it cinematic or otherwise.

Hackney Wick, London. Photo by Michael Bodiam.

Leeds by Andy Graham

There are no people at Clarence Dock in Leeds they say, nobody wants to go there. This image on a snowy february morning shows just how many people actually do live here. The hidden folk have for once left their footprints behind. The bare trees are obviously young and newly planted but create a great structure to this image.

Leeds. Photo by Andy Graham.

Leicester by Barry Gaffney

The image has occurred as a result of light passing onto the pavement through the motif windows at John Lewis, Leicester. I think this image shows that urban beauty can just occur and can come and go in the same way natural beauty can. Urban beauty often occurs in those brief instants where man-made and natural elements come together and create something magical.

Leicester. Photo by Barry Gaffney.

London Aldgate station by Jan Roth

This cast iron stair tread detail is to me the most important representation of two things: public transport system of London and its used but durable "urban patina". I see it every day and in its simplicity it inspires me to use long lasting materials.

London Aldgate station. Photo by Jan Roth.

The galleries car park, Bristol by Christopher Hoare

The mixture between the mundane and unnatural, giving the urban environment a moment of beauty.

The galleries car park, Bristol. Photo by Christopher Hoare.

Wyke, Dorset by Nicki Fitz-Gerald

This is the flooring at the outdoor playground/field in Wyke Regis, a playground that serves the surrounding estates. I loved the way the grass was growing through holes and made such a beautiful pattern like lots of little baked treats.

Wyke, Dorset. Photo by Nicki Fitz-Gerald.

 
This photo competition is part of the People and Places project, which aims to find out whether people think that beauty matters in architecture and public space.