Ten award-winning photographs from Concrete in Life competition

Promotion: a graffiti-covered wall in Pondicherry, India, and a concrete skate park at Los Angeles' Venice Beach are among the photographs that won the Concrete in Life 2024/2025 competition.

Organised by the Global Cement and Concrete Association, the competition aimed to find photographs that captured a concrete building or place and represent its construction, beauty and use in daily life.

"Concrete is a highly versatile material, offering the potential for beautiful design, as well as durability and strength," said GCCA chief executive Thomas Guillot.

"Our Concrete in Life Competition gives every community across the globe a chance to show just how essential concrete is to our lives."

These 10 projects include the six winners and selected shortlist photos chosen from over 20,000 submissions by both amateur and professional photographers.

The competition had four categories: Urban Design and Use; Concrete in Daily Life; Concrete Infrastructure and Concrete Beauty and Design, with submissions judged by Guillot; global co-chair of Gensler, Diane Hoskins; and Digital Camera World content director Chris George.

"Concrete is all around us and has a beauty that might not always be obvious to some people," said George. "The Concrete in Life global photography competition continues to prove it is possible to take stunning shots of architecture and the manmade environment that show off the beauty of this universal building material."

Read on to learn about the award-winning photographs:

Kelok Sembilan Flyover by Muhammad Syarif

Muhammed Syarif's photograph of Kelok Sembilan Flyover in West Sumatra, Indonesia, spotlighted the concrete structure's engineering. The flyover was designed to enhance connectivity while preserving the area's natural landscape.

"As you drive along this architectural masterpiece, you are treated to breathtaking views of greenery, steep cliffs and misty horizons," said Syarif. "A true harmony of human innovation and nature's magnificence."

Broken Building by Artemio Layno

Broken Building by Artemio Layno captured Valley – a residential and office building in Amsterdam by architecture studio MVRDV.

The photograph won the competition's Concrete Beauty and Design award for its depiction of the geology-informed structure that consists of three towers with cantilevered apartments.

"I was amazed how creative and modern the design of the building is, it looks like it was cut out and separated in the middle of the main structure, the design is created by a large number of terraces," said Layno.

"Concrete is not just used as a necessity in creating structures, but it can also be used to showcase artistic works that are amazingly beautiful."

Daily Life in Bedok Jetty by Wellington Kuswanto

Wellington Kuswanto's photograph of Bedok Jetty – an urban public space in Singapore – won the competition's Concrete in Daily Life Award.

Bedok Jetty offers a place for water-based activities, such as fishing and sport, and was chosen by the photographer as they believe that urban public space is vital for fostering community engagement and social interaction.

"Bedok Jetty holds a special place for me, as I cycle and hang out there every weekend," said Kuswanto. "It inspired me to submit the image of this particular place for the competition, as it showcases a public space made of a concrete structure that is actively used by many people engaging in various activities as part of their daily lives."

Structure as Aesthetics by Wentao Guo

Wentao Guo's photograph Structure as Aesthetics won the competition's Concrete Infrastructure Category. It displays the concrete architecture of Washington DC subway station designed by Harry Weese and aims to show how "concrete transcends time and function".

"I was captivated by the moment when the transience of transportation runs into the permanence of concrete," said Guo. "Its obscurity becomes its greatest presence: its functionality, its aesthetic and its enduringness."

"Concrete is such an essential part of our lives and it constructs so many characteristics of our built environment," he continued.

Fluttering Through Life by Mohamed Rafi

Mohamed Rafi captured a concrete wall in Pondicherry, India, which won the competition's People's Vote award. The photograph aims to symbolise the concrete architecture of urban spaces and how its beauty is often "unseen".

"This photograph captures an everyday moment transformed by art: an elderly woman walking past a mural, unknowingly aligning with its butterfly wings painted in a wall," said the photographer.

"Street photography is about finding meaning in fleeting moments, and I’m thrilled that this image resonated with so many people."

Urban Flow by Anvar Sadath

Avnar Sadath captured Dubai's Burj Khalifa's skyline in Urban Flow, which is "mirrored in the shimmering waters of the city".

The photograph, which aimed to depict the relationship between Dubai's location and its towering concrete structures, won the competition's Urban Concrete award.

"My winning photograph captures the dynamic relationship between concrete structures and the vibrant cityscape, reflecting how concrete shapes our urban experiences," said Sadath.

Door to the Unknown by Jacob Surland

Jacob Surland photographed the red door of an old power plant in Aalborg, Denmark. The concrete building is now a cultural centre and includes a concert hall and cinema.

"When I was a child, it was a monument, the first thing you would see when driving towards Aalborg," said Surland. "It was a sign that told you you were soon home."

Concrete Wave by Nan Li

Nan Li photographed the concrete structure of The ROJO Art and Culture Space in Shanghai, which was designed by Japanese architect Ryue Nishizawa.

The photograph captured the building's striking undulated concrete rooftop, which connects to a revitalised building that used to be an old steel factory.

Ee Long Tan

Ee Long Tan captured the colourful staircase of the Batu Caves in Selangor, Malaysia.

The setting was chosen due to the staircase's vibrant hues that feature "distinct layers, as if a rainbow fell from the sky".

"These colours not only make the stairs more beautiful, but also give them a deeper cultural and religious significance," said the photographer.

Venice Beach Skating by Henrik Hagerup

Winning the overall competition award, Henrik Hagerup photographed the turbulent concrete architecture of the shaking area of Venice Beach in Los Angeles, US.

Hagerup describes the park as a "magnet for creativity" and was drawn to photograph it he says people inhabit the space with energy and "something exciting is always unfolding".

"My image is a tribute to the way concrete, when embraced by creativity and passion, fosters connection, dreams, and boundless potential not just in skate parks, but in communities across the world," said Hagerup.

To learn more about the Concrete in Life 2024/2025 competition, visit its website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Global Cement and Concrete Association as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.  

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