The lifespan of a building
‘I don't think I can remember a building I’ve shot that seamlessly blends into the sky and the environment while still having this shimmering kind of presence.’
Australian-born Rory Gardiner is one of the most in demand contemporary architectural photographers internationally, renowned for his dreamlike aesthetic. He’s frequently commissioned by magazines, architectural firms and cultural institutions to photograph major new buildings – and remarkably, he mainly captures his epochal images with traditional analog film.
Gardiner’s practice began early: his father, who is an architect, nurtured his deep love of architecture and photography, and encouraged him to pursue his passion for photography at RMIT University. Soon after graduating Gardiner relocated to London for a decade-long immersion in its lively and highly competitive creative scene. He now operates twin bases in London and Melbourne, and frequently travels to work with prominent architects across Europe, Australasia, the Americas and Asia.
His images interrogate architectural vernaculars, blending the lines between the structure of the landscape, the objects populating the space and architectural forms to create a feeling of being present on the site.
Powerhouse commissioned Gardiner to create a series of images of the new state of the art 10,000m2 expansion collection storage, conservation and research facility at Castle Hill as it nears completion.
Powerhouse Castle Hill was designed by Lahznimmo Architects to foreground the natural environment and history of the site, which previously contained many varieties of Eucalyptus trees used for Eucalyptus oil experiments and distillation in the early days of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences.
