Secret lives of 10 new buildings revealed
Artist Simon Buckley has spent the last 12 months recording the secret lives of 10 new buildings in a collaborative commission from 5plus architects.
The culmination of the ambitious project is a series of stunning images and the publication of a limited-edition book which presents the original architectural vision for each scheme alongside the photographer’s own commentary and photography.
‘You live with us, we live with you’ documents the buildings, six in Manchester, four in London at dawn and dusk capturing the real-life essence of how they sit in context with their built neighbours and with the people who use them each day.
5plus director Jon Matthews said: “We wanted to answer some questions about our work and the spaces they occupy. How do our buildings really live after the architectural photographer has gone home?
“We design buildings, we analyse the site and investigate the opportunity that slowly presents itself. But we don’t analyse how the shift worker, the hen party or the milkman interact with time and place. We wanted to document our buildings as the backdrop on this stage, the main act being the urban condition in all its glorious, stimulating reality.
“I saw Simon’s early work on social media and the practice commissioned him to photograph our buildings and explore the true legacy and impact of our work. There was no brief, we never asked if he liked them or not, that wasn’t the point.
“But we are really pleased with the results and the book is a wonderful legacy in itself.”
Based in Manchester, Simon has developed a unique style, photographing mainly in the half light of dawn when cities are often at their most vulnerable.
He said: “it’s been a long and fascinating journey. I’ve met some wonderful people along the way. And I’ve learned a lot about architecture, the 5plus approach, the decisions they have to make every day and their integrity. And I have huge respect for them and the process.
“It has been a life changing project for me and even though I will still see the buildings every day I felt a sadness when I knew I had taken my last photograph.
“The book surpasses everything I dared hope for when the project began.”
The book has been funded by the practice and copies are available for sale at £50 with all the proceeds going to a local homeless charity.
Copies of the book are available to order through Simon’s website: https://notquitelight.com
An exhibition of some of the work will also be on display at The Corn Exchange, Manchester, for the first two weeks of October.
