Architectural Photography: The World’s Largest Collection…All from an Obsession

If you appreciate architecture and the photography of architecture, your architectural fantasy awaits you in London. Housed in a limestone-clad art deco style building in the heart of London, you will find the world’s greatest collection of architectural photography. This astounding collection contains more than 1.5 million items, including prints and negatives from around the globe.

The building that houses this mass collection is the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its charter granted in 1837 and Supplemental Charter granted in 1971.

Amassing a Great Archive of Architectural Photography

Upon going the RIBA in 1976 as the librarian, the late Robert Elwall immediately recognized the ability of photography to capture the energy and life of architecture. He spent the rest of his life preserving, protecting and championing architectural photography. Elwall also understood the aesthetic value and transformative power of architecture. The photography was the means he employed the protect the future and promote knowledge.

“What really made Robert special was his absolute dedication to sharing the photographs with the widest possible audience.”

Valeria Carullo, Curator, RIBA

Elwall had a strong desire to disseminate historic architectural photography to the wider public, not least in giving many talks, and in books written in an informative but very readable style. He produced a dozen or so monographs, and his 2004 book, Building With Light: the International History of Architectural Photography was nominated for the 2005 Bruno Zevi Book Award.

From the Factory Floor

Stone finials for a client’s columns in Calabasas, CA.