A selection from the shortlisted photographs in the ‘Architecture’ category of the Open competition of the 2011 Sony World Photography Awards.

Zeche H. “The most amazing hall with thousands of chained metal baskets & cages. Silent witnesses of a big industrial era, taking up this vast space, from now till never. These cages are called Kaue. It was used by the miners to put their clothes, shoes and private belongings in. They could lever the cage by a chain, and lock it. Each chain had its unique number, counting up to 4700 and more. Gives you an idea of the size of this place. Impressive and surreal scenery. I’ve never seen anything like it before.” © Reginald Van de Velde courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011.

Plastination City. © Bjoern Pretzel courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011.

38 Stories. “Mid section of one of Hongkong’s tall buildings. It is 37 floors plus a fake one. It would be nice to know why the fake one is there. It is amazing how life styles are different: here in that building lives more people then in the environment of the block of flat where I live now.” © Andras Neiser courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011.

The Underground. “Sixty meters underground. German fortifications from the time of the Second World War. Tunnels are length of 28 km. The total obscurity and confusion. Amazing atmosphere, scary and interesting.” © Rafal Marcinkiewicz courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011.

The shortlisted photographers of the ‘Architecture’ category are: Urs Albrecht (Switzerland), Rob Cherry (United Kingdom), Rafal Marcinkiewicz (United Kingdom), Andras Neiser (Finland), Alexander Ossia (Germany), Bjoern Pretzel (Germany), Marc Siewior (Germany), Marek Troszczynski (United Kingdom), Reginald Van de Velde (Belgium), Wolfgang Weinhardt (Germany).

Click here for more information regarding the 2011 Sony World Photography Awards.

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