ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE: European Photographer Wojtek Ogorzelski- Norway, Poland & Portugal shows Photography World what it’s like to photograph organic architecture.

FLUID SEAMLESS FORM FUNCTION SPACE SITE HARMONY

These are the words that represent Organic Architecture.

ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE: European Photographer Wojtek Ogorzelski- Norway, Poland & Portugal Article by Photography World Editor, Mina Thevenin Photography by European Photographer Wojtek Ogorzelski

75 YEARS AGO

World-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright was teaching and writing about an emerging design approach called Organic Architecture. A modern concept, Organic Architecture was not developed out of a specific style, but rather by a suggested set of Wright’s principals.

“So here I stand before you preaching organic architecture: declaring organic architecture to be the modern ideal and the teaching so much needed if we are to see the whole of life, and to now serve the whole of life, holding no ‘traditions’ essential to the great TRADITION. Nor cherishing any preconceived form fixing upon us either past, present or future, but – instead – exalting the simple laws of common sense – or of super-sense if you prefer – determining form by way of the nature of materials…” Architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) (1)

75 years ago in 1939…on opposite sides of the world, Poland’s capital city was being demolished by the early WWII German Blitzkrieg. Much of Warsaw’s original architecture was destroyed during the war. Norway, too, soon faced German occupation and suffered. Although “neutral” Portugal was not attacked, we find there, too, today’s ideals of Organic Architecture seamlessly uniting these areas, among other countries.

21st CENTURY

Destruction and desecration from the last world war are now rebuilt in the new age of the 21st century. Thus it seems that though buildings and sites may fall to nature, time or the ill-will of man, the shared hope and rebuilding of humanity is impervious to blitz or krieg, or the insanity of such.

Photography World looks at Organic Architecture as photographed by European Photographer Wojtek Ogorzelski. Images of Warsaw, Poland, and architectural free-forms in Oslo, Norway and Lisbon, Portugal- poetically illustrate, through his lens, the concepts of using established and modern materials (steel, glass, wire) for structures designed to reflect and give rise in the light of nature, that both form and function are one. Fluid. Seamless. Harmony.

“Photography is my passion and profession. I am a freelance photographer. For twenty-five years I have worked with Nikon F 4, 5, 6, etc, and the D800. Now I fell in love with Leica. I have Monochrome & M240, but Leica lens … I am photographing everything in principle (if there is such need), but my pet subjects are: architecture, musical stage, and street photo[graphy]. Apart from that, simply- people and candid portraits, and documentary.” Wojtek Ogorzelski

OSLO, NORWAY

Snøhetta’ Design. The Norwegian Opera & Ballet on Oslo’s harbor front, “The building is as much landscape as architecture and thus fosters public awareness and engagement with the arts.”(2)

CLICK on any image to view photography as a slideshow (scroll mouse over image for copyright details).

OSLO SPEKTRUM

Indoor arena built in 1990 and is owned by the Norway Trade Fairs Foundation. “Oslo Spektrum was planned and constructed as part of a scheme to revitalize the Grønland/Vaterland area of Oslo. At the heart of the project was the city’s need for a flexible multipurpose arena.”(3) Designed by architects LPO Arkitektkontor AS, “with a collaboration of artist Guttorm Guttormgaard and ceramicist Søren Ubsisch copies of print fragments created by artist Rolf Nesch were used to decorate the brick façade of the arena. The choice of materials and architectural expression gained widespread praise…”(4)

WARSAW, POLAND

The soundproof tunnel was built with the help of European Union investment funds, “Poland joined the European Union a decade ago, a time that made monumental changes in the country as well as in some other former Soviet satellite states in east and central Europe.” (6) Organic architecture incorporates modern materials, and creates an aesthetically pleasing form within the open space surrounding it.

Gdański Bridge & Spiral Staircase

Warsaw, Poland. The bridge spans the Vistula River and was built on the demolished truss of the previous World War II rail bridge. (5)

LISBON, PORTUGAL

Metro travel station through underground Lisbon.

Called the Rossio, the Lisbon town square has been a part of Portugal since the 13th Century. It is the “floor” of the Rossio that is organic, “The wave pattern stone paving was added to Rossio during the 19th century and was designed to resemble the oceans.” (7) Elements of Organic Architecture present in the past.

BUILDING THREADS OF ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE INTO THE 21st CENTURY

Sunrise and sunset in Warsaw, Poland

Photographer Wojtek Ogorzelski

“Photography is my passion and profession. I am a freelance photographer. For twenty-five years I have worked with Nikon F 4, 5, 6, etc, and the D800. Now I fell in love with Leica. I have Monochrome & M240, but Leica lens … I am photographing everything in principle (if there is such need), but my pet subjects are: architecture, musical stage, and street photo[graphy]. Apart from that, simply- people and candid portraits, and documentary.” Wojtek Ogorzelski

Freelance Photographer

Since 1993 International Photographer Wojtek Ogorzelski has worked for over twenty years providing companies and PR agencies with commercial, product and public relations photography. His long-term international freelance photographic affiliations include multiple banks in France, Austria, Poland, New York, and other regions of the world. He has worked in product photography with well-known beverages that are marketed world-wide. Several high end automobile companies and an American based audio company are listed on Photographer Wojtek Ogorzelski resume, along with Lockheed Martin, and international advertising agencies NoS/BBDO and New York based company Saatchi & Saatchi.

As blondes walk and if stones could talk- even if it stings a little, Wojtek’s work also includes some famous movie stars and bands.

Photography Gear:

Leica M Monochrome

Leica M (type 240)

Nikon F 6

Nikon D800