Alcova Villa Borsani captured in cinematic light by Ramona Elena Balaban
Alcova by Ramona Elena Balaban, Architecture MasterPrize 2025 Best of the Best in Interior Photography captures the atmosphere of Villa Borsani during Milan Design Week, where light, material, and contemporary installations intersect. Commissioned by AD China, the series documents the Alcova exhibition in Como, Italy, translating the energy of the event into a cinematic visual narrative.
We spoke with photographer Ramona Elena Balaban about her instinct-driven approach, the role of light, and how she transforms architectural environments into atmospheric storytelling.
Could you share some background about yourself or your practice?
Ramona Elena Balaban: I’m a photographer based in Como, Italy, specializing in interior, architectural and portrait photography. Photography has been a central part of my life from a young age, but I initially pursued a different career path, studying law. It was only near the end of that journey that I realized my true vocation was behind the camera.
My work focuses on capturing spaces as living environments, where light, material, and human presence interact to tell a story. I collaborate with architects, designers, and international publications, including AD, Elle Decoration, HTSI etc.
What was the brief for Alcova?
Ramona Elena Balaban: The project was an editorial commission from AD China during Milan Design Week, at the Alcova venue in Villa Borsani. The brief was to capture the essence of the installations in a way that felt intimate and cinematic, translating the fleeting energy of Milan Design Week into photographs that reveal both the design and the atmospheric qualities of each space. The goal was to convey the interplay between light, architecture, and human presence in a vibrant, crowded environment.
Please describe your design process and how you approached Alcova.
Ramona Elena Balaban: Photographing during Milan Design Week is always an act of controlled chaos, moving through crowded spaces, chasing the changing light, and finding stillness within the movement. At Alcova, I arrived during the press preview, rooms filled with people and activity, yet the morning light created moments of quiet that I had only seconds to capture.
My approach was instinctive, guided entirely by available light, framing each shot to convey both the space and its ephemeral mood. I think of it as painting with light, letting the atmosphere dictate the composition.
What were the main challenges during the project, and how did you resolve them?
Ramona Elena Balaban: The main challenge was capturing moments of clarity and beauty amidst the crowds and fast pace of the Design Week preview. There was almost no space to set up or wait for perfect conditions. I resolved this by embracing the urgency, anticipating movements, working quickly, and trusting my instinct to capture fleeting instances where light, space, and human presence aligned. The result is a series of images that feel both spontaneous and deeply considered.
What do you consider the most distinctive aspect of Alcova?
Ramona Elena Balaban: The most distinctive aspect is how the project transforms a bustling, chaotic event into a series of almost painterly, contemplative images. Light becomes the central subject, not just illuminating the installations but shaping the perception of the space itself. It’s an editorial interpretation that blurs the line between reportage and cinematic photography.
Which outcomes of the project are you most proud of, and why?
Ramona Elena Balaban: I’m most proud that the images capture the fleeting beauty of the moment, the light, the mood, and the sense of suspended time, while still telling the story of the installations. Being recognized with the AMP “Best of the Best” award affirms that this approach, which prioritizes atmosphere and human experience over purely architectural documentation, resonates with others.
What inspires your work?
Ramona Elena Balaban: I’m inspired by painting and cinema, particularly the dramatic chiaroscuro of Caravaggio and José de Ribera, as well as film stills that linger in memory, fragments of light, silence, and suspended time. These influences shape how I see and interpret light in a space, guiding me to capture atmosphere as much as form. Travel, urban life, and the subtle rhythms of daily environments continue to inspire me as well.
What does receiving the Architecture MasterPrize mean to you?
Ramona Elena Balaban: It’s a huge honor and an affirmation of my instinct-driven approach. AMP “Best of the Best” encourages me to keep exploring light, atmosphere, and human presence in architectural photography. It opens doors to more ambitious projects and reinforces my belief that spaces are alive, not static, and that photography should capture that life.
We thank Ramona Elena Balaban for sharing the story behind Alcova, Best of the Best in Interior Photography at Architecture MasterPrize 2025. The series captures Villa Borsani during Milan Design Week as a cinematic study of light, atmosphere, and spatial experience, transforming architectural documentation into visual storytelling.