Francesca Pompei: Capturing Architectural Essence through the Lens

For this interview, we had the privilege of engaging in a captivating dialogue with Francesca Pompei, the visionary photographer behind the lens of the award-winning project “Stadtcasino Basel.” Francesca’s unique approach to architectural photography transcends the visual, delving into the very soul of structures and spaces.

How do you approach capturing the essence of a building or interior space in your photographs?

Francesca Pompei: I’m looking for the architectures which incorporate a sort of animated geometry and a tenuous relationship between void and surface, light and dark so that the ingredients can be seen in a moving way, in a dynamic and evocative way. Dealing with lines, the whole perception of shapes becomes a geometrical and sculptural progression from line to plane, from plane to volume and from volume to an other dimension lying beneath appearances, taken by the seamless surface of the photograph eye.

Could you discuss a particularly challenging shoot you’ve worked on and how you overcame the obstacles?

Francesca Pompei: When I took my report of the The Forbidden City in Wünsdorf. The occasion was more unique than rare and I only had a few hours to investigate a huge map space. I took as much as possible, risking hurting myself or damaging the equipment to climb over debris or collapsed walls. Luckily, I managed to bring back a good amount of material and to save the equipment.

How do you balance capturing the beauty and functionality of a space in your photographs?

Francesca Pompei: In my work, the relation between buildings and their psychological impact is as relevant as buildings themselves. An aesthetic view where the architectures become a way to explore the space, to make it more emotional and where the narrative force of the images interweaves with the mood of memory, creating a visual synthesis that appeals to our senses, to our sense of place.

How do you balance the needs and desires of the client with your own design vision?

Francesca Pompei: It’s always a challenging aspect of my work to find the best way to represent and summarize in images the architect’s idea, not only in terms of design but also of concepts and specific background.

What advice would you give to young photographers just starting out in their careers?

Francesca Pompei: Nowadays, I think it is easy to take good quality photographs. The best advice I can give is to select images that are charged with a meaning, and are able to establish a dialogue with the viewer.

Could you discuss a project that you feel best represents your photography style?

Francesca Pompei: Probably my last project on Doha, the capital of Qatar stage of the Football World Cup 2022. Its urban horizon is a landscape of great locations with works by prestigious architects such as Jean Nouvel, Rem Koolhaas, Arata Isozaki and Ieoh Ming Pei. What is most amazing is the grandeur of these hypermodern sites which stand out from a silent and solitary perspective, in a space “in between” suspended in the known city and the other side. An enigmatic landscape, which evoking a metaphysical dimension, I have tried to catch and transmit by my report Sharada.

How do you prioritize different lighting and composition techniques in your photographs?

Francesca Pompei: I am interested in how the pure clean-lined geometries of the architecture, the rhythmic alternating of heterogeneous surfaces, could become abstract and silent.

How do you see photography’s role in architecture and interior design evolving in the future?

Francesca Pompei: There is no doubt that architecture must contribute to society’s progress and ultimately to our individual and collective wellbeing. This approach involves also the photographer’s role as a messenger and promoter of a new green design.

Francesca Pompei: 
The prestigious Architecture MasterPrize award has been a great recognition to the project and to all the efforts made to realize it. It has given me an amazing opportunity to showcase my work and to reach a significant audience alongside other prominent works. AMP is undoubtedly an incredible springboard for any photographer and architecture firm.

We extend our gratitude to Francesca Pompei for generously sharing her insights and experiences with us. Francesca’s acclaimed project “Stadtcasino Basel” showcases her unique talent to encapsulate dynamic architectural geometry and evoke emotions through her photography. Her dedication to capturing the essence of spaces and her commitment to weaving narratives through light and form are distinctly evident in her exceptional work.