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Mass Collective: Bridging the Gap in Architectural Photography

Editor: Alexandre Kurek

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Polly Tootal, True Fictions from an Unreal City, Mass Collective

Polly Tootal’s photography has emerged out of a continual exploration of the possibilities of space between a variety of extremes; theatre/reality, the contemporary world mirroring history, transience/permanence, the bizarre in the banal. Concerned with how contemporary geopolitics restrict and displace different societal groups due to poverty and injustice—her work focuses on liminal zones, the outskirts of cities where urban and infrastructure meet, highlighting the chaos and control that power forces upon populations and the environment.

Mass Collective, a group of dedicated architectural photographers, began as a social space for like-minded individuals seeking to transform the solitary and competitive nature of their profession. Their journey from a humble monthly gathering to a well-established collective showcases their commitment to breaking barriers and promoting collaboration within the field. The collective's founders, professional architectural photographers, recognized the challenges of their trade—solitude, competition, and a closed-off environment. In response, they set out to create a community where photographers could meet, connect, and collaborate on projects related to documenting the built environment.

Mass Collective's inception was marked by a simple monthly meeting at a local pub, attended by eight photographers. This initial gathering may have seemed modest, but it laid the foundation for a vibrant community characterized by knowledge sharing, shared experiences, and collective motivation. Over time, a core group emerged, dedicated to organizing and developing ideas. Francesco Russo, Luca Piffaretti, and Henry Woide were among the first members who committed their time and effort to develop Mass Collective's vision. The collective continued to flourish, even during the pandemic, by curating a series of online exhibitions, talks, and community social events. Their participation in the London Festival of Architecture and the ZoomedIn Festival marked significant milestones in their journey.

One of Mass Collective's primary interests has always been personal work, which eventually led to their first collaborative project, Londons. They invited five photographers to join them in a six-month project during the pandemic. As Diane Smyth, editor of the BJP, aptly put it, «Londons—The Polycentric City» presented London from eight different perspectives, emphasizing a diverse mosaic of the city rather than a single, monolithic view. Each photographer worked in different, often less celebrated areas frequented by locals, providing an authentic glimpse into the city's true contemporary identity. The Londons project was exhibited at the Building Centre in Soho, made possible by a grant from the Arts Council. This exhibition also served as a platform for a series of talks and photo walks. Additionally, Mass Collective produced their first self-published zine, which was well-received and subsequently sold out.

Henry Woide, Road to Nowhere, Mass Collective

Henry Woide is a London based photographer documenting the British built environment. His work focuses on contemporary issues surrounding the constructed landscape. He is currently studying on the MA at Falmouth University, exploring the relationship between the landscape and the built environment, and Co-founded Mass in 2019.His photographic project No Moor received an Honourable Mention at the International Photography Awards 2020 in the professional architecture category and exhibited it at the London Festival of Architecture.

Andrew Meredith, Walking the Westway, Mass Collective

Andrew Meredith is an award-winning interior, architecture and portrait photographer based in London. He studied Photography at Falmouth College of Arts, graduating in 2002 with Honours. Soon after, he moved to London working as an assistant to other photographers, before quickly progressing to shooting independently. Andrew's editorial and personal projects have also gained his photography high-profile recognition from industry press. Andrew’s first major solo exhibition opened in 2010 at Riverside Studios, London, and later transferred to London's famous Truman Brewery Gallery. The exhibition featured a selection of images from Excursions, a project showcasing images captured whilst wandering in South America.

Francesco Russo, Urban Beings, Mass Collective

Francesco Russo is an Italian photographer with a background in architecture, based in London and Venice and working worldwide. After graduating in Architecture from the IUAV University of Venice and working as an architect, he developed his knowledge in architectural photography at the London College of Communication (LCC) and decided to entirely dedicate himself to photography. With an interest in various aspects of documenting architecture, Francesco has a keen eye for the relationship between people and the built environment as well as for industrial architecture.

Caroline Charrel, The River Before Us, Mass Collective

Caroline Charrel is a French photographer and artist. With a background in architecture, she specialized in the making of images including film photography, digital works and hand-drawings. Her photography is focused on the ways people shape, project and memorize spaces. After assisting Hélène Binet in her London studio, she now works primarily with film photography.

Simon Kennedy, Hyenas and Hippopotami, Mass Collective

Simon Kennedy is an award-winning architectural photographer, filmmaker and artist based in London. Simon is also a fully qualified architect, working with high-profile clients throughout the UK and beyond. His personal work is concerned with space and its design, and ways it can be altered or regenerated through photographic representation and intervention.

Dr. Sue Barr, Croydon – Motor City, Mass Collective

Dr. Sue Barr is Head of Photography at the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) and holds a PhD from the Royal College of Art. She works and exhibits internationally and her work is currently on show at Museum Morsbroich in Leverkusen, Germany. She is represented by Hartmann Projects (Stuttgart) who published her latest book The Architecture of Transit.

Just as they were preparing to open the Londons exhibition, a remarkable opportunity came their way—their first commission. The Loughborough Bell Foundry Trust sought a group of architectural photographers to document the John Taylor & Co Bellfounders, the last major Bell Foundry in the UK, over a three-year period. This long-term project involved photographing the foundry's renovations and teaching local amateur photographers through workshops. Their second zine, Chime Ding Cast Tin, captured the foundry's century-old legacy, documenting its processes and the people involved in bell production, within an industrial environment undergoing substantial changes.

In July 2023, Mass Collective established their headquarters in a co-working space on 215 Mare Street, Hackney. Sharing their studio with architectural practice Morris + Company and other small companies in the built environment sector, this move provided a physical space for organizing events, exhibitions, and collaboration with other creatives. During London Open House 23, they launched the Hackney Urban Survey, a bi-monthly workshop aimed at exploring the complex and multi-layered urban fabric of the neighborhood through collaborative photography and exhibition creation.

From the outset, Mass Collective has championed a more collaborative approach to architectural photography and personal projects. Recognizing the isolation and competition prevalent in the field, they are committed to breaking down barriers and fostering an environment where the sharing of ideas takes center stage in the photographic process. Mass Collective continues to grow, innovate, and inspire within the world of architectural photography, proving that the power of collaboration can transform an entire industry.

Luca Piffaretti, Sugarcoated Island, Mass Collective

Born in Switzerland near the Italian border, Luca Piffaretti was first drawn to photograph his surroundings while in Bologna, where he graduated with a bachelor degree in Contemporary History. Luca’s photography process is driven by the same inquisitive spirit that pushed him to explore the streets of Bologna, in constant research of the perfect combination of form, texture and light. He divides his practice between commercial shoots for architects and interior designers and personal work centered on a psychogeographical exploration of his surroundings.

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