How Form4 Architecture Transformed 3100 Hanover for Modern Tenants
Form4 Architecture, Coulter Construction, and Howell Electric recently worked together on an exciting project in Palo Alto, California. The goal was to update an old HP building at 3100 Hanover to attract a new life science tenant. This transformation demonstrates how architectural photography can capture the essence of a project's design, highlighting both aesthetic appeal and sustainable practices.
The Challenge: Breathing New Life into an Old Space
Renovating existing buildings, rather than demolishing and rebuilding, is a key strategy for sustainable construction. This approach not only saves resources but also maintains the historical and cultural significance of the original structure. The challenge for Form4 Architecture was to breathe new life into the old HP building while making it attractive to modern tenants in the life sciences sector.
Capturing the Design Transformation
As an architectural photographer, capturing the transformation of 3100 Hanover required careful planning and timing. The new design features a refreshed exterior and entry that brings contemporary flair to the building.
Key elements include Trespa Pura wood-look cladding, aluminum composite panels, and perforated aluminum panels. These materials were chosen not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their durability and sustainability.
To highlight these features, I scheduled my shoot for the pre-dawn hours. This time of day offers the perfect lighting conditions to capture the building's facade facing East. The rising sun casts a warm, golden glow that enhances the textures and colors of the materials used in the renovation. It's important for photographers to understand how light interacts with different surfaces and angles to create compelling images, especially with architectural subjects.
Twilight happens twice a day, and I prefer the quiet of pre-dawn for capturing photos like this one. Since the facade faces generally towards the East, I took advantage of the rising sun to get some golden hour glow.
Techniques for Effective Architectural Photography
Photographing architecture, especially renovations, requires a blend of technical skill and artistic vision. Here are some key techniques I used for this project:
Timing and Lighting: As mentioned, shooting during the golden hour provides soft, diffused light that minimizes harsh shadows and highlights the building's details. Shooting during the pre-dawn “blue hour” added drama and vibrant colors to the images.
Composition: Framing the shot to include both the new entry and the surrounding environment helps tell the story of the transformation.
Perspective: Using a tilt-shift lens helps correct distortion, ensuring that vertical lines remain straight and the building's proportions are accurately represented.
"The details are not the details. They make the design." – Charles Eames
Sustainable Design Elements
The use of sustainable materials was a major focus in the 3100 Hanover project. Trespa Pura wood-look cladding offers the natural beauty of wood without the environmental impact.
Aluminum composite panels are lightweight, strong, and recyclable, making them an ideal choice for modern construction. Perforated aluminum panels add a unique visual texture while allowing for natural ventilation and light diffusion.
The Importance of Sustainable Renovations
For photographers, capturing sustainable architecture involves more than just taking pictures; it means telling the story of the building's transformation. In the case of 3100 Hanover, sustainability was at the core of the renovation project. This focus on eco-friendly materials and construction practices sets a standard for future projects.
Tips for Architectural Photographers
If you're an aspiring architectural photographer, here are some tips to enhance your skills:
Research the Project: Before the shoot, gather as much information as possible about the project. Knowing the architect's vision, the materials used, and the overall design goals will guide your photography.
Scout the Location: Visit the site at different times of the day to observe how light interacts with the building. This will help you plan your shoot for the best lighting conditions.
Experiment with Angles: Don't be afraid to try unconventional angles and perspectives. Sometimes the most striking images come from unexpected viewpoints.
Use a Tripod: Stability is crucial for sharp, detailed shots, especially in low-light conditions. A tripod allows for longer exposure times without camera shake.
Post-Processing: Editing your photos can enhance their quality and impact. Adjusting brightness, contrast, and color balance can bring out the best in your images.
Challenges in Architectural Photography
Architectural photography can be challenging, especially when dealing with large-scale projects like 3100 Hanover. Here are some common challenges and how to overcome them:
Lighting: Natural light can be unpredictable. Be prepared with additional lighting equipment, such as strobes, reflectors and diffusers, to manage shadows and highlights. Control over interior lighting and site lighting during twilight shots like this one are important. In this case, I didn’t have control over interior lighting and had to make due with the building in a “lights off” condition.
Weather Conditions: Weather can affect the appearance of a building. Check the forecast and plan your shoot accordingly. Often, partly cloudy skies like the ones on the day of this shoot can provide dramatic colors at twilight!
Access and Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access the site and photograph it. Communicate with your client or the property owner and respect any restrictions.
Final Touches in Post-Processing
Post-processing is an essential step in delivering professional-quality architectural photographs. Here are some techniques to enhance your images:
Color Correction: Adjust colors to match the true appearance of the materials and lighting. This is especially important for accurately representing sustainable features.
Exposure Balance: Ensure that both highlights and shadows retain detail. Use exposure blending if necessary to achieve a balanced image.
Sharpening and Clarity: Apply sharpening selectively to enhance textures and details without creating artifacts.
Lens Corrections: Correct any distortions or aberrations introduced by your lens to maintain straight lines and accurate proportions.
Sky Replacement: Often clear blue skies can make for a lackluster photograph. Learn how to do a natural-looking sky replacement for a “wow” effect in your architectural photography. I highly recommend Mike Kelley’s Sky Replacement course.
Final Thoughts:
Architectural photography is a powerful tool in showcasing the value and beauty of renovation projects like 3100 Hanover. By capturing the essence of the transformation, photographers play a crucial role in promoting sustainable design and construction practices.
Whether you're photographing for architects, builders, or the general public, your images can inspire and inform, highlighting the importance of preserving and enhancing our built environment.
Key Takeaways:
The transformation of 3100 Hanover by Form4 Architecture and Coulter Construction highlights sustainable renovation practices.
Capturing the building's renovation involved using pre-dawn light to enhance the design features.
Key sustainable materials used include Trespa Pura wood-look cladding and aluminum composite panels.
Effective architectural photography techniques include careful timing, using a tripod, and post-processing for color correction and exposure balance.
Incorporating people in architectural photos can add scale and liveliness, enhancing the storytelling aspect.
Post-processing techniques such as color correction, exposure balance, and lens corrections are crucial for professional-quality images.
Sustainable design elements like natural ventilation and light diffusion were emphasized in the photography.
Architectural photography helps promote the importance of preserving and enhancing existing structures.
Understanding the project's background and goals is essential for capturing impactful architectural photos.