CIOB invites the world to choose its favourite photograph of the built environment

The built environment’s biggest international photography competition, run by the Chartered Institute of Building, opens for voting today with 12 finalists in the running for the £3,500 cash prize.

Photography fans around the world are being asked to vote for their favourite picture out of 12 dramatically contrasting images.

The cornucopia of images includes a historic theatre in France, a photograph of a mosque in Malaysia inspired by the Christopher Nolan film Inception and references to some of modern architecture’s greats like Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer.

All 12 finalists’ pictures can now be viewed and voted for on CIOB’s Art of Building website www.artofbuilding.org and will be featured across a range of international media channels, reaching an estimated global audience of 60 million.

Launched in 2010 by the CIOB, Art of Building allows amateur and professional photographers to compete against each other on a level playing field, using equipment ranging from high specification cameras to smart phones.

This year’s competition attracted thousands of entries, with more than 70% coming from outside of the UK. CIOB competition organiser Saul Townsend said: 'The breadth of photography we see is amazing. From those who are revealing a little known building to those showcasing a familiar icon in a new light. Best of luck to all our finalists.'

Public voting is now open on http://www.artofbuilding.org/vote

• Voting starts on 11 December 2017 and closes on 8 January 2018.

• The Art of Building 2017 winner will be announced on 30 January 2018.