Iwan Baan: 'Don't call me an architecture photographer'

Dutch photographer Iwan Baan (b. 1975) rejects the label 'architecture photographer,' insisting his work is documentary reportage on urban and environmental change. He began photography at age 12 and studied art photography for three years before realizing his interest lay in cities, communities, and public spaces. His breakthrough came in 2005 when OMA hired him to document the CCTV Tower in Beijing during construction. Baan criticizes the trend toward 'perfect golden hour' images, advocating instead for images that reveal reality and how people react to change. He shoots in any weather and prefers helicopters over drones for aerial photography, which he says best captures urban transformation. He identifies the Middle East, China, and India as regions with the most rapid change, specifically citing Beijing and Doha. Future plans include systematic research projects with universities on how people construct living spaces through architecture. The interview took place at The Greenhouse Talks, an initiative accompanying the Venice Architecture Biennale, organized by the Embassy and Consulate General of the Netherlands, Het Nieuwe Instituut, Image, and curated by Aaron Betsky.