“Hélène Binet has emerged as one of the leading architectural photographers in the world. Every time Hélène Binet takes a photograph, she exposes architecture’s achievements, strength, pathos and fragility.” (Daniel Libeskind)
Hélène Binet was born in 1959 in Sorengo and is of both Swiss and French background. She currently lives in London with her husband Raoul Bunschoten and their two children, Izaak and Saskia. She studied photography at the Instituto Europeo di Design in Rome, where she grew up, and soon developed an interest in architetural photography.
Over a period of twenty-five years Hélène Binet has photographed both contemporary and historical architecture. Her list of clients include architects Raoul Bunschoten, Caruso St John, Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind, Studio Mumbai, Peter Zumthor and many others. While following the work of contemporary architects – often from construction through completion – Hélène Binet has also photographed the works of past architects as Alvar Aalto, Geoffrey Bawa, Le Corbusier, Sverre Fehn, John Hejduk, Sigurd Lewerentz, Andrea Palladio and Dimitris Pikionis. More recently, Hélène Binet has started to direct her attention to landscape photography, wherein she transposes key concerns of her architectural photography. Hélène Binet’s work has been published in a wide range of books, and is shown in both national and international exhibitions.
Hélène Binet is an advocate of analogue photography and therefore she exclusively works with film.
Awards & Fellowships
2008
Award for Architecture ‘For the best work by a first-time exhibitor in the Royal Academy Summer Show 2008’ Royal Academy of Arts. London
2007
Honorary Fellowship Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). London
2003
Digital Elements Award 2003 Olympus Europe Foundation Science for Life. Hamburg
Solo Exhibitions
2012
Lights Passing Hélène Binet Photographs ROM Gallery. Oslo
Nicholas Hawksmoor: Methodical Imaginings 13th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia. Venice
Hélène Binet 'Landscape and Architecture' Gabrielle Ammann // Gallery. Köln
Encounters with Cities Graduate School of Design Harvard University. Cambridge
2011
Hélène Binet ‘selected works’ Gabrielle Ammann // Gallery. Köln
2010
Forming | Portrait – Architecture of Zaha Hadid Gabrielle Ammann // Gallery. Köln
2009
Photographs of the work of Peter Zumthor Gabrielle Ammann // Gallery. Köln
2007
Berlin Projects Arkitekturmuseet. Stockholm
Heaven and Earth Galleria Manzoni. Bergamo
Hélène Binet: Photographic Works 1986-2007 Architectural Association. London
2002
The Black Square International Center for Contemporary Art / New Gallery. Bucharest
Cornerstone – Selected Retrospective of Architectural Photographs Shine Gallery / Michael Hoppen Gallery. London
1999
Peter Zumthor: Works Arkitekturmuseet. Stockholm
Waterwall London Institute, Chelsea College of Art and Design. London
1998
House of Culture: Alvar Aalto Heinz Gallery, Royal Institute of British Architects. London
Carre Portatif La Fondation de l’Architecture et de L’Ingenierie. Luxembourg
Peter Zumthor Museum d’art Grischun. Grischun
Surfaces: Architectural Photographs by Hélène Binet Columbia University. New York
1996
Texture and Light Building Centre. London
1995
Hélène Binet: Architecture Photography Berlage Institute. Amsterdam
1990
Relatives: Complete Works of John Hejduk Fragnera Gallery. Prague
1989
Hélène Binet Arup Associates. London
Selected Group Exhibitions
2011
Architektur + Fotografie Architektur Galerie Berlin. Berlin
2010
Reading Landscape Architectural Association. London
2004
Metamorphoses (9th Biennale of Architecture). Venice
Geoffrey Bawa Deutsches Architektur Museum. Frankfurt am Main
Paysages en Poèsie Association Regards du Monde. Chateau d’Oex
2002
The Secret of the Shadow – Light and Shadow in Architecture (exhibition co-curated) Deutsches Architektur Museum. Frankfurt/Main
2000
Alvar Aalto’s North Jutland Art Museum Aalborg Museum. Aalborg
Inscriptions: Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind Enkehuset Gallery. Stockholm
1999
Tomorrow Forever – Photographie als Ruine Kunstalle Krems. Krems
Tomorrow Forever – Photographie in der Küppersmühle Museum Küppersmühle Sammlung Grothe. Duisburg
1997
Other Soundings: Selected Works by John Hejduk Canadian Centre for Architecture. Montréal
1995
Stadt in Latenz Architectural Forum. Linz
1992
Machines d’Architecture: John Hejduk Cartier Fondation. Paris
1991
Site Works Photographers’ Gallery. London
1989
Pikionis Architectural Association. London
Pikionis Venice Biennale, Greek Pavilion. Venice
Lectures
2012
Lights Passing Hélène Binet Photographs The National Museum - Architecture. Oslo
Hélène Binet. Composing Space Graduate School of Design Harvard University. Cambridge
2011
Hélène Binet. Opere Scelte 1988-2011 Università della Svizzera italiana, Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio
2010
Hélène Binet. The Flatness of Depths Ecole d’Architecture de Paris Belleville. Paris
Iconic burn Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Karlruhe
International Seminar: On surface, Public Space and Architectural Images in Debate. Porto
2009
Architektur Forum Ostschweiz. St. Gallen
2008
Architectural Photography in Focus. Architectural Association. London
(Untitled) London Metropolitan University, School of Architecture and Spatial Design. London
(Untitled) Frau + Net, Schweizerischer Ingenieur- und Architektenverein. Zürich
2006
Camera/Constructs University of East London. London
Positionen HTWK. Leipzig
Selected Publications
2010
Auswahl Zwei Kolumba. Kunstmuseum des Erzbistums Köln. Köln
2008
Almost everything Poligrafa. Barcelona
Scenarios / Manifesta7 Silvana Editoriale SPA. Milano
2007
Peter Zumthor. Therme Vals Verlag Scheidegger & Spiess. Zürich
2005
Holocaust Memorial Berlin Lars Müller Publishers. Baden/Switzerland
a new english house Categorical Books. Herne Bay
2004
Zaha Hadid. Car Park and Terminus Strasbourg Lars Müller Publishers. Baden/Switzerland
Zaha Hadid. Space for Art Lars Müller Publishers. Baden/Switzerland
Paysages en poésie Infolio éditions. Gollion
2002
Wiel Arets. Works, Projects, Writings Ediciones Poligrafa. Barcelona
Geoffrey Bawa: The Complete Works Thames & Hudson. London
The Secret of the Shadow. Light and Shadow in Architecture Deutsches Architektur Museum. Frankfurt/Main
2000
Architecture of Zaha Hadid in Photographs by Hélène Binet Lars Müller Publishers. Baden/ Switzerland
1999
The House of the Book Black Dog Publishing Limited. London
Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum Fonden til udgivelse af Arkitekturtidsskrift B. Copenhagen
Jewish Museum Berlin Verlag der Kunst. Dresden
1998
Peter Zumthor Works Lars Müller Publishers. Baden/Switzerland
Alvar Aalto. Kultuuritalo / House of Culture Helsinki, Finnish Building Centre / Rakennustieto Oy. Helsinki
Metaspaces Black Dog Publishing Limited. London
1996
The Inns of Court Black Dog Publishing Limited. London
1995
Security. A Work by John Hejduk The Oslo School of Architecture / Aventura Forlag. Oslo
1989
Dimitris Pikionis 1887-1968. A Sentimental Topography The Architectural Association. London
Sigurd Lewerentz 1885-1975. The Dilemma of Classicism The Architectural Association. London
Monographs
2012
Composing Space Phaidon. London / New York
2007
Hélène Binet. Heaven and Earth Magnolia Edizioni. Bergamo
2002
Hélène Binet / 7 Projects Shine Gallery. London
1997
A Passage through Silence and Light. Daniel Libeskind’s Jewish Museum in Berlin Black Dog Publishing Limited. London