Dezeen Magazine

Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
Stade Jean-Bouin by Rudy Ricciotti

Paris' most eye-catching buildings take centre stage in Sebastian Weiss' latest photo series

The silvery skin of Jean Nouvel's Philharmonie de Paris concert hall and the cauliflower-like balconies of the Choux de Créteil tower blocks by Gérard Grandval are among the details captured by photographer Sebastian Weiss on his last trip to Paris.

Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
Choux de Créteil by Gérard Grandval

The photos are the second instalment from Weiss' ongoing Dramatis Personae series, which has previously seen the architectural photographer document landmark buildings in Portugal, Denmark and Spain.

Taken in July this year, these latest images are inspired by a recent trip Weiss took to France and feature buildings in and around Paris.

Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
Philharmonie de Paris by Jean Nouvel

The German photographer became interested in the idea of urban areas being a "theatre of life" where the most visually striking buildings act as "protagonists".

"Dramas, comedies, or cliffhangers are performed on an urban stage every day, and we are all part of this public performance," Sebastian Weiss told Dezeen.

Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
ZAC du Coteau by ECDM Architectes

"When I visited [France] last year and saw very expressive and characterful buildings, I wondered why not expand this idea of public performance and consider the city itself as a theatre," he added.

"The metaphor dramatis personae is derived from this idea – the cast of main architectural protagonists on the stage of a city, which in turn provide us with an appropriate space for our daily performance."

Several of the photos have been taken from alternative perspectives to draw attention to their unusual forms.

Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
Silos 13 by VIB Architecture

The ZAC du Coteau building by ECDM Architects for instance has been shot from a lowered angle to emphasise the undulating balconies on its facade, while a corner of the Grande Arche in the La Défense district by Otto von Spreckelsen and Paul Andreu has been zoomed-in on to show how light and shadow play on its numerous window panes.

"I do not choose a buildings by its popularity or the recognition of its architect," Weiss explained. "Sometimes they're very simple buildings, which show fascinating details and interesting structures."

"I hope the people seeing my photographs recognise more than just a piece of architecture and perceive a unique character."

Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
Tours Aillaud by Émile Aillaud

Weiss used a Canon EOS 5D camera to capture several cultural establishments, like Nouvel's Philharmonie de Paris, which is dedicated to music concerts and exhibitions, and the sports venue Stade Jean-Bouin by Rudy Ricciotti.

The series also hones in on the design details of well-known housing estates and residential developments. One image shows the fading, patchy paintwork on the Tours Aillaud by Emile Aillaud, while another highlights the bulbous forms extending from the Choux de Créteil towers by Gérard Grandval.

"I was fascinated by it's organic shape – it reminds me of a plant or tree," said Weiss.

Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
Grande Arche by Otto von Spreckelsen and Paul Andreu

Sebastian Weiss is based in Hamburg, Germany but uses his Instagram account Le Blanc to share interesting structures from around the world. His past photosets have examined the bright white structures of Santiago Calatrava’s Valencian art complex.

More images

Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
Philharmonie de Paris by Jean Nouvel
Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
Le Centre National d'Entraînement by Marc Mimram
Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
Centre des Nouvelles Industries et Technologies by Robert Edouard Camelot, Jean de Mailly and Bernard Zehrfuss
Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
La Cité Curial-Cambrai by André Coquet
Dramatis Personae photography series by Sebastian Weiss
ZAC du Coteau building by ECDM Architectes