Eye for architecture: The RIBA archives in pictures

5 November 2015

From the 17th century grandeur of Sir Christopher Wren and Inigo Jones, to the post-war masterpieces of Ernő Goldfinger and Oscar Niemeyer, the Royal Institute of British Architects has launched the world’s biggest visual archive devoted to architecture. They have brought together collections by some of the world’s top architecture photographers including Eric de Maré, Edwin Smith, John Donat, Dell & Wainwright and Tony Ray-Jones. Here are just some highlights from the 90,000 images in RIBA's new digital collections.

Ferrybridge B power station at Brotherton in Yorkshire (Eric de Maré, 1960)

Fishermen's Sheds in Hastings (Eric de Maré, 1956, Architectural Press Archive)

Oscar Niemeyer's National Congress Buildings in Brasilia, Brazil (1955)

HMV record store in Oxford Street, London (Sydney Newbery, 1936)

Children playing at Thamesmead, Greenwich (Tony Ray-Jones, 1970)

Sphinx at Cleopatra's needle in London (Edwin Smith, 1970)

Hillfield House, Whipsnade (Dell & Wainwright, 1936)

Masjed-e Jomah at Isfahan, Iran (John Donat, 1966)

Construction of University of Liverpool sports centre (Lasdun Archive, 1960)

The 1640 Tulip Staircase by Inigo Jones at Queen's House, Greenwich (Richard Ingle, 1992)

The figure 'Architectural Aspiration' is carved at the new RIBA headquarters in London (1934)

Palace Pier in Brighton (Eric de Maré, 1960)

Images copyright and courtesy of RIBA Collections

RIBA Stirling Prize 2021

Find out more about last year's winner as well as the other shortlisted buildings
Hearing Architecture

Blind architect Chris Downey asks how architecture changes when we start to listen to and feel the built environment
Monsters or icons?

Is Brutalism winning over a new generation of admirers after dividing opinion for decades?
Accessible dream

An Edinburgh community united to turn a wheelchair-friendly design into a real home