Lines to the Cooltoren by Robert Jan Smit

Urban architecture consists not only of buildings, but also of lines, rhythm and perspective. In this graphic composition, the bridge structure, railing and skyline together form a play of shapes in which the city reveals itself only partially. The photograph was taken under a bridge, where the dark, curved structure on the left forms a powerful frame. This shadowy arch contrasts with the bright blue of the sky and the light concrete edge of the bridge deck. The sloping line of the structure leads the eye upwards to the metal railing at the top of the image. There, the slender, vertical bars create a strict rhythm that appears almost abstract. Between these repeating lines, a modern building appears that is only partially visible: the Cooltoren. The tower rises between the bars of the railing and is thus divided into segments, as it were. This fragmentary view makes the image exciting; the viewer must complete the building in their mind. The Cooltoren is one of the recent additions to Rotterdam's skyline and symbolises the city's ongoing development. Instead of showing the building in its entirety, this photograph emphasises the way in which architecture overlaps and intersects in the city. The combination of the dark bridge structure, the rough concrete, the light metal railing and the modern building in the background creates a powerful contrast between old and new, mass and space. At the same time, the repeating lines provide calm and structure in the image. The result is a photograph that balances between architectural photography and abstract composition. An image in which the city is not loudly present, but can be subtly discovered between lines, shadows and perspective.