Architecture & Design 1st Place

This series is part of a book project, Houses that Sugar Built: An Intimate Portrait of Philippine Ancestral Homes, for which I was granted access to these historic mansions. I largely set about photographing the houses against a spoken ‘backdrop’, as my colleague interviewed the owner or custodian, but sometimes worked in complete silence. The sala mayor (main living room) typically showcases the character of the architecture and the lifestyle of the people, but also leaves room for the viewer’s interpretation of these unique residences.

Siobhán is a freelance photographer based in the southeast of England. She works both in the UK and internationally, capturing architecture and interiors in addition to working on her own personal projects - many of which have resulted in exhibitions and book publications. These include her recent publication, Houses that Sugar Built: An Intimate Portrait of Philippine Ancestral Homes (2024) published by Oro Editions, The Lanesborough Reimagined (2015) and Savoy | The Restoration (2011) both published by Dewi Lewis Publishing. Her work has been exhibited in the UK and Europe, including at MAST Foundation for Photography in Bologna, Italy and the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Initially trained in Architectural Technology at Limerick Institute of Technology in her native Ireland, Siobhán worked for over a decade and a half in architecture before undertaking a degree in Photography at the University of Westminster in London where she received a 1st class honours. She established her photography practice in 2006.