Finalists for the Art of Building 2012 photography competition have been released, illuminating photographers who share a reverence for architectural space and its relationship to our daily lives.

Stark shacks sit isolated in South Africa, a Spanish sugar factory resembles a holy temple, and a German cantilever looks like an optical illusion... These architectural forms from around the world emit a shared sense of elegance, history and strength. “It was another very strong year for the contest, with imaginative entries from around the world,” CIOB Art of Building manager, Saul Townsend, told Dezeen.

A judging panel chose the 12 images selected as finalists, but the winner is up to you. The Chartered Institute of Building in Berkshire, England, is inviting the public to vote for their favorite image, endowing the artist with the invaluable title of ‘Art of Building' Photographer of the Year and a £2,000 cash prize. Some of the entries will also be auctioned off for charity later this year, with funds helping to build hurricane and earthquake resilient schools in Haiti through the UK charity Article 25.

Click here to cast your vote. Voting will close on September 6, 2012, so act quickly!

See the stunning finalists below. (Images courtesy of Art of Building.)

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  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Tile: Construction By Kamal Krishore From: New Dehli, India Photo taken in: Greater Noida, India Statement: In the picture labourers line up from bottom to top to pass on building material. The picture looks like artwork and shows building as artwork.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: 100 Floors By Tim Martin From: California, USA Photo taken in: Hong Kong Statement: This image shows the entire scene around it, from the reflections of hundreds of smaller high-rise structures in the city to the boats in the water in the distance and the people inside of it watching the world below.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: Cantilever By Gonzalo Acuna From: Montevideo, Uruguay Photo taken in: Berlin, Germany Statement: It is surprising as the prism rests gently on the brick building.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: A place for Aitor Ortiz By Alfonso Batalla From: Bilbao, Spain Photo taken in: Spain Statement: What was a warehouse in a sugar factory now looks like an Arabic temple.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: Bird's Towers By Mario Cardenas From: Abu Dhabi, UAE Photo taken in: Doha, Qatar Statement: A local man standing in front of the bird's towers in Katara Cultural Village at Doha Qatar, this place is an exceptional project of hope and human interaction.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: Eagle Eye By Zheng Hui Ng From: Kedah, Malaysia Photo taken in: Singapore Statement: Looks down at a pagoda located at the centre of the Chinese Garden, Singapore. The patent form of the stair looks like an eagle's eye.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: Faith Keeper By Maksym Khytra From: Lviv, Ukraine Photo taken in: Chernivtsi, Ukraine Statement: This synagogue survived after fascist occupation and soviet dictatorship. It's old, neglected and ravaged but it still keeps faith and history.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: In the brick kiln By Phuc Ngo From: Vietnam Photo taken in: Vietnam Statement: The brick is used in building. Brick architecture is unique.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: Roof in Colours By Ines Costa From: Lisbon, Portugal Photo taken in: Bangkok, Thailand Statement: That man was building art! It was a temple roof and he was working under a very strong sun. It was very inspiring to see how he was choosing the colours of the tiles and put each other in the right place.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: Sea of Stairs By Clarissa Debenham From: Essex, UK Photo taken in: Olympic Stadium, London Statement: The structure of the stadium is completely on display around the staircases leading to the upper levels. The glass work subtly changes colour as you walk around the stadium, running through every colour of the rainbow.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Tile: Shacks, built out of necessity By Frank Trimbos From: Holland Photo taken in: South Africa Statement: Shacks are small improvised huts which are usually built on the outskirts of rural areas (townships) in South Africa. The residents are mostly immigrants who moved to the cities looking for work. They settle in squatter settlements, sometimes illegal or unauthorized. Squatter settlements are mostly found in developing nations like here in South Africa. The improvised shacks are built using scrap materials: Often plywood, and corrugated metal sheets or plastic.

  • The Art of Building 2012 Finalists

    Photo Title: Vintage By Ahana Gangopadhyay From: Kolkata, India Photo taken in: Chitkul, India Statement: This photograph explores the relationship of the old lady and her old wooden house. The wooden door leading into the balcony, and the array of pots and pans, together with the owner in front, add to a fairy tale image.

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