Phil Lewis

The exciting journey of the American photographer P. Lewis in search of the most beautiful Liberty buildings in the world. In this story you will find the most evocative palaces.

Building. Secession Building in Vienna, Austria (1897/1898) by Joseph Maria OlbrichItalia Liberty

Phil's Story as a Liberty Photographer

I started travelling around Europe much later than many of my peers, and when I did start travelling I was drawn more to the towns and cities of continental Europe than I was to the party beaches that my friends preferred.

Apartment building at 8 Antonijas Iela, Riga, Latvia (1903/1903) by Konstantīns PēkšēnsItalia Liberty

I was introduced to art nouveau by a girlfriend at the time, and while she was drawn more to the paintings of the likes of Mucha I was much more interested in the architectural expression of that art form.

unspecified art nouveau building on Wenceslas Square in Prague, Czech RepublicItalia Liberty

It soon developed into a passion, and then an obsession as I made many long (and expensive) journeys to visit art nouveau buildings all across Europe. 

Apartment building at 4 Alberta Iela in Riga, Latvia (1904/1904) by Mikhail EisensteinItalia Liberty

Over the past 10 years, I have visited many art nouveau buildings and I have always had my camera with me for every visit. 

Building. Central Hotel in Prague (1899/1899) by Friedrich Ohmann, Alois Dryák, and Alois DryákItalia Liberty

I’ve tried to capture the beauty of art nouveau architecture so that other people are able to appreciate it as much as I do, even though many may not choose to travel in person to some of the towns and cities where these wonderful buildings can be found. 

Palazzo Castiglioni in Milan, Italy (1901/1904) by Giuseppe SommarugaItalia Liberty

Liberty in Italy

Giuseppe Sommaruga designed Palazzo Castiglioni on behalf of the family between 1901 - 1904. It is located in Milan in Corso Venezia and is the headquarters of Confcommercio.

Casa Fenoglio La Fleur in Turin, Italy (1902/1902) by Pietro FenoglioItalia Liberty

Torino Liberty

Building La Fleur, by Pietro Fenoglio

Villa Ruggeri in Pesaro, Italy (1902/1907) by Giuseppe BregaItalia Liberty

Villa Ruggeri

Pesaro is home to the most representative building of the Italian Liberty style. 

Villino Broggi-Caraceni in Florence, Italy (1911/1911) by Giovanni MichelazziItalia Liberty

Florence

The architect Michelazzi gave his original interpretation of the new style for modern Italy.

Villa Melchiorri in Ferrara, Italy (1904/1904) by Ciro ContiniItalia Liberty

Villino Melchiorri

In Ferrara, the architect Ciro Contini joined the Art Nouveau movement with his own production. Geometry in Liberty architecture is the basis of the design.

Casa Galimberti in via Malpighi, Milan, Italy (1903/1905) by Giovanni Battista BossiItalia Liberty

The Liberty in Milan

The Palazzo or Casa Galimberti in Milan was designed by the architect Giovanni Battista Bossi (1864-1924) in 1903-1905 on behalf of the Galimberti brothers.

Casa Galimberti in via Malpighi, Milan, Italy (1903/1905) by Giovanni Battista BossiItalia Liberty

From architecture to decoration

Casa Guazzoni in via Malphigi, Milan, Italy (1904/1905) by Giovanni Battista BossiItalia Liberty

Casa Guazzoni 

By of Giovanni Battista Bossi, it was built in 1906 in Milan in via Malpighi 12.

The cement decorations can be observed.

Villa Sulflower, Bologna (1905/1905) by Paolo SironiItalia Liberty

Sunflowers in Bologna

Villa Ducloz-Dianola in Lucca, Italy (1903/1903) by Gaetano OrzaliItalia Liberty

Ducloz, a grand Art Nouveau villa

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família, Barcelona at night (1882) by Antoni GaudíItalia Liberty

Liberty in Europe

Can Negre, Sant Joan Despi (1915/1930) by Josep Maria Jujol i GibertItalia Liberty

Barcelona

Modernist yellow

Müller'sches Volksbad in Munich Germany (1897/1901) by Carl HochederItalia Liberty

Munich

Twentieth century architecture

Palau Güell, Barcelona (1888/1888) by Antoni GaudíItalia Liberty

Back to Barcelona

A coil entirely signed by Gaudì

Major Pessoa House / Art Nouveau Museum, Aveiro (1909/1909) by Ernesto Korrodi and Francisco Silva RochaItalia Liberty

Aveiro

Architectural wonders

Alesund Art Nouveau Detail (1904/1907)Italia Liberty

Alesund

Liberty circles and geometries

14 Rue d’Abbeville in Paris, France, Alexandre et Édouard Autant, Alexandre Bigot, 1900/1901, From the collection of: Italia Liberty
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Constanța Casino in Romania, Daniel Renard, 1907/1910, From the collection of: Italia Liberty
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Villa Yvonne, one of the Belgian Shipping Pilots Villas in Vlissingen, Netherlands, Petrus Franciscus (Pierre) Smagge, 1910/1910, From the collection of: Italia Liberty
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Winklerhaus in Innsbruck, Austria, Anton Bachmann, 1902/1902, From the collection of: Italia Liberty
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Credits: Story

Phil Lewis is a UK-based photographer who has been taking photos seriously since 2016.  Phil’s work has been published several times, in UK magazines such as Practical Photography, Outdoor Photography and Amateur Photographer, and in 2017 two of his photos were also chosen by legendary photographer Rankin for inclusion in a charity photobook named This Is Britain.  Over the past 3 years, Phil’s work has also appeared a several local gallery exhibitions.  
In addition to his local photography Phil is also a compulsive traveller who often bases his travel on specific photographic opportunities.  In particular, Phil has amassed a wealth of photographs of the Art Nouveau architecture which exists across Europe, and is currently collaborating with some cultural organisations to ensure these photos can be shared appropriately.

Instagram @artnouveauman
www.italialiberty.it

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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