‘Concrete in Life’ 2024/25 reveals breathtaking pictures from around the world – Winners announced in global photography competition 

A stunning image of a skateboarder at Venice Beach, California, USA has been named Concrete in Life Photo of the Year 2024/25. It was selected from more than 20,000 entries to the annual global competition, run by the GCCA, which highlights the beauty and essential role that concrete plays around the world. 

The image, which wins a top prize of $10,000 (ten thousand US dollars) was taken by Henrik Hagerup, at Venice Beach Skate Park, Los Angeles, USA. The park’s concrete bowls were inspired by LA’s abandoned swimming pool skating scene of the 1970s. Henrik’s photo was announced as this year’s winner along with 4 category winners and a people’s vote champion.  

Thomas Guillot, GCCA Chief Executive who helped to judge this year’s competition said: “The stunning images highlight concrete’s positive impact on our lives right across the planet. Whether it’s the vital infrastructure such a bridges, railways and roads that we travel along or the homes, offices and schools we inhabit, concrete is a truly versatile material. Our competition gives anyone with a smartphone as well as professional photographers, the chance to show just how essential concrete is to our lives, as well as how beautiful it can be.” 

Henrik Hagerup, whose overall winning photo captured a sublime moment at Venice Beach, USA said: “My image is a tribute to the way concrete, when embraced by creativity and passion, fosters connection, dreams, and boundless potential not just in skate parks, but in communities across the world. It’s a great honour to win the Concrete in Life 2024/25 competition.” 

Entries were submitted from every continent and included images of skyscrapers and the modern urban world, as well as key infrastructure such as transport networks, including railways, bridges and roads, and other important structures such as sea defences and dams. The photos also show more intimate human interactions in villages and playgrounds, as well as exquisitely designed architecture and much more. 

Diane Hoskins, Global Co-Chair of Gensler, one the world’s leading design and architecture companies, and competition judge said, “These winning images highlight the importance of concrete in the breadth of our lives – and they reinforce the importance of decarbonising concrete. Great design of our buildings and infrastructure is enabled by the important properties of concrete.” 

As well as the overall winner, four other category winners were also announced, each receiving a prize of $2,500 USD. Anvar Sadath TA was named category winner in the Urban Concrete category, for his photo called ‘Urban Flow’ set in Dubai, UAE, which includes the iconic Burj Khalifa. A photo of a Washington, D.C. subway station by Wentao Guo called ‘Structure as Aesthetics’ won the Concrete Infrastructure category. Wellington Kuswanto won the Concrete in Daily Life category for his picture of Bedok Jetty, Singapore. The Beauty and Design category was won by Artemio Layno for their photo ‘Broken Building’ set in Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

The People’s Vote prize, chosen by the public with a $5,000 USD prize, was won by Mohamed Rafi for his picture ‘Fluttering Through Life’ set in Pondicherry, India. 

Chris George, Content Director at Digital Camera World, who also judged this year’s competition said “Concrete is all around us and has a beauty that might not always be obvious to some people. The Concrete in Life global photography competition continues to prove it is possible to take stunning shots of architecture and the manmade environment that show off the beauty of this universal building material.” 

All the winners and shortlisted pictures as well as an online version of the gallery can be viewed at https://gccassociation.org/concreteinlife2425/ 

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Notes to editors: 

Winning images can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZZqviAV_vSTcv_YF1hYyAnWO3IACuOSj?usp=drive_link  

The full shortlist is available to download on our website: https://gccassociation.org/concreteinlife2425/   

You can view our winners video here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MZm7snv0bBMMUX_JHLRAJEgBRSwfPSwT?usp=drive_link 

About the GCCA: The GCCA and its members account for 80% of global cement production capacity outside of China, as well as a growing number of Chinese manufacturers. Member companies have committed to reducing and ultimately eliminating CO2 emissions in concrete, which currently account for around 7% globally, through implementation of the GCCA’s Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap – the first heavy industry to set out such a detailed plan. Together, the GCCA is committed to building a bright, resilient and sustainable concrete future for the industry and for the world. 

Additional quotes from winners: 

Henrik Hagerup, Overall winner – Venice Beach Skating, said: “I am truly honoured, overjoyed, and deeply humbled that you have chosen my image to represent GCCA as the Overall Winner of the Concrete in Life 2024/25 Competition.  

I captured my picture at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, a vibrant destination where people from all over the world come to enjoy the sun, the ocean and not least, the iconic skate park, this vibrant space is a magnet for creativity, where something exciting is always unfolding. When in L.A. I often spend hours here, camera in hand, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to emerge.  

From the very start, I noticed a young boy who I instinctively knew could become an essential part of my story. Through this image, I aimed to illustrate how concrete shapes the lives of those who play, dream, and push the limits of possibility. The experienced skater, who has mastered the smooth surface through dedication and skill, stands as an inspiration to the child, whose hopes and ambitions are just beginning to take form.   

My image is a tribute to the way concrete, when embraced by creativity and passion, fosters connection, dreams, and boundless potential not just in skate parks, but in communities across the world.” 

Description: A magical morning where the skaters work their magic on the concrete rink with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, the picture well illustrates the professional skater and the little boy who dreams big dreams. 

Anvar Sadath TA, Urban Concrete category winner – Urban Flow set in Dubai, said: “I am honoured to be the winner of the Concrete in Life 2024/25 competition in the Urban Concrete category! My winning photograph captures the dynamic relationship between concrete structures and the vibrant cityscape, reflecting how concrete shapes our urban experiences.   

Description: The iconic Burj Khalifa rises above the futuristic skyline, framed by surrounding architectural marvels and concrete curves, all mirrored in the shimmering waters of the city. 

Wellington Kuswanto Concrete in Daily Life category winner – Bedok Jetty in Singapore, said: “I’m truly thrilled that the judges selected my photo as the winner in the daily life category. Bedok Jetty holds a special place for me, as I cycle and hang out there every weekend. It inspired me to submit the image of this particular place for the competition, as it showcases a public space made of concrete structure that is actively used by many people engaging in various activities as part of their daily lives” 

Description: Bedok Jetty serves as an urban public space in Singapore, offering people a serene retreat for fishing, sport & leisure activities, and scenic waterfront view. Urban public space like this is vital for fostering community engagement, social interaction, and a sense of belonging among people Measured more than 250m in length, built on concrete construction. 

Wentao Guo winner of Concrete Infrastructure category – Structure as Aesthetics set in Washington, D.C. USA said: “I took this photo at one of the Washington, D.C. subway stations designed by Harry Weese. I was captivated by the moment when the transience of transportation runs into the permanence of concrete. Its obscurity becomes its greatest presence: its functionality, its aesthetic and its enduringness. Concrete is such an essential part of our lives, and it constructs so many characters of our built environment. I am very honored to be a winner of the Concrete in Life 2425 competition, having a valuable opportunity to reveal the essence of concrete in our built environment through my lens.” 

Description: “In Harry Weese’s Washington subway station, concrete transcends time and function: its light and shadow align precisely with the motion of countless trains passing through; its rectangular division aesthetically resonates with the sense of security and austerity of the mass transportation station in the United States’ capital city. 

Artemio Layno, Concrete Beauty and Design category winner – Broken Building set in Amsterdam, Netherlands said: “I am really happy and grateful that my photo is chosen to be a winner of the Concrete in Life 2425 competition. I took the photo in Amsterdam, Netherlands and I was amazed how creative and modern the design of the building is, it looks like it was cut-out and separated in the middle of the main structure, the design is created by a large number of terraces. Concrete is not just used as a necessity in creating structures, but it can also be used to showcase artistic works that are amazingly beautiful.” 

Description: Valley is a residential and office tower on the Zuidas in Amsterdam. The three towers are respectively 100 metres (north), 66 metres (west) and 76 metres (south) high. The 75,000-square-metre building, which was recently declared the world’s best new skyscraper by the Emporis Awards, stands out in Amsterdam. The construction of Valley took four years, with the first residents and entrepreneurs moving into the building at the end of 2021. 

Mohamed Rafi, Peoples Vote winner – Fluttering Through Life set in Pondicherry, India, said: “I am truly honoured to win the People’s Vote Category of the Concrete in Life 2024/25 competition. This photograph, taken in Pondicherry India, captures an everyday moment transformed by art: an elderly woman walking past a mural, unknowingly aligning with its butterfly wings painted in a wall. To me, it symbolizes resilience, unseen beauty, and how our surroundings shape us in ways we don’t always realise. Street photography is about finding meaning in fleeting moments, and I’m thrilled that this image resonated with so many people.” 

Description: When I saw this wall near Pondicherry Beach, I waited for someone to enter the frame. I captured a few casual shots, then this elderly woman walked in. Dressed in a floral outfit with a black shawl, she moved with quiet grace. I clicked my shutter as much as possible, not wanting to miss the moment. For me, it was a powerful intersection of reality and art, symbolizing unseen strength and the beauty of everyday life. 

Judges (decide all the categories except the people’s vote) 

Comments on the picture: 

Thomas Guillot, said: 

Overall winner 

“I marvel at the lightness with which the skateboarder is balancing compared with the strength of the concrete in a breathtaking interaction with light and colour.”  

Chris George, said: 

Urban concrete winner  – “Nice use of reflections in the water” 

Concrete in daily life winner  – “Clever telephoto framing creates a great monochrome image with lots of interesting details” 

Concrete infrastructure winner  – “Nice use of diagonal lines, and good lighting to show the patterns of the roofing” 

Concrete beauty and design winner - “A bold wide-angle view, and a beautiful sky.” 

Overall winner – “A great setting with the two skateboarders and the lifeguard hut creating a triangle of interest.”  

Peoples Vote winner –  “A clever use of ‘false juxtaposition.”