Nils Koenning is a Berlin based photographer with a strong focus on documenting architecture and the built environment.
Concerned with questions of place, identity and belonging, his work explores formal aspects of architecture and everyday environments alike. Following a contextual narrative, he aims to capture not only form, but atmosphere, emotion and sense of place by documenting the interplay of space, context and people.
Nils’ visual documentation in stills and video are frequently published and exhibited and form a regular part of the contemporary dialog in the architecture world.
Background
Born in the heart of post-industrialised Germany, Nils grew up in the changing environment of former coal mining and steel production. His education had a strong focus on visual and performing art, which lead to the development of a deep sense of curiosity for his surroundings. A decade of family migration to Australia further stimulated his growing interest for change and the connection to place and memory, questioning the real and imaginary.
Nils generally understands the built environment as a natural instrument for social and cultural investigation and an instigator for change. His view changes, depending on the mode of work – close, tactile and soft towards the ordinary and imaginative, or hard and almost unreal, with a more formal lens.
Work
2025 – Randgefühle – images and video installation investigating and area of Berlin and the feeling of disconnectedness.
2020 – mountains and valleys – ongoing project
2019 – Haus der Statistik, Berlin. Ongoing long-term documentation of the House of Statistics in Berlin and its transformation process.
2019 – RMX – commissioned body of work documenting the process of recycling building material.
2016 – Souvenir, body of work dealing with loss, memory and belonging.
2015 – MRKTSQ, commissioned artwork of a decommissioned structure.
2014 – Common Realities, combination of works investigating realities in the perception and communication of architecture and the built environment.
2013 – Familiar Disappearance, ongoing body of work investigating the loss of personal connection to place and change/loss of memory, Germany.
2012 – El mas feliz, portraits of Salvadorian people, El Salvador, Central America.
2012 – Black Sands, a personal view on the much undervalued country of El Salvador, Central America.
2011 – Slow mornings, a homage to a temporary place of shelter, Melbourne, Australia.
2009 – Austraphobia, ongoing body of work examining Australian values through questions of place and identities, Australia.
2008/09 – Monsters, a project dealing with the drastic recline of native Australian bushland, Queensland, Australia.
2007/08 – Schlussverkauf, photographic essay investigating the effects of a centralised mega-shopping mall on small-scale urban retail fabric, Essen, Germany.
2007/08 – Urban Nomads no.1.08, editorial work in image and text, Bochum, Germany.
Awards and Nomination
2014 – Australia Council for the Arts – Market Development Grant, Melbourne, Australia
2013 – Sydney Myer Creative Fellowship – nominee, nominated by Prof. Philip James Goad, The University of Melbourne
2008 – Development grant, University of Applied Sciences, Bochum, Germany
2007 – Development grant, University of Applied Sciences, Bochum, Germany
Solo Exhibition
2025 – Randgefühle at Schaufenter B-L in Berlin, Germany
2019 – RMX at remex headquarter in Essen, Germany
2015 – MRKTSQ at TAUT Space, Melbourne, Australia
Group Exhibition
2023 – Haus der Statistik as part of Raumlabor’s exhibitiion at Arsenale, La Biennale di Architettura, Venice, Italy.
2019 – Haus der Statistik as part of the Tallinn Architecture Biennale
2014 – Common Realities as part of the exhibition Time Space Exsistence at the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale, Venice, Italy
2010 – Monsters as a part of GreenVoice, Maison des association, in accordance with ICV, Geneva, Switzerland. 2007/2008 – Urban Nomads, University of Applied Sciences, Bochum, Germany.
Permanent Collection
2015 – Common Realities, part of the private collection at the Lyon Housemuseum, Melbourne, Australia
Publication
2016/2017 – Souvenir, self-published book with images from a body of work dealing with loss, memory and belonging.
2012 – 2017 – Various, ongoing publication of architecture projects in various online and print media –
Archdaily, Dezeen, Baunetz, Architecture Australia, Artichoke, C3, uncube.
2014 – Untitled, BaunetzWoche#377, Baunetz, Germany. Selected images of ongoing body of work Austraphobia.
2013 – Untitled, Freerange vol.6, Freerange Press, NZ. Selected images of ongoing body of work Austraphobia.
2008/2009 – Urban Nomads no1.08, magazine for urban culture.
Education
2007 – 2008 Master in architecture (highest honours) at the University of Applied Sciences in Bochum, North-Rhein Westfalia, Germany, focusing on the contribution of photography as a form visual communication to the exploration and understanding of socio-cultural circumstances to a broad audience.
2001 – 2007 Diploma (high distinction) in architecture at the University of Applied Sciences in Bochum, North-Rhein Westfalia, Germany.
1986 – 1999 Rudolf-Steiner School Bochum Langendreer.