Number 1 London Bridge Building | Wall Art

Urban Architecture with River Thames in Sepia Tone

There’s something uniquely London about this image—where modern glass and steel sit side by side with gothic towers and centuries-old streets. I shot this from across the Thames just after sunset, when the city slips into that quiet hum and the buildings start to glow from within. You’re looking at Number One London Bridge, that square-cut giant with its glowing grid of windows, standing tall next to its glassy neighbour and the unmistakable spires of Southwark Cathedral peeking just beyond.

What I love about this scene is the juxtaposition. On the left, it’s clean, modern, almost corporate. On the right, it’s old-world charm wrapped in shadow and stone. The bridge slices through the lower half of the frame like a dividing line—both literal and symbolic—connecting the historic and the contemporary. And the water? Softened by the long exposure, it becomes a perfect mirror, blurring time and reflection into one texture.

I rendered this one in a warm-toned monochrome—not quite black and white, not quite sepia. It gives the piece a timeless feel, as if this could have been taken yesterday or thirty years ago. Without colour, you notice the form and light more intensely. The pattern of lit windows in the tower, the architectural symmetry, the delicate presence of the cathedral steeples—everything finds its balance.

For me, London’s appeal is in this kind of contrast. It’s a city constantly evolving, yet always grounded in its past. You’ll see futuristic architecture rising alongside centuries-old churches. I’m not trying to romanticize the city—I’m just interested in the truth of it. The tension, the harmony, the in-between spaces. That’s what draws me in when I photograph places like this.

This piece belongs in the Modern Photography collection, which explores the architectural and structural stories told by our urban environments. If you’re curious how these urban contrasts can translate into compelling, design-forward wall decor, I unpack more of that in the City Skylines Wall Art article.

© Dan Kosmayer, 2024