Mike Schwartz has lived all over the Midwest: Minnesota, Ohio, Kansas, and now Illinois. In 2004, he moved to Chicago to pursue his passion for architectural photography. He recently graduated from Columbia College Chicago, where he received a degree in photography. Since then, Schwartz has shot for a variety of editorial clients, while pursuing personal projects. His current project, entitled 2.7 million, examines spaces that are capable of accommodating several thousands of people. The photographs study the architecture required to hold such numbers, while teasing out an unseen atmosphere that the venues contain.

In honor of BMW's 1 Series — a reincarnated, improved version of BMW's classic 1968 sport sedan — Flavorpill has selected five photographers to capture their cities' distinct architectural landscapes. Each photographer highlights the dichotomy between the past and the future, evoking each city's pure, unshakable essence in his own unique style. Check out the full versions of the work here.