“If it’s a good movie, the sound could go off and the audience would still have a pretty clear idea of what was going on.” -Alfred Hitchcock
Let's face it, movies often serve as the best sources of architectural inspiration.
Just consider how much effort set designers and film directors put into constructing a world that moviegoers can believe in. Additionally, we frequently don't realize that sets are used to make entire movies.
The ideal experience for architects and anybody who appreciates architecture, nevertheless, is to see films that have strong design themes. Having an architect or the theme of architecture as the central focus is advantageous.
The scenery in a movie is a built environment. Frames that filmmakers insert with people, lives, and emotions build up landscapes, homes, and cities. Their relationship is undeniable, and the outcomes of this combination can occasionally be astounding. Architecture interacts with the environments in which it is found, both natural and man-made. The volume, color, and texture schemes that are chosen, as well as the movement within and around an architectural structure, greatly influence the theme of a film. Here is a list of 5 movies about architecture whether you're a fan of drama and architecture and want to appreciate the plot lines and the buildings that were included in the films, or if you're a student of architecture and want to have some time to yourself while learning more about it.
1.The Architect (2016)
(Image from: IMDb)
Let's start with a lighthearted movie about an architect who is hired to build the married couple's dream home. Everything, however, takes a bizarre turn when the modernist eccentric architect chooses to build his fantasy home rather than theirs. The English actor James Frain plays the architect Miles Moss in the Jonathan Parker-directed movie.
Despite being overblown in many places, the movie reflects on architectural tropes. At the same time, the film focuses on an ambitious couple who has no idea what it takes to build a house and is frequently stymied by their peers. In addition, prepare to see stunning images of the University of Washington School of Architecture studio, which serves as the architect's office.
2. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
(Image from: IMDb)
Blade Runner 2049 takes place thirty years after the events of the first film. Agent K is a new Blade Runner working for the Los Angeles Police Department. While tracking down a replicant, he discovers a long-buried truth that has the potential to destabilize what's left of civilization. This finding sends him on a mission to find Rick Deckard, a former L.A.P.D. Blade Runner has been missing for quite some time.
The film Blade Runner may seem like an obvious option for this list. Images of the city appear to be influenced by Brutalism, a type of architectural modernism distinguished by the heavy use of bare concrete, or "beton brut," from which the style derives its name. For those who are familiar with the differing perspectives on this style, which is sometimes characterized as frigid or oppressive, the video appears to support the negative commentary around Brutalism. Failed Architecture examines the architecture of Blade Runner 2049 and how closely it resembles Brutalism.
3. Inception (2010)
(Image from: IMDb)
We couldn't build a list without mentioning a Christopher Nolan film. The obvious choice would be Leonardo DiCaprio's Inception, which kept everyone thinking about dreams.
On the surface, it's an espionage thriller in which the protagonist, Dom Cobb, works as a thief who steals people's secrets from their dreams. And the film follows his quest to reclaim whatever he loves. At the same time, it's about architects who can create an alternative reality. As a result, if building design is your dream, you should start by viewing this film.
4. Parasite (2019)
(Image from: IMDb)
Given its legendary status, this film nearly doesn't need an introduction. As the film analyzes the relationship between the Park family and the Kim dynasty, who symbolize two opposing sides of South Korea's class divide, classicism plays a significant part. The physical environment they share contains symbolic design elements that allude to their connection.
One film in which architecture plays a character is Site. Their physical environment contains symbolic design gestures that allude to their love. Many designers understand the importance of vertical levels in establishing a hierarchy in a project. This is never more evident than in this 2019 film. The skillfully shot scenes display force and classicism in a way that is virtually difficult to express by simple architectural moves. To truly understand this film, you must watch it.
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
(Image from: IMDb)
Few people can compete with Wes Anderson in terms of grandeur and visual aesthetics. The plot of this film centers around the Grand Budapest Hotel, a European ski resort managed by M. Gustave.
Along with the epic structure, the picture features an ensemble cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, and Saoirse Ronan, to name a few. The film contains everything from a murder mystery to a well-paced comedy. Even though the story opens in the 1960s, you are quickly transported to the 1930s and the golden days of the hotel.
The film is visually spectacular, in a true Wes Anderson way, with exotic hues and symmetrical arrangements. The movie poster alone is reason enough to include The Grand Budapest Hotel on this list. However, the most brilliant and skillfully designed scenes will undoubtedly inspire you to create some colorful interiors.
These are only five of my favorite architecture movies, and I hope you enjoy them all. There are plenty of other outstanding films that architecture fans would undoubtedly enjoy. So, when it comes to films that may be inspirational, it's essential to keep an open mind. On that topic, I'd like to suggest that you savor a film like you would any other work of art. As a result, especially in the case of older films, try to immerse yourself in them and marvel at the stunning visual depiction of architecture. Have fun with the visual treats CADBEshies!
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