Mumbai Design Expert Discussed Importance of Architecture in Cinema

Design Of Architecture

Mumbai Design Expert Discussed Importance of Architecture in Cinema

The CEO and co-founder of AMA Design Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Mihum Sheth wrote an op-ed in 2019 regarding the strong relationship between architecture and cinema. The Lifestye op-ed was written for The Times of India, through which the AMA CEO further explained the strong connection between the two art forms. Sheth described architecture as an art that expresses its identity through structures, while cinema does so through narrative writing presented by a play of visual expressions.

Architecture for cinematic purposes is about providing visuals in a scene as a means to enhance and make the storyline intricate. He likened the experience it brings as similar to teleportation. He added that cinema without architecture will not succeed in trying to present the look and feel of the scenes. Architecture is one of the factors that make the story much more believable and authentic, as it makes the background and setting for the story plausible.

However, Sheth points out that achieving a realistic-looking architecture is only possible with the joint efforts of specialists and assistants.

Examples of Architecture’s Perfect Setting for Blockbuster Movies

A few examples of highly effective architecture mentioned by Mithun Sheth, which clearly defined the significant role played by architecture in a blockbuster movie:

“Bladerunner” – This film has a sci-fi noir setting in which architectural inspiration was drawn mostly from the 1927 movie “Metropolis and from the Hong Kong skyline. The works of the late futuristic Italian architect Antonio Sant’Ella influenced the setting of both Metropolis and Blade Runner.

The Terminal – This 128-minute Steven Spielberg movie is placed in several locations inside a bustling airport terminus. The portrayal of the kaleidoscope of emotions would not have been effective if without the authentic architecture of the airport terminal in which the passenger felt the angst of getting stuck for hours.

Post-Apocalyptic Movies – Movies with a post-apocalyptic theme, where structures underwent destruction, or at the least. be transformed into ruins. Movies that used real and iconic locations in their post-apocalyptic scenes include:
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” where viewers saw the destruction of pyramids in Giza.

The X-Men allowed a mentally challenged old superpower to relocate the Golden Gate Bridge.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood destroyed the Millenium Bridge.

Architecture in filmmaking is also about designing entirely new world settings like that of Pandora in James Cameron’s Avatar.

Movie aficionados looking for more examples of how architecture teleported audiences to a different time and place, will find several on the list of the Top 10 Crime-Thriller Movies of All Time, specifically The Godfather, The Silence of the Lambs, The Departed, and The Shawshank Redemption.

 

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