The Narratives of Architectural Scenarios: An Exploration of Cinema Composition

Abstract

In the 20th century, the field of architecture underwent significant transformations, initiating interdisciplinary collaborations with various artistic domains such as painting, literature, and cinema. This departure from traditional design processes signifies a shifting perspective towards the essence of architecture, thereby creating opportunities for artistic interventions. Among these interdisciplinary intersections, cinema has emerged as a prominent subject of study within architectural education, owing to shared narrative exchanges and spatial organization principles. Both architecture and cinema evoke sensory experiences and emotional responses through their manipulation of spatial and temporal elements. Architects engage in narrative storytelling through spatial sequences, akin to filmmakers constructing scenes, blurring the boundaries between static structures and dynamic narratives. The reciprocal influence between cinema and architecture is evident. Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" exemplifies how architectural environments enrich cinema with depth and emotional resonance. Conversely, cinema inspires architectural design, particularly through montage techniques. Architects like Rem Koolhaas integrate cinematic narrative principles into their works, creating dynamic spatial sequences reminiscent of film editing. Under the influence of cinema and architecture, directors like Alfred Hitchcock and architects like Adolf Loos independently utilize similar spatial narrative concepts in their respective works.