The cinematic space: How to use cinematography as a design tool in architecture

Abstract

Within the cinematic universe, colour, lighting, framing, and composition are important narrative tools used deliberately to transport the viewer from the real world into the cinematic one. In films, these techniques are used to steer our emotions and help us relate to the themes of the film. So, why do architects rarely use these tools to help people understand and relate to their designs? This master’s thesis explores the parallels between cinematography and architecture by examining how cinematic principles can be used as design tools in architecture and architectural representation. By using principles such as framing, composition, colour theory, lighting, and storytelling, the intention was to determine how these could influence the architectural design process. Connections between the visual language of film and architecture were drawn to strengthen the argument that cinematography is a beneficial design tool that should be used by architects. The theories were manifested into design through a speculative approach where an old industrial building in Gamlesta den, Gothenburg, was transformed into a cinema using cinematographic methods. This transformation revealed how cinematic elements strengthen the phenomenological aspects of architecture and contribute to a more im mersive and meaningful architectural experience. One central argument for this thesis is that storytelling is a crucial and useful part of architecture and representation that is often dismissed or forgotten. Storytelling has the potential to impact our spatial perception by focusing on how human narratives instil meaning in the built environment, breathing life into architecture. It shifts the focus from the building itself to the human per ception of it and the lived experience. Understanding the relationship between architecture and cinematography, provides new perspectives on how cinematography, when integrated into the design process, can enrich architecture, and create more immersive and emotionally resonant built environments. This research is relevant to anyone within the fields of architecture interested in pushing the boundaries of tradi tional design methodologies.