This course explores urban and architectural space from the perspective of the moving and perceiving human body through the use of film. During the first part of the semester, the work will focus on film analysis, the study and discussion of film-, and cognitive theory, and an exploration of the intersection between film and architecture through writing and drawing. Hong Kong, a city that presents a variety and unparalleled density of unique spatial qualities that can be described as “cinematic”, as well as its movies, will serve as a primary case study. In addition, the lectures, discussions and investigations will be inclusive of a more global consideration of film culture and theories, examples of cities, as well as architectural precedents. The second part of the semester will be dedicated to the creative exploration of principles found during the preceding studies through experimentation with model making, filming, and drawing.
Through this course, students will engage in film analysis, discussions on film and architectural theory and writing, drawing and physical model making, filming and editing to explore architectural fundamentals and their impact on human space perception, and to experiment with architectural and cinematic tools of representation and their capacity to communicate notions of movement and experience in relation to built and conceived space.
