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Arts & Communication Integrating films in city planning and urban design

Integrating these foundational theories with insights New York’s neighborhood dynamics; City of God illustrates
from Jane Jacobs, Kevin Lynch, Henri Lefebvre, Aldo Rossi, the complex informality of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas; Before
and David Harvey adds further depth to the discussion. Sunrise showcases Vienna’s heritage urbanism; Office
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Jane Jacobs’s critique of modernism underscored the Space explores the raw urban landscapes of contemporary
significance of community and street life in urban settings, Los Angeles; La Zona delves into the exclusionary spaces of
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themes that can be explored through films depicting lively gated communities in Mexico City. Both The Naked City
neighborhood interactions and grassroots movements. and The Third Man depict the post-war urban landscape
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Kevin Lynch’s Image of the City applies to films emphasizing as complex, alienating environments – where The Naked
urban spaces’ navigability and mental mapping, City portrays the bustling, impersonal, and crime-ridden
illustrating how characters interact with and perceive streets of New York, and The Third Man presents a
their environments. Henri Lefebvre’s The Production of fractured, morally ambiguous Vienna, highlighting themes
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Space examines how social relationships are embedded of decay, division, and the dark undercurrents of modern
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within spatial forms, which can be portrayed in films urban life. The movie Crush depicts the most car-oriented
addressing power dynamics and social inequities in urban of cities, Los Angeles, and the car’s role in urban space and
contexts. Aldo Rossi’s Architecture of the City emphasized social life as well as the complex interplay of ethnicity
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the permanence and memory inherent in urban form, as and racism, and Blade Runner, presenting futuristic and
seen in films exploring historical continuity and cultural dystopian urban imaginaries of combined futuristic Los
heritage preservation. David Harvey’s Marxist Urbanism, Angeles and New York, are integral to the program’s and
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The Urban Experience analyzes the economic and political urban design unique filmography.
forces shaping urban environments, reflected in films These urbanism studios and modules investigate how
critiquing capitalism and exploring themes of gentrification architecture, city planning, and urban design – collectively
and displacement. 29 called urbanism – are represented in film and how film

In the selected case study films, locations are far from influences and constructs the built environment. Modern
th
mere backdrops; they interact profoundly with characters’ metropolises, emerging as 20 -century phenomena,
narratives, trigger retrospections, and shape their serve as sites for radical experiments by architects, urban
experiences, becoming essential elements of the cinematic designers, and city planners, shaped by the imaginations
plot. For example, the fragmented urban landscapes and actions of their diverse inhabitants. Films closely
of Collage City might mirror a character’s fragmented relate to cities, architecture, and urban contexts, exploring
psyche, while the chaotic energy of Manhattanism could how these elements evoke emotions and influence daily
life. Similarly, films use space, architecture, urban design,
underscore a storyline of ambition and conflict. Dystopian elements of urbanism, and landscapes to situate characters
futures depicted in science fiction films often draw and create dramatic action and emotions.
from Le Corbusier’s vision of towering high-rise cities,
while the ambiguous spaces of Terrain Vague symbolize Graduate students watch narrative films set in diverse
existential crises or societal neglect. By analyzing these urban environments across the United States, South
urban theories through the cinematic lens, we can better America, Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, Australia, and
understand how architectural and urban design principles Asia. These films showcase various urban contexts, from
influence physical spaces, cultural narratives, and personal cities rich in architectural heritage and cultural history
experiences. This dynamic approach offers invaluable to bustling modern commercial hubs. The cinematic
insights into the ongoing dialogue between urban theory depictions often resonate with students’ experiences
and the lived realities of urban life. from around the world. After viewing each film, students
engage in discussions, tasks, and workshops. Together
3. Methods and materials: Integrating films with their instructor, they analyze the film’s narrative and
in city planning and urban design graduate cinematography, examining how elements such as place,
studios and modules space, landscape, skyline, ensemble, and traffic contribute
In the multidisciplinary fields of city planning and urban 33 Office Space. (1999). Judge, M. (Director). 20th Century Fox. Los
design, understanding the interplay between human Angeles, CA, United States.
activities and urban structures is crucial. At KTH Royal 34 The Naked City. (1948). Dassin, J. (Director). Universal Pictures.
Institute of Technology in Stockholm, the School of 35 Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Architecture and the Built Environment leverages the The Third Man. (1949). Reed, C. (Director). London Films. London,
England, United Kingdom.
power of film to help students observe and compare these 36 Crush. (2022). Khubani, S. (Director). Hulu Originals. Los Angeles,
interactions globally. Films such as Do the Right Thing depict CA, United States.

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 6 doi: 10.36922/ac.4130