Architecture in the Leading Role

Architecture and cinema, as two disciplines that reflect upon and produce space, action, and time, have interacted with each other since the first film appeared on the silver screen, constantly offering new possibilities and new ways of seeing. This is why the mutually fertile relationship between architecture and cinema has been the subject of numerous studies, ranging from the conceptualization of space to its staging, production, and presentation. In recent years, the field of architectural history has also shown increased interest in cinema films, attempting to view them as "a tool for documenting architectural history." Especially with the emergence of "realist" cinema movements after the Second World War, and with directors, actors, and cameras moving from studio and set environments to the streets, a more authentic and intimate cinematic language was created through natural narratives, improvised dialogues, and most importantly, real location shoots. Looking back, the urban areas, neighborhoods, architectural structures, and interiors in the background of these film scenes offer significant insights into the design culture of modern architecture that we have lost or are trying to understand better. Starting from the point where this foundational role of Turkish films in documenting and interpreting modern architecture in the Turkish context was recognized, and through hundreds of Turkish films watched over five years, a visual archive of many modern architectural heritage sites of different scales and functions was created through a collective effort. We are delighted to compile the articles written using part of the archive material in this book.

Umut Şumnu