FILMS, VIDEOS & DVDS Architecture, Design & Planning Shigeru Ban: An Architect for Emergencies A FILM BY MICHEL QUINEJURE NEWEW The Japanese architect Shigeru release Ban is noted for his use of inexpen- sive construction materials such as paper- board and cardboard tubes, which, in addition to providing emergency DIY prefab housing for earthquake victims, he has used to create homes, pavilions and churches. In the documentary SHIGERU BAN this “Shigeru Ban is a global architect. He innovative architect discusses the practical, thinks, travels, and works without bound- philosophical and aesthetic aspects of his aries. His work has profound relevance work. In addition to his conservationist because of its ability to draw together both interest in using recycled materials, Ban world events and personal beliefs.” discusses his influences, his concerns with —Frei Otto, Architect and Engineer the bidimensional and tridimensional nature of his buildings, his aim to incorporate struc- 53 minutes | color | 2006 | tural elements into the overall designs, as Sale/DVD: $390 Order # AD7-01 well as their sensitivity to light and shade, which lends unusual vitality to his buildings. SHIGERU BAN is also a visual exploration of many of Ban’s major buildings, including the massive Japanese Pavilion for the 2000 Exposition in Hanover, Germany; the Paper Dome in Gero, Japan; the House with Double Roof in Yamanaka Lake, Japan; the Miyake Design Studio Gallery, the Hanegi Forest Home and the Ivy Structure 2 in Tokyo; the Paper Church in Kobe; and the 9 Square Grids House in Hadano. While showcasing his designs, SHIGERU BAN reveals that an emphasis on issues of conservation, economy, and accessibility does not necessarily involve a sacrifice in architectural beauty. FIRST RUN / ICARUS FILMS Santiago Calatrava’s Travels The Future of Mud: The Tale of a Mason’s Family A FILM BY CHRISTOPH SCHAUB A FILM BY SUSAN VOGEL / PRESENTED BY THE MUSÉE NATIONAL DU MALI Commissioned to design the new transporta- tion hub at the new World Trade Center in New York City, architect Santiago Calatrava is widely recognized as the greatest living Through the story of a mason in Komousa, family members and Madame designer of structures such as airports and NEWEW release Djenne, Komusa Tenapo, and his Diallo, a Cultural Heritage official, present train stations. His awesome and often family, this documentary examines an African information on the history of Malian architec- controversial creations can be found all over tradition of mud architecture in Mali. The ture. The film also shows the annual replas- the globe. environmental genius of these ancient tering of Dejenne’s Great Mosque, the largest SANTIAGO CALATRAVA’S TRAVELS accom- construction techniques—thick walls with mud brick building in the world, a day-long, panies the designer on visits to work sites, equipoise, which are inspired by waves, tiny windows that keep the interiors cool boisterous community effort, and a major illustrates many of his best-known construc- trees, wind, wings, the human body, and despite the stifling heat—is expressed in public celebration observed by local tions—including railway stations, bridges, other natural elements. strikingly beautiful designs that have won the residents and a few tourists. concert halls, and airports—and features his town of Djenne designation as a World 2007 RAI International Festival of comments on the creative process, and his “A splendid film! Breathtaking!… essential Heritage site. Ethnographic Film inspirations in architectural and art history. viewing for all architectural and building THE FUTURE OF MUD reveals Komusa’s hand The result is a display of Calatrava’s unique construction students.” 58 minutes | color | 2007 building methods, utilizing sun-dried bricks structural designs—buildings as visual —Leonardo: The Journal of the International Sale/DVD: $390 | Order # AD7-04 made of mud from the flood plain which sculptures, noted for their dynamic Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology contains decayed fish and cattle manure that “Enables us to understand his creative are mixed with organic materials such as thought process and to arrive at a clear straw and rice chaff. The film shows him at comprehension of his work.” work on two building sites, and at the annual —Ballast Quarterly Reviews repair of the Great Mosque, employing “Recommended! Makes accessible a thousand-year-old construction techniques, timeless art in the hands of a modern plus the secret knowledge he inherited from master.”—Educational Media Reviews Online his family of masons, including religious rituals to protect homes and workers from 77 minutes | color | 1999 evil spirits. Sale/DVD: $390 | Order # AD7-02 2 FIRST RUN / ICARUS FILMS SEE PAGE 15 FOR ORDERING INFORMATION 3 Eileen Gray: Designer and Architect Lagos/Koolhaas A FILM BY JÖRG BUNDSCHUH A FILM BY BREGTJE VAN DER HAAK NEWEW Eileen Gray (1878-1976) was always Rem Koolhaas—winner of the Pritzker release ahead of her time. And thirty years Architecture Prize—is a Professor of after her death, she is still considered the Architecture and Urban Design at Harvard. very essence of the Modern. For the past eleven years Koolhaas and students from The Harvard Project on the Everyone has seen her furniture—including City have come to Lagos, Nigeria regularly to the famous Adjustable Table, the Lota Sofa, research the type of urban environment and the Tube Light—but most people don’t produced by explosive population growth. really know the designer and architect who created them. The Project on the City is framed by two concepts: academia’s bewilderment with Gray studied at the Slade School of Fine Arts new forms of accelerated urbanization in in London before moving to Paris in 1902 developing regions and the maelstrom of where she continued redevelopment in existing urban areas; and her studies, “Highly Recommended! Excellent! Easy to the failure of the design professions to mastered view and understand. Rem Koolhaas has adequately cope with these changes. done it again.” lacquer work EILEEN GRAY: Designer and Architect also —Educational Media Reviews Online and estab- examines the history of her architectural LAGOS / KOOLHAAS follows Koolhaas over a lished the creations, including E.1027, built in Roquebrune, period of two years as he wanders through “A fascinating and provocative insight into Galerie Jean France, in 1926. This modernist seaside the city, talking with people and recognizing the very extremes of globalizing modernity Désert, from villa—an L-shaped, flat-roofed building with the problems with water, electricity and and urbanization… engaging and stimu- which she floor-to-ceiling windows and a spiral stair- traffic. Instead of judging the city to be lating viewing!” sold her avant- case—has been declared a French national doomed, he is able to interpret this “culture —Visual Anthropology Review garde, luxury of congestion” positively, helping to develop monument and is now being restored. After 2003 Architects Series, furniture pieces. a new concept of the big city. Gray left the home in the early 1930s, it was Museum of Modern Art (New York) occupied by Le Corbusier, who decorated its walls with colorful murals, which Gray 2003 International Environmental considered a desecration, and the argument Film Festival destroyed their friendship. 55 minutes | color | 2002 | Using archival footage, excerpts from Gray’s Sale/DVD: $390 Order # AD7-05 writings, plus interviews with a museum curator, an art appraiser and a design manufacturer, EILEEN GRAY chronicles this designer’s artistic formation, her travels and influences, and her relations with fellow artists and architects such as Jean Badovici, Seizo Sugawara, and Le Corbusier, 52 minutes | color | 2007 Sale/DVD: $390 | Order # AD7-03 4 FIRST RUN / ICARUS FILMS CALL TOLL FREE: 800.876.1710 5 In the Mind of the Architect Kochuu: Japanese Architecture / Influence & Origin A 3-PART SERIES BY JANNE RYAN & TIM CLARK A FILM BY JESPER WACHTMEISTER “Wonderfully interesting. Rich and KOCHUU is a visually stunning film about diverse.”—Ballast Quarterly Review modern Japanese architecture, its roots in Japanese culture, and its interplay with the “A masterful job of explaining architectural Nordic building tradition. Winding its way concepts [and] a very stylish production.” through visions of the future and traditional —The Age concepts, nature and concrete, gardens “Fascinating! Beautifully presented, and high-tech spaces, the film investigates photographed and argued.”—The Mercury how many contemporary Japanese archi- tects strive to unite the ways of modern man From the Modernist ideas of Europe and Best Documentary, 2000 Victorian North America, through the eccentricity of Architecture Awards with the old philosophies in astounding “A small film with big thoughts… a dynamic Postmodernism, and to the importance of constructions. The Bates Smart Award for Architecture dialogue in design spanning the past, climate and place, this 3-part series is an in the Media (2000) KOCHUU, which translates as “in the jar,” present, and future… Wachtmeister’s film investigation into the eclectic world of refers to the Japanese tradition of 3 x 55 minutes | color | 2000 footage of architects describing their design architects and their creations. Sale/DVD: $490 | Order # AD7-06 constructing small, enclosed physical ideas within their realized buildings is a Featuring buildings that are striking, contro- spaces. The film illustrates key components veritable historical document.”—Journal