Watching films through the eyes of an architect: when cinema teaches design

Have you ever watched a film and found yourself mesmerized not just by the story but by the spaces, the lighting, and the choice of materials?

Cinema is often one of the greatest sources of inspiration for those who design or dream about the environments they want to live in. It’s not just about spectacular sets but real lessons in how space interacts with those who inhabit it.
DUNE 1 & 2 are extraordinary examples of this concept. Denis Villeneuve has crafted a visual universe where architecture, materials, and light tell far more than meets the eye. The monolithic buildings, raw surfaces, and vast, undecorated spaces communicate a sense of power, discipline, and even isolation. It’s an aesthetic of subtraction—suggesting more than it reveals. The same principle applies to a well-designed interior: the quality of space is not always defined by the number of elements but by how they relate to the people who live within them.
But the architecture of DUNE is not just about form. Color is a powerful language, and in these two films, every tone is carefully curated in earthy, sandy, mineral hues. At first glance, the palette might seem monochromatic, but in reality, every subtle variation is intentional: browns leaning toward red, grays with hints of blue, ochres blending with bronze. This is a refined lesson—chromatic coherence doesn’t mean banality but a conscious selection of how tones interact.
The same principle extends to the costumes, which feel like a natural extension of the architecture. The fabrics seem almost sculpted, worked in a way that enhances the texture of each fold, as if they were part of the landscape itself. Fashion and architecture share the same philosophy—essential yet powerful forms, materials designed for endurance, and colors that speak the language of nature.
Watching a film through the eyes of an architect means understanding the role of light. In DUNE, light filters through narrow openings, creating geometric patterns on the walls and emphasizing volume. Light is as deliberately designed as the buildings themselves. This is something that can be applied in real interiors: light is not just functional—it’s an element that can shape a space, making it welcoming or imposing, altering its very perception.
Of course, DUNE is just one example. Cinema is full of masterpieces where architecture and design play as much of a role as the characters themselves. Blade Runner 2049, with its dystopian atmospheres and razor-sharp lighting. Her, with its warm, enveloping design that envisions a technology that feels personal and human. Brazil, with its visionary brutalism that distorts reality. Every film can be a style lesson if viewed with the right perspective.
Perhaps, next time you immerse yourself in a film, try this exercise:
🔹 Observe the spaces, the light, the materials, the colors.
🔹 Ask yourself how they make you feel, what details you would bring into your home, what elements could be reinterpreted in your daily life.
Because training your eye to beauty means shaping your way of living.
And if you come across films with particularly stunning architecture or set design, let us know!
We’re always on the lookout for inspiration. 🎬✨