Architectural Cinema Thursdays

The past few weeks’ Thursday evenings have seen the KZNSA Gallery garden packed with picnic blankets. We’ve had great support for Architectural Cinema Thursdays, a series of film nights highlighting architecturally slanted films. The series will continue for the next 4 weeks with the programme updated online every week. Each wek a short film or documentary is shown at 6:30, followed by a feature-length film at 7. This week’s films include a short documentary from the Smithsonian Design for the other 90% followed by Visual Acoustics, a look at the works of Julius Schulman, the animated photographer who brought the case study houses to life.

Thanks to the sponsors Dorma, Mouldings and Frames International and the Cement and Concrete Institute event is free for all, and CPD points will be awarded.

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A glassy gathering

Hugh Fraser, that guy from Glass South Africa who gets to travel round the world looking at buildings, was in town last night for an architectural evening at the beachfront.

About 60 or so people arrived at the Marine Surf Lifesaving Club (otherwise known as “The building with the tiles” or “Koop’s building”) for sundowners overlooking the beach, followed by some high-speed slides. Hugh has developed a special manner of presentation which involves speeding through photos of buildings. The photos seem to be taken on continuous shutter release, and so it reads more like a film than a slideshow, accompanied by his provocative narrative. “He is wonderfully fun,” commented one viewer.

We were treated to a dynamic set of presentations; the first covered the latest in glass printing technology as well as innovative techniques in glass from around the world while the second was all about travelling and spectacular architecture.

I left with a refreshed and inspired perspective on glass, and a niggling feeling of wanderlust.

(Sigh! Thank goodness the weekend is upon us!)

Kevin Bingham (KZNIA Education Chair), Nina Saunders (KZNIA President), Hugh Fraser (Glass South Africa), Angela Forbes and Trish Emmett (UIA).

LOCAL ARCHI-FILM

Jeremy Steere Architects had their exhibition opening and short film showing last week. The short film, entitled “2 Days” gave a picturesque and often humorous insight into the rationale behind Jeremy’s architecture. It was a refreshing, inspiring and beautifully put together piece, and really brought attention to the differences in conditions that architects experience in various parts of KZN: the backdrop of the conditions of Zululand brought a new dimension to the experience of the architecture.

Many thanks to Safintra for sponsorship of the evening.

To watch the film [ click here ]

More photos on our facebook page: [ click here ]

The board room was turned into a movie theatre complete with surround sound. We had 2 showings (and then another just in case) to accommodate everyone.

Clint Hartley, Mdu Mkwanazi, Jeremy Steere, Laurianne Steere, Nina Saunders

UNHINGED

We showed a film at 160 Bulwer last night. Apart from the popcorn and drinks, it was awesome to have the sound system blaring the screeching noises of Joburg into our events room! And then we played some music and sat around and nattered a bit while polishing off the last of the popcorn.

Thanks to our lovely little crowd! And also of course to Adrian Loveland and his film people, for donating the DVD’s for give-away.

 

BARRY RONGE GETS ARCHITECTURAL

Image from the film: Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee

The annual Archi Film Fest is upon us! I cannot wait for the opening on Thursday. Every year I see as many as my pocket will allow, and always come away with something to inspire and spark the mind. Of course there was that one doccie a few years back on contemporary use of Mongolian tents that an old fart nearby me fell asleep in but it just goes to show: You can’t always please everyone, but you can confuse them.
Barry Ronge interviewed Karen Eicker about the films that plant seeds in your head. Listen here *