Winter Movie Nights

RAMS

The much-loved movie night series are one of the best ways for our members to earn continuing education credits in a relaxed manner, and a premier event in the AIA UK yearly programme. As winter held its grip on the kingdom, much needed respite from the daily rigmarole came in the form of our first movie of the 2023 Series: Rams.

This is a documentary portrait of Dieter Rams, one of the most influential designers alive, and a rumination on consumerism, sustainability, and the future of design.

“Indifference towards people and the reality in which they live is actually the one and only cardinal sin in design.” – Dieter Rams

For over fifty years, Dieter Rams has left an indelible mark on the field of product design and the world at large with his iconic work at Braun and Vitsoe. The objects Dieter has designed have touched the lives of millions of people––so many of us have had a Braun coffeemaker, shaver, stereo, calculator, speakers, or alarm clock. Or an Oral-B toothbrush. Or a Vitsoe 606 shelving system. Or any of the hundreds of other products Dieter has designed or overseen the design of.

His work has influenced the way most of today's consumer products look and function. The computer or phone you're reading this on looks the way it does because of Dieter Rams. Dieter's influence also extends to his "Ten Principles of Good Design," a list of edicts that champions simplicity, honesty, and restraint, and still applies to design theory and practice today.

Our movie series cover all aspects of design and not just architecture. Both members and non-members in attendance were thoroughly impressed by the documentary on this visionary designer. There were lively and critical discussions of Dieter Rams’ work and philosophies, especially his advocacy for the ideas of environmental consciousness and long-lasting products. Also debated were his views on today's unsustainable world of over-consumption, where "design" has been reduced to a meaningless marketing buzzword. The audience found the documentary enlightening and very engaging.

MAKING SPACE - 5 WOMEN CHANGING THE FACE OF ARCHITECTURE

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry!

Scheduled to be screened on Tuesday 07 April 2023, this movie was to coincide with International Women's Day. Unfortunately the BFI Stephen Street had staffing issues, and so the movie had to be postponed at the last minute. We finally screened it on the last Tuesday in April to an almost sold-out cinema! The month-long wait was not in vain after all.

For the first time in history, women are creating some of the most exciting architectural designs in the world. How have they navigated their way to the top? What is the nature of their creative process? Are there gender differences in architectural design?

Making Space is a full-length documentary film about five dynamic and accomplished female architects: Annabelle Selldorf (New York), Marianne McKenna (Toronto), Kathryn Gustafson (Seattle and London), Farshid Moussavi (London), and Odile Decq (Paris). Come with us on this intimate journey as we see how these women are transforming the landscape of the 21st Century.  

This movie was inspiring if I were to sum up the reviews at the end. It broke the record of our longest post-movie debate to date, and the discussion could have carried on much longer. The attendees were inspired, and many of the women especially, shared their experiences of working in architecture and design practices. Lively discussions about gender differences and issues in the architecture & design fields ensued, as well as what changes could be adopted. 

This documentary brought the Winter/Spring movie series to an exciting close, and we can't wait to welcoming you back to the Autmn series. 

Many thanks to all our members and the non-members who continue to support the movie night series, and make them a success!

Written by Christopher Musangi, AIA