all images © Henning Larsen Architects

In October 2014, the Henning Larsen Foundation launched an international competition on architecture and film. The aim of the competition is to revitalize the use of architecture on film and foster new inspiration to architects and film professionals. On Henning Larsen’s birthday, August 20th, the names of the three winners were announced. The competition garnered 118 entries from 23 countries. Cole Phoenix Skaggs, architecture student at Cornell University in New York, USA, won first place. According to the judging committee Cole has been able “to create an entity of cinematic space and architectural space.”

Jette Lehmann, a member of the judging committee, on the selection of Skaggs’ film ’78 hours’: “The film possesses cinematic qualities, which provide the spectators with an interlaced experience of time, light, sound, space and movement. It’s a love-struck dance through a building, which we sense the filmmaker knows very well. The dual look, partially at the spaces’ architectural qualities, partly at the users of the building, expresses a respectful fascination with the architecture students’ gestalt in their own intense, creative space. The student who works all night does not perceive anything other than the space he/she is creating on paper.” ’78 hours’ is filmed at Millstein Hall at Cornell University. The building was designed by Rem Koolhass and OMA. 

Sam Renseiw is the runner-up with the film ‘détournement.’ Renseiw is a nom-de-plume for Danish architect Thomas Wiesner, who since 2005 has worked as a video artist under the name Sam Renseiw. Third place goes to Barbara Bohr for an untitled film. The film is shot by Agapi Triantafillidis. Both Bohr and Triantafillidis study at The National Film School of Denmark. 

The three winning films can be viewed at http://en.henninglarsensfond.dk. In October, the films will be shown during the Architecture and Design Film Festival in New York. The competition entries were evaluated on their artistic quality and ability to inspire a new approach to architecture and the medium of film. The theme of the competition was the experience of architectural space over time.

Architecture is closely related to other art forms – not only to photography, drawing and language, but also to film and music. Architecture speaks to all senses, and it changes expression over time. Architecture is an abstract art form which does not take real shape until occupied and activated by movements through the space. The Foundation has previously launched three similar competitions under the themes: Photographing Architecture in 2007, Drawing Architecture in 2008 and Writing about Architecture in 2012. The first prize winner receives €9,000, the second prize €6,000 and the third prize €3,000. 

The evaluation committee consisted of architect Troels Troelsen, film director and author Christian Braad Thomsen, Master of Arts Bente Scavenius, architect Peter Møller Rasmussen, production designer Jette Lehmann, and Principal Vinca Wiedemann (Alternate). 

> via henninglarsen.com