The architects Giona Bierens de Haan and Leopold Banchini have been in charge of designing the new decoration of the film post-production studio based in Geneva, western Switzerland.

The project is inspired by film noir films, a film genre that emerged in the 1940s, especially "The Maltese Falcon", a film where mysteries, schemes, and dark narratives are developed in a dark and gloomy urban setting.
Giona Bierens de Haan and Leopold Banchini use the film's cinematography to generate a unique atmosphere where the volumes of the project are both the backdrop for future actions and the protagonist of the plot, with the black color that characterizes them and artificially illuminated by lights.

These volumes, with their clean lines and geometric shapes, capture the essence of urban alienation and invite speculation about the stories hidden within the architecture of the urban landscape, turning architecture into a stage upon which human drama unfolds.
 


FILM NOIR by Giona Bierens de Haan and Leopold Banchini. Photograph by Dylan Perrenoud.

Project description by Giona Bierens de Haan and Leopold Banchini

“What is this?

The stuff that dreams are made of.”

Sam Spade’s (Bogart) cult lines conclude the equally quintessential Maltese Falcon. Often considered to be the archetype of the film noir genre. John Huston’s movie is a trendsetter of the cinematic genre that emerged in the 1940s. Here, mysteries, schemes and shadowy narratives are set in a moody urban decor at night. In a gritty world of shadows, the protagonists evolve with darkness wrapped all around them and the moon as a spotlight. Shot entirely in Warner Bros backlot, the film's cinematography, marked by its chiaroscuro low key lighting, labyrinth of dimly lit streets and shadowy back alleys epitomizes the visual style and the cynical nature of the characters.

The new decor of the post-production film studio based in Geneva relies on similar strategies to create a unique atmosphere. Entirely covered in a thick dark layer of paint, the volumes of the project are both the backdrop of the actions to come and the protagonist of the plot. Cinematographic moments appear, artificially lit by oversized (moon)lights. Empty street corners and alleyways await for their characters. As in Hopper’s Nighthawks, painted just a few months after the Maltese Falcon’s release, the architecture serves as a stage upon which the human drama unfolds. Its clean lines and geometric shapes enhance the overall visual impact of the composition, capturing the essence of urban alienation, creating a sense of immediacy and inviting speculation about the stories hidden within the architecture of the cityscape.

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Dates
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2023.
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Location
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Geneva, Switzerland.
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Leopold Banchini was born in Geneva in 1981 and is an architect graduated from the EPFL (Ecole Polytechinique Fédérale de Lausanne). He is also Master in Architecture from the University of Lausanne (2007) and graduate of the Glasgow School of Art (2004).

Is a visiting professor in the HEAD (Haute Ecole de Design et) in Geneva since 2010 and Assistant Professor at the EPFL since 2009. He has also been Archozoom project designer in 2009.

Has been placed in Lot / ek Architects (New York) between the years 2004/2005, as an assistant project Art Basel (Basel) in 2005, and as a project partner of the collective Atelier Van Lieshout (AVL) that same year in Rotterdam.

He has developed his work as an architect in b720 Arquitectos (Barcelona) during the years 2007 and 2008, and Group8 Architects (Geneva) in 2009.

In addition, since 2008 part of 1to100 Architects, and architectural collective based in Geneva. Its members have been active and decisive parts in projects such as the winning participation of Bahrain at the last Venice Biennale - RECLAIM Golden Lion 2011, exhibitions such as The Gulf - OMA-AMO's participation at the Venice Biennale 2007 and publications such as AMO-Rem Koolhaas's Al Manakh. Parallel to that, they conduce many different operations ranging from architecture, to journalism, until urban design. They have teaching positions at the EPFL and the University of Arts and Design in Geneva.

Its aim is to take position and initiate reflexions upon our contemporary environment.

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Giona Bierens de Haan graduated from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in 2012. A former founding member of the collective, “Le Repaire Fantastique”, he has been working under his own name since 2018. His multifaceted practice develops spaces, objects, scenographies and images.

He collaborates with numerous cultural entities: Visions du Réel, Rencontres d’Arles, Belluard Bollwerk… His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. He lives and works in Geneva.
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