Introduction

Bollywood is one of the largest production industries in the world. Film location tourism is a serious business in these countries and competition is stiff. Given the way Indian popular cinema is driven by its aspirational qualities, foreign locations add value, many Bollywood movies have been shot abroad with scenic landscapes, monumental sites, and fascinating locations.

In today’s date, pop culture has created a significant buzz. The most common pop culture categories are entertainment (movies, music, TV), sports, news (as in people/places in news), politics, fashion/clothes, and technology. Pop Culture is like a unifying bridge across time, which brings together generations of diverse backgrounds.

Many times we have been found guilty of watching films solely for of their shoot locations and wished we could have been there as well. Movies reflect those cultures, and affect them. A Film is considered being an important art form, a source of popular entertainment, and a powerful medium for educating citizens. The visual basis of film gives it a universal power of communication.

Architecture often plays a vital role in film, in establishing an aesthetic. One of the most creative, high-profile fields that can offer an architect a wide range of positions is the film industry. And, in fact, those with architectural backgrounds have been transitioning into the filmmaking industry for decades. So, to understand this concept, here are a few movies and its representation of architecture through story-telling.

Architecture portrayal in movies

Anjaana Anjaani (2010)

Brief

Akash and Kiara, two heartbroken and suicidal people, find each other just as they are about to end their lives. The duo then lives life to the fullest until New Year’s Day. This movie spans from New York City to Las Vegas to San Franscisco. It is one of those few movies to have a road trip plot across America.

Placed featured are

• New York City, USA- The building form most closely associated with New York City is the skyscraper, which has shifted many commercial and residential districts from low-rise to high-rise. Surrounded mostly by water, the city has amassed one of the largest and most varied collection of skyscrapers in the world. New York has architecturally significant buildings in a wide range of styles spanning distinct historical and cultural periods.  Places such as Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, Wollman Rink, Central Park and Times Square.

Nevada, USA

Nevada national parks garner over five million visitors each year. It manages several national parks, historic trails, recreation areas, monuments, and landmarks across the state. The following is a list of the top five national parks Nevada offers. National Park and valleys such as Jean Dry Lake, Valley of Fire State Park and Lake Meade have been showcased with a perfect road trip imagery.

San Francisco, USA

The architecture of San Francisco is not so much known for defining a particular architectural style; rather, with its interesting and challenging variations in geography and topology and tumultuous history, San Francisco is known worldwide for its particularly eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture. Bay windows were identified as a defining characteristic of San Francisco architecture. Placed featured are Famous Golden Gate Bridge, Mission District and The Painted Ladies were among the filming locations.

Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007)

Brief

RV, an up-and-coming car racer, suffers a devastating setback in his career because of an accident. When he loses everything, his family helps him conquer his demons and make a comeback. A must-watch for all those fans of NYC architecture starting from streets to properties.

Places featured are

New York City, USA

New York has architecturally significant buildings in a wide range of styles spanning distinct historical and cultural periods. New York City has a long history of tall buildings. It has been home to 10 buildings that have held the world’s tallest fully habitable building title in history, although half have since been demolished. Places like the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Park Avenue, New York Public Library, Bryant Park and other than NYC, some scenes have also been filmed in Baltimore and North Carolina.

Cocktail (2012)

Brief

The film follows the lives of Veronica and Meera who strike up an unlikely friendship. Gautam enters their lives. Things get complicated when love meddles with their friendship. The Cocktail team took to the streets of London to shoot for their film. It was shot in many parts of London.

Place featured

London, UK

London is a city world-renowned for its architecture; from old to new, traditional to contemporary, art deco to gothic, and many styles in between, there are hundreds of great buildings in the capital. Iconic spots that were chosen by the team for the shoot were Borough High Street, Borough Market, Leicester Square, Portobello Road, Piccadilly Circus, Mayfair, Bank Station, Brick Lane, Clapham Junction and Colville Garden.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Brief

Friends Kabir, Imran and Arjun take a vacation in Spain before Kabir’s marriage. The trip turns into an opportunity to mend fences, heal wounds, fall in love with life and combat their worst fears. The entire film-vacation-is filmed in the majestic Spain. The crew chose A-class locations to film whether it’s the idyllic road trip scene or the sky-diving scene.

Place featured

Spain

Spanish architecture refers to architecture in any area of what is now Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. This shows great historical and geographical diversity, depending on the historical period. It developed along similar lines as other architectural styles around the Mediterranean and from Northern Europe, although some Spanish constructions are unique. Shoot locations included Alajar Town, Town Square, Bardenas Reales, Boadella Beach, Serra de Rubio Windfarm and Rio Tinto Mines.

Befikre (2016)

Brief

Befikre is a carefree love story of Dharam and Shyra, who find love in an engaging series of experiences. Doused in the spirit of Paris, it celebrates a free-spirited love. The film was shot over 50 days widely in Paris. The film features exotic and elegant Parisian architecture that will take your breath away. After all, the whimsically classic Audrey Hepburn said in the film, “Paris is always a good idea”.

Place featured

Paris, France

Paris Region celebrates modern and contemporary architecture. We have to wait a little longer before discovering their collections, but these buildings, emblematic of avant-garde design and aesthetics, also deserve to be admired from the outside. Usually, the French style of architecture has a variety of shapes and detail, yet it is commonly bound by the characteristic design of the roof. Identifying features include high and steeply pitched hip roofs with flared rafter tails, decorative half-timber facades, brick, stone, or stucco finishes.

The breath-taking locations include Pantheon, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, Musee De La Sculpture En Plein Air, Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Love Lock Bridge, and Eiffel Tower.

Brief

To win over a landlady who only accepts women as tenants, two men pose as a couple–but tend up falling for their flatmate. It is a romantic-comedy movie about friendship, love, and bromance. Few movies can be seen filmed in Miami, Florida, but this is one of those rare gems. It not only showcases a wide variety of beaches but also the architecture of the city starting from the apartment design where it’s filmed at. People thinking that Miami is just about beaches, think again!

Place featured

Miami, USA

Miami is split roughly into north, south, west, and Downtown areas. The heart of the city is Downtown Miami, which is on the eastern side and includes the neighbourhoods of Brickell, Virginia Key, Watson Island, as well as Port Miami. The southern side of Miami includes the neighbourhoods of Coral Way, The Roads, and Coconut Grove.

The western side of Miami includes the neighbourhoods of Little Havana, West Flagler, and Flagami. The northern side of Miami includes Midtown, a district with a brilliant mix of diversity ranging from West Indians to Hispanics to European Americans. Iconic spots that were chosen by the team for the shoot were Bayside Miami, Bayfront Park, South Beach, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and South Beach Ocean Drive.

Ek Tha Tiger (2012)

Brief

India’s top spy Tiger and his love Zoya battle the dark world of intelligence and espionage that forbids its soldiers from loving the enemy. Packed with action and plenty of sightseeing, this movie spans across Ireland, Cuba and Turkey, exposing the audience to a wide range of architecture through story-telling.

Places featured

Istanbul, Turkey

Architecture of Turkey or Turkish Architecture in the Republican Period refers to the architecture practised in the territory of present-day Turkey since the foundation of the republic in 1923. The style of the architecture of Turks is Modern Turkish Nomenclature. However, two styles of architecture are especially well respected in Turkey, and they are Ottoman and Seljuk. The Ottomans excelled at many things, including constructing landmark buildings that instantly captured the eye and earned untold admiration. Common architectural elements included enormous domes, smaller surrounding buildings with semi-domes, entrances with horse-shoe shaped arches and, in the complexes surrounding mosques, towering minarets. Few famous landmarks featured in the film are The Blue Mosque, River Bosphorus, Mardin City, Mardan Palace and Zinciriye Medresesi.

Havana, Cuba

The architecture of Cuba refers to the buildings, structures, and architectural history throughout the Caribbean Island nation of Cuba. The unique mix of cultural and artistic influences throughout history has led to Cuba is renowned for its eclectic and diverse architecture, which can be defined as a unique fusion of many well-studied architectural styles from around the world. Some featured places are Old Havana Street, Plaza Vieja, Cathedral of Havana, El Castillo de Cojima, El Malecon and El Morro Fortress.

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin was originally built around the areas of Christchurch and Cornmarket, on the banks of the river Liffey. Located just a stone’s throw from what was once the medieval city centre, the city’s oldest church and a fine example of 12th century Anglo-Norman architecture. The architecture of the Republic of Ireland is one of the most visible features in the Irish countryside–with remains from all eras since the Stone Age abounding. Ireland is famous for its ruined and intact Norman and Anglo-Irish castles, small whitewashed thatched cottages and Georgian urban buildings. Scenes featuring places are Grafton Street, Gaiety Theatre and Trinity College.

Jagga Jasoos (2017)

Brief

Jagga’s adoptive father, Bagchi, enrols him in a boarding school and mysteriously disappears. Upon growing up, Jagga goes in search of him and takes the help of Shruti, a journalist. This comedy-adventure musical movie is filmed in both North and South Africa. Africa offers a lot of beauty and insight for architecture and design.

Places Featured

Morocco, North Africa

Moroccan architecture refers to the architecture characteristic of Morocco throughout its history and up to modern times. The country’s diverse geography and long history, marked by successive waves of settlers through both migration and military conquest, are all reflected in its architecture. Its major design elements include sharp white walls, stucco roofs among the arches, and enormous domes. The beauty in Moroccan architecture is that these elements can typically be found blended in with Islamic-style buildings such as mosques and medersas (Quranic schools). Iconic scenes were shot at Jemaa el-Fnaa and Essaouira Citadel.

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is home to a vast number of structures that are significant within the world of architecture, and showcase the design and structural talent of local alongside international architects. The city is known for its vibrant display of art, culture, and design in all mediums–from fashion, music to buildings–there are a few buildings in and around the Cape that will fascinate and delight. Iconic scenes were shot at Sandstone Heritage Trust and Bellville.

Queen (2014)

Brief

Rani is devastated after her fiancé leaves her just before the wedding. Undeterred, she goes on their honeymoon alone where she gets pulled out of her comfort zone and rediscovers herself. Roaming through the streets of Paris and Amsterdam, our major lead not only sees life through a different perspective but also gives a chance for the audience to feel the joy of it.

Places featured

Paris, France

The French style of architecture has a variety of shapes and detail, yet it is commonly bound by the characteristic design of the roof. Identifying features include high and steeply pitched hip roofs with flared rafter tails, decorative half-timber facades, brick, stone, or stucco finishes. With the architectural style of Paris, it was the birthplace of the Gothic style and has important monuments of the French Renaissance, Classical revival, the Flamboyant style of the reign of Napoleon III, the Belle Époque, and the Art Nouveau style. Some places featuring are LA MAISON ROSE, PONT DES ARTS, and Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Dutch are the masters of architecture and the use of space. Also known for their out-of-the-box thinking, they have exerted more influence on the discipline of art and construction, unlike anybody else. The most characteristic architectural style in Amsterdam, the narrow canal houses and most buildings in the centre, are Dutch Baroque. Some places featuring are Paradiso, Amsterdam Central Railway Station and Schellingwoude church.

Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017)

Brief

Sejal, an exuberant woman, loses her engagement ring on a trip. However, when she enlists the help of Harry, a flirtatious tour guide, to retrieve it, she eventually falls in love with him. Written and directed by Imtiaz Ali, he adds his signature style to the film through majestic and contemporary locations, leaving the audience in awe.

Places featured are

Budapest, Hungary

Buildings with a mix of a kaleidoscope of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque Revival styles and combinations thereof — dominate Budapest’s urban landscape. Europe’s biggest synagogue, in Dohány Street, anchors Budapest’s old Jewish Quarter. The place featured in the scene is Liberty Bridge.

London, UK

The architecture of the United Kingdom, or British architecture, comprises a combination of architectural styles, dating as far back to Roman architecture, to the present day 21st century contemporary. The place featured in the scene is: The London Eye.

Rome, Italy

Roman architecture is famous for its domes, arches, amphitheatres, temples, bathhouses, atriums, aqueducts, apartments, houses, and for many other factors that made it unique. Art was often carved into the walls of stone buildings depicting battles and famous Romans. The striking features of Roman architecture were the elements used, innovated, and mindfully executed by them. The place featured in the scene is The Colosseum.

Paris, France

Paris Region celebrates modern and contemporary architecture. We have to wait a little longer before discovering their collections, but these buildings, emblematic of avant-garde design and aesthetics, also deserve to be admired from the outside. The place featured in the scene is Eiffel Tower.

Prague, Czech Republic

Czech architecture, or more precisely architecture of the Czech Republic or architecture of Czechia, is a term covering many important historical and contemporary architectural movements in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. Prague’s architecture is spellbinding. Many architectural gems from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque eras remain intact. The place featured in the scene is Vrtba Garden.

Libon, Portugal

Portuguese architecture refers to both the architecture of Portugal’s modern-day territory in Continental Portugal, the Azores and Madeira, as well as the architectural heritage of Portuguese architects and styles throughout the world, particularly in countries formerly part of the Portuguese Empire. The place featured in the scene is Restaurante Aldea.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Known for their out-of-the-box thinking, they have exerted more influence on the discipline of art and construction, unlike anybody else. The most characteristic architectural style in Amsterdam, the narrow canal houses and most buildings in the centre, are Dutch Baroque. The place featured in the scene is the Netherland windmills.