Leopold Banchini Architects

Film Noir Studio

Film Noir Studio 

Leopold Banchini Architects + Giona Bierens de Haan Architectures

Film Noir Studio
© Dylan Perrenoud

PHOTOGRAPHS
Dylan Perrenoud

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Geneva, Switzerland

CATEGORY
Offices Interiors

Film Noir Studio
© Dylan Perrenoud
Film Noir Studio
© Dylan Perrenoud

“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.

Film Noir Studio
© Dylan Perrenoud
Film Noir Studio
© Dylan Perrenoud
Film Noir Studio
© Dylan Perrenoud

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.

Film Noir Studio
© Dylan Perrenoud
Film Noir Studio
© Dylan Perrenoud
Film Noir Studio
© Dylan Perrenoud

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.

Leopold Banchini Architects
Leopold Banchini Architects
Rue de Grenus 121201 Geneva, Switzerland