Ark Rex presents a stopover of architectural films at Lasipalatsi
Rehab (2023), dir. Bêka & Lemoine
The architectural film festival Ark Rex brings a one-night programme to Bio Rex in Lasipalatsi during its interim year. This time, the program addresses not only architects and the general public, but also doctors and people in the healthcare field.
The biennial Ark Rex Architecture Film Festival brings international filmmakers to Helsinki and features documentaries on architecture and urban planning on the big screen of the legendary Bio Rex cinema theatre. This year, during the off-year of the film festival, a one-night program will be offered as Ark Rex's "stopover" takes place on November 21 at Bio Rex.
The stopover begins with current shorter films leading to the themes of next year’s festival. Mäusebunker, by Berlin-based group Bplus.xyz, tells the story of a former experimental laboratory at the Charité hospital in Berlin, which, despite the end of its operation, should be preserved, repaired and put into a completely new use.
The program also includes a longer film about the European Bplus group’s project HouseEurope, to fight the unnecessary demolition of suitable buildings. Interviewees in the film include representatives from renowned architectural firms, such as the Pritzker Prize-winning architectural firms Lacaton & Vassal and Herzog & de Meuron.
Maarten Vanden Abeele's short film about the private house and practice designed by Marie-José Van Hee, winner of the 2024 Alvar Aalto Medal, gives a peek into the refined and human-respecting design approach.
In addition to short films, the evening's programme includes Ila Bêka's and Louise Lemoine's film Rehab (From Rehab) and Sven Blume's film Lewerentz – Divine Darkness.
Rehab takes us to a Swiss rehabilitation clinic in Basel, designed by world-renowned architects and where both holistic architecture with wood coated facades with wide glass openings and planted courtyards, and various holistic rehabilitation methods make the building an absolutely unique place. The building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and their offices. Bêka & Lemoine have wanted to make a film that will open the eyes of our eyes and, hopefully, also of the building's customers in the health care sector, as well as members of society, about the meaning of carefully considered and implemented architecture for people.
Director Sven Blume will join in to present his lates film, Lewerentz – Divine Darkness, which focuses on the famous architect Sigurd Lewerentz (1885–1975). It takes us to Sweden, where the extremely beautiful and impressive Skogskyrkogården cemetery (Woodland Cemetery) is located. The cemetery is based on Sigurd Lewerentz´s and Gunnar Asplund’s architectural competition winning project, and an example of the unique merging of architecture, landscape and woodland nature. Interviewees in the film include for example Kieran Long, the current director of the Amos Rex art museum, and architect Juhani Pallasmaa, although the main focus of the film is on Lewerentz’s career and his life and uncompromising personality. The presentation will be preceded by a short speech by Juhani Pallasmaa.
The Ark Rex festival was initiated in 2018 by Tarja Nurmi, and the event was created in collaboration with the Amos Rex Art Museum and in particular its Head of Collections Kaj Martin.
The event has been organised by a working group of architects Elizaveta Parkkonen, Helena Teräväinen, Jari Laiho and Niklas Mahlberg, in addition to Tarja Nurmi, who curated the programme. The Museum of Architecture and Design is represented by Petteri Kummala, Deputy Head of Information Services and Research. The event is open to all and pre-registration is not required.
Read more about Ark Rex here.
