Permeable boundaries: exploring the architecture of the psyche in cinematic spaces through collage

Robot (Sam Esmail, 2015-2019) and Joker (Todd Phillips, 2019). The acutely intimate discernment of each protagonist’s interior environment is the result of varying forms of psychological disruption, where boundaries break down between the real and imaginary, and the surreal intrudes upon the tangible depiction of the interior. To unpick this spatial representation I have deployed collage as an exploratory, visual methodology to analyse and experiment with, to potentially reveal the less perceivable, yet invasive intangible layers of lived space.<br><br>This research uniquely addresses the frequent oversight of psychological qualities of the interior in architectural discourse.

To this end I propose an analytical and experimental method rendering the psychological content of space visible. Defining this intangible nature of architecture as the psychosphere (or the psychological atmosphere), I term this technique ‘psychospheric collage method’ of analysis. The process consists of interrogating expressive film language and content through an architectural lens documented through sketching, storyboarding and textual enquiry.

From these fragmented components I compose a new visual language capable of signifying the layered psychological atmosphere in which a character resides, thus facilitating its consideration within architectural design and enabling articulation of our intimate encounter with the interior.<br><i><br>Thesis embargoed until 31 July 2027</i>.<br>