Wim Wenders puts 3D wings on the Rolex Learning Center
Wenders, Nishizawa and Sejima at the Rolex Learning Center. Photo by Donata Wenders
The celebrated German film maker and artist Wim Wenders turns the Rolex Learning Center into a futuristic installation at the Biennale of Venice.
Entitled “If buildings could talk…”, a 3D film shot with never-before-used equipment about the Rolex Learning Center is now showing at the Biennale of Venice. Directed by the celebrated German film maker and artist Wim Wenders, the film was commissioned by Kazuyo Seijima, architect of the Rolex Learning Center along with Ryue Nishizawa (SANNA) and artistic director of the Biennale this year.
The twelve minute film will run in a continuous loop in the Arsenale of the Biennale di Venezia until the end of November—it is, much like its subject, without a tangible beginning nor end. A screening at the EPFL is in the plans for the beginning of next year.
Filming the future of architecture
“The Rolex Learning Center,” said Wim Wenders during a talk given at the Biennale, “is more landscape than building.”
And to capture the depth and uniqueness of the new campus center an experimental 3D steadycam setup using Cannon cameras was used during the weekend of July 22nd to the 25th. Futuristic cars such as the Twike and Airpod, as well as colorfully dressed extras from the region animate the film.
The filmed building takes on its own narrative, speaks to its users, and–thanks to cutting edge 3D technology—gives the viewer the impression that she could walk into the screen to sit down at one of the desks to study.