Have you ever come out of a movie wondering, "Where was this film shot? I'd love to go there." If so, you're not alone. We may not be aware of it, but part of the pleasure of movie-going the ability to admire the architectural beauties and designed interiors where the movie takes place, hoping that, someday, we might be able to see them for ourselves. Knowing what films contain stunning properties and where to find them is the first step in creating your very own architectural guide to the stars.
Perhaps the best movies franchise for taking in amazing architectural features is the James Bond series. These timeless films, after all, are worthy of architecture as sleek as their memorable characters. For example, Diamonds are Forever, released in 1971, features the Elrod House in Palm Springs. The house, which was designed by John Lautner (an early apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright) for Arthur Elrod. The domed and curved roofline made it the perfect choice for a classy villain's lair. To this day, the Elrod House remains private property.
Another property which appeared in a Bond film is the beautiful-beyond-words 18th century Italian villa found on the southwest of Lake Como- Villa de Balbianello. The 2006 hit Casino Royale contains several scenes shot in this property, basking in its majestic features. Yet another franchise found this property irresistible: Star Wars. The 2002 blockbuster Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones showed the Villa de Balbianello in its CGI edited version.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House built in 1924 for Mabel and Charles Ennis in Los Feliz (a Los Angeles neighborhood), was used in the 1982 film Blade Runner. Director Ridley Scott shot some scenes in 6,000 sq. ft textile block house (which was inspired by the Uxmal ruins in Mexico). The property is now valued at $15 million.
The 1985 movie Back to the Future displayed the exterior of the Gamble House as a front for the home of Doctor Emmett Brown. The Pasadena retirement residence was designed by the famous duo Charles and Henry Greene of the Arts and Crafts Movement for the couple David and Mary Gable. The interior scenes for the movie, however, were shot at an entirely different location, yet still designed and built by Greene and Greene - the Robert Roe Blacker House.
As for the Charlie's Angels franchise, they just can't seem to get enough of John Lautner's creations. In the first installment of the Charlie's Angels series, the filmmakers made use of a Chemosphere House (by John Lautner) replica for the villain's den. In 2003, Charlie's Angels II: Full Throttle showcased an original Lautner creation- the Sheats/Goldstein house (which also made an appearance in the movie The Big Lebowski). This residence, built in 1963, was used as one of the angel's home.
One of the impressive and strategically displayed architectural creations in recent movie history is the Cullen's Glass House in the 2008 vampire movie Twilight. Designed by Jeff Kovel of Skylab Architecture, the Cullen's house is called the Hoke House and is located in Vancouver, Canada. This is not the case for the second installment of the franchise, though. The property used in the 2009 sequel, New Moon, was created by Arthur Erickson and highlights similar features to that of the Hoke House. It is currently priced at around $3million.
Recently, Drew Mandel's Ravine House creation appeared in Chloe (2009). This Atom Egoyan psychological thriller served as the residence for Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson's characters. Although the movie wasn't much of a hit for most of the viewers, the architecture and interior design was much coveted and talked about days and even months after the showing of the film.
Perhaps the best movies franchise for taking in amazing architectural features is the James Bond series. These timeless films, after all, are worthy of architecture as sleek as their memorable characters. For example, Diamonds are Forever, released in 1971, features the Elrod House in Palm Springs. The house, which was designed by John Lautner (an early apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright) for Arthur Elrod. The domed and curved roofline made it the perfect choice for a classy villain's lair. To this day, the Elrod House remains private property.
Another property which appeared in a Bond film is the beautiful-beyond-words 18th century Italian villa found on the southwest of Lake Como- Villa de Balbianello. The 2006 hit Casino Royale contains several scenes shot in this property, basking in its majestic features. Yet another franchise found this property irresistible: Star Wars. The 2002 blockbuster Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones showed the Villa de Balbianello in its CGI edited version.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House built in 1924 for Mabel and Charles Ennis in Los Feliz (a Los Angeles neighborhood), was used in the 1982 film Blade Runner. Director Ridley Scott shot some scenes in 6,000 sq. ft textile block house (which was inspired by the Uxmal ruins in Mexico). The property is now valued at $15 million.
The 1985 movie Back to the Future displayed the exterior of the Gamble House as a front for the home of Doctor Emmett Brown. The Pasadena retirement residence was designed by the famous duo Charles and Henry Greene of the Arts and Crafts Movement for the couple David and Mary Gable. The interior scenes for the movie, however, were shot at an entirely different location, yet still designed and built by Greene and Greene - the Robert Roe Blacker House.
As for the Charlie's Angels franchise, they just can't seem to get enough of John Lautner's creations. In the first installment of the Charlie's Angels series, the filmmakers made use of a Chemosphere House (by John Lautner) replica for the villain's den. In 2003, Charlie's Angels II: Full Throttle showcased an original Lautner creation- the Sheats/Goldstein house (which also made an appearance in the movie The Big Lebowski). This residence, built in 1963, was used as one of the angel's home.
One of the impressive and strategically displayed architectural creations in recent movie history is the Cullen's Glass House in the 2008 vampire movie Twilight. Designed by Jeff Kovel of Skylab Architecture, the Cullen's house is called the Hoke House and is located in Vancouver, Canada. This is not the case for the second installment of the franchise, though. The property used in the 2009 sequel, New Moon, was created by Arthur Erickson and highlights similar features to that of the Hoke House. It is currently priced at around $3million.
Recently, Drew Mandel's Ravine House creation appeared in Chloe (2009). This Atom Egoyan psychological thriller served as the residence for Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson's characters. Although the movie wasn't much of a hit for most of the viewers, the architecture and interior design was much coveted and talked about days and even months after the showing of the film.
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