In the documentary ‘Architecton,’ Victor Kossakovsky explores the intricate relationship between architecture and societal values, questioning what we truly worship in our built environment.
‘Architecton’ Review: Did We Trade Our Souls for Concrete?
A civilization’s architecture reveals much about its values. Theocracies invest in grand cathedrals, dictators favor stark brutalism, and rampant hedonism shapes the skylines of Las Vegas and Dubai. Architecture may be the ultimate artistic reflection of cultural priorities, as it embodies both the individual creativity of architects and the ambitions of those who commission them.
Exploring Our Architectural Choices
Russian documentarian Victor Kossakovsky’s new film “Architecton” delves into our contemporary architectural practices to uncover what we truly revere. Surprisingly, its findings are not particularly flattering!
The film focuses on our relationship with two primary building materials: stone and concrete. Every architectural marvel that has endured for millennia was constructed from massive stone blocks, while our modern structures, often seen as eyesores, are made from easily poured concrete. Kossakovsky and his main subject, Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, have a clear preference for stone and a disdain for concrete. One material, sourced from the earth, can last indefinitely, fostering a dialogue with past architects and allowing nature to reclaim it when humanity is no longer present. The other, synthetic and utilitarian, deteriorates within decades yet leaves a lasting environmental footprint.
The Impact of Human Choices
Kossakovsky takes his time to convey this critical point, presenting slow, breathtaking footage that highlights the relationships between humanity, nature, stone, and concrete. He takes us inside crumbling Turkish skyscrapers devastated by a catastrophic 2023 earthquake, revealing how these structures have been obliterated while human interiors remain eerily intact. This footage contrasts with ancient stone ruins that seem to withstand the test of time, alongside a mesmerizing shot of an avalanche illustrating the diverse forms of stone and sediment nature provides.
Initially, one might perceive the film as a blend of nature documentary and industrial exploration. However, it could equally be viewed as a nature documentary, as humans are merely one species among many, whose environmental impacts are as intrinsic to nature as any other animal. Each majestic shot of stone against a dismal expanse of wet concrete underscores our permanent alteration of the planet’s ecosystem due to our shortcuts in construction.
More Than Just Materials
Yet, “Architecton” posits that the stakes extend beyond our planet. Our very souls and humanity are at risk. The film’s poignant irony lies in the fact that while humans once knew how to create enduring structures, we now opt for buildings designed to last only 40 years. If the essence of civilized society is to preserve knowledge and improve our artistic and technological endeavors, the inferior products we currently produce insult the ingenuity of those who constructed the Pyramids and the Parthenon.
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A Personal Struggle
This uncomfortable reality is a daily struggle for De Lucchi, a seasoned architect with decades of experience. He candidly expresses his shame over accepting a new project to build a concrete skyscraper in Milan. The film occasionally revisits him as he cultivates a garden, an implicit act of penance for his creative transgression. He finds joy in arranging a circle of stones, a task devoid of functional purpose, yet rich in beauty and the pursuit of excellence.
While no one believes that this small act of creative defiance can offset the skyscraper he is constructing, it represents a minuscule step in the right direction—especially considering that concrete has become the second most abundant substance on Earth after water. The film concludes on a hopeful note, suggesting that if more individuals begin to contemplate the construction materials they encounter daily, perhaps our civilization can cease to allow the eternal to be held captive by the ephemeral.
Grade: B+
An A24 release, “Architecton” opens in theaters on Friday, August 1.
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