A Study on the Role of Cinematic Works as a Source of Inspiration for Primary Generators in Architectural Design

Problem statement: 

The initial phase of design is a complex, crucial, and ambiguous stage. Researchers suggest that designers rely on very simplistic thoughts at the onset of design to narrow down the chain of possible solutions, referred to as primary generators. Primary generators have various sources, one of which is cross-disciplinary references; cinema, in particular, provides a vast array of unexplored spaces. Therefore, the question of this study is: how can cinematic works be considered a source for the formation of primary generators?

This study aims to explore the role of cinema as a formative source of primary generators, thus establishing a credible resource to facilitate the initial design step, which often faces numerous complexities.

The present study first elucidates the concept of primary generators based on existing theoretical discussions in library sources. It then employs qualitative research methods and content analysis of sequences from selected cinematic works to assess the potential of cinema as a source of primary generators.

After gaining insight into the concept of primary generators, a categorization was provided, along with theoretical evidence from cinematic texts for each category. Four distinct viewpoints were adopted based on this categorization, including existential (human life), metaphorical-philosophical, environmental, and formal aspects, with examples from cinematic works presented for each. These findings demonstrate that cinema is a significant source of primary generators and can inspire a wide range of primary generators.