The Architecture of the Villain's Lair

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About this event

Like evil itself, the abodes of movie villains are frequently compelling and seductive. The villain’s lair, as popularized in many of our favorite movies, is much more than where the megalomaniac goes to get some rest.

Instead, the homes of the villains are places where evil is plotted and where, often, the hero is tested and must prove him/herself.

From a design standpoint, they tend to be stunning, sophisticated, envy-inducing expressions of the warped drives and desires of their occupants. In Lair: Radical Homes and Hideouts of Movie Villains, readers are invited to explore the architecture of villainy through rich content that includes in-depth visual and written material and a striking graphic design that features silver ink on black paper.

Lair, edited by internationally acclaimed architect Chad Oppenheim with Andrea Gollin, explores the architecture of these structures through photographs, renderings, essays, interviews with industry professionals, and critical analysis. The book, which appreciates and celebrates all things villain, focuses predominantly on modern homes from fifteen films, including The Spy Who Loved Me, Ex Machina,Blade Runner 2049, Star Wars, andDiamonds Are Forever. From futuristic fantasies to deathtrap-laden hives, from dwellings in space to those under the sea, pop culture and architecture join forces in these outlandish homes.

Contextual essays include excerpts from a series of conversations that cultural critic Sir Christopher Frayling conducted with the late production designer Ken Adam, especially known for his work on the Bond films and Dr. Strangelove; and a discussion between architect and Lair editor Chad Oppenheim and director Michael Mann, moderated by architect Amy Murphy.

Lair is the brainchild of architect Chad Oppenheim and the first title in Tra Publishing’sDesign + Film series. It will be followed by Ride, coming in 2020, which will investigate vehicles in film. Chad Oppenheim’s firm, Oppenheim Architecture (Miami, Basel, New York), has garnered global recognition for large-scale urban architecture, hotels and resorts, private residences, interiors, and furnishings. A graduate of Cornell University and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of the book prior to the event, please do so from our preferred bookseller Books on Call NYC by clicking here.

Please note: This event will be held virtually. Details for accessing the program will be sent upon registration.