Building Sights (1996)

Concept and creative process

Opening titles for ‘Building Sights’, a series of eight personal reflections on 20th century British architecture. The brief was for a sequence about contemporary architecture, mostly minimalist, with nothing ‘historical’ or backward-looking. The camera crosshairs and the surrounding white frame were a nod to the pun in the title. Everything was ‘in-camera’ with minimal editing, bar a bit of ‘colourisation’ to relieve the monotony of the many blank surfaces. We spent a busy day shooting on videotape in Central London locations, including the Royal Academy in Piccadilly, a private house in Notting Hill and The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park. The photographer was Chris Cox. The fanfare by composer Steve Beresford features the soprano saxophone of Tony Coe. The woman standing with her back to us in architect John Pawson’s kitchen is programme researcher Ruth Rosenthal.

Production Company - Lambie-Nairn.

Designer/Director - Brian Eley.

Video Photography - Chris Cox.

Original Music - Steve Beresford.