Architecton Documentary Premieres Berlinale Explores Global Concrete Impact

Architecton, a documentary directed by Victor Kossakovsky and produced by A24, explores the profound impact of building materials like concrete and stone on human civilization and the environment. Premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival and nominated for the Golden Bear and Documentary Award, the film meditates on architecture's role in shaping human behavior and the rise and fall of societies, featuring imagery from ancient ruins such as Baalbek and scenes of recent destruction like the 2023 Turkey earthquake. Centered on a landscape project by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, Architecton raises urgent questions about sustainable building practices and humanity's precarious relationship with nature. The film combines poetic visuals, including high-contrast imagery inspired by the works of Giovanni Battista Piranesi, with reflections on the longevity and vitality of rocks in contrast to human life. It includes perspectives from architects, stonemasons, and experts in ancient ruins, emphasizing the environmental cost of concrete, which accounts for a significant percentage of global CO2 emissions. Architecton will be released in US art house theaters starting August 1, 2025, and also features a UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.