The Architecture of David Lynch

by Richard Martin

From the Red Room in Twin Peak s to Club Silencio in Mulholland Drive , the work of David Lynch contains some of the most remarkable spaces in contemporary culture. Richard Martin's compelling study is the first sustained critical assessment of the role architecture and design play in Lynch's films. Martin combines original research at Lynchian locations in Los Angeles, London and Lódz with insights from architects including Adolf Loos, Le Corbusier and Jean Nouvel and urban theorists such as Jane Jacobs and Edward Soja. In analyzing the towns, cities, homes, roads and stages found in Lynch's work, Martin not only reveals their central importance for understanding this controversial and distinctive film-maker, but also suggests how Lynch's films can provide a deeper understanding of the places and spaces in which we live.

Genres: Architecture, Film, Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2014

Reviews

[False · Rating 5 out of 5]

A serious academic work on the films of David Lynch, the importance of architecture and inanimate objects in his movies, and locale, locale, locale. A difficult to find book (I had to special order it through the interlibrary loan system,) but well worth the effort. The first night I read it, the book actually gave me nightmares. Laughing. Lynch would approve.

[Tito Quiling, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read on how the architectural spaces in David Lynch's films create a distinct atmosphere that is essentially masculine in nature, even with featuring women as protagonists. While there is a sense of coldness in the writing at times, I do like how it refers to that form of subjugation, albeit briefly. It acknowledges the sense of freedom that comes with the travelling condition in his narratives, which is part of the spatial representation in a "Lynchian" work.

[valplanta · Rating 4 out of 5]

damn this man. no voy a contar nada porque todas las teorías y alusiones que se dan aquí son bastante entretenidas y mind blowing, especialmente las que tenían que ver con los Palmer o con el club Silencio, así que recomiendo mucho.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough resource on architecture in Lynch, yet not a lot of new perspectives on the works through this focus.

[Martin Raybould · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too obviously derived from a PhD thesis but some perceptive insights into the skewed vision of Lynch with observations on the underrated Inland Empire being particularly welcome.