The Architecture of Suspense: A Center for the Cinematic Arts in the Former Olympia Brewery

Abstract

Industrial ruins are often deemed "not worthy" of preservation and approaches to the site are focused on sanitizing and erasing a tarnished past. This approach removes the essential character of the site and wipes away all traces of memory and history, a vital part of our collective stories as a post-industrial society. By examining the architectural spaces and cultural perception of the industrial ruin through the lens of suspense and horror film, an approach can be created that preserves their rich character and memories of their industrial past. In these abandoned often isolated sites, the atmosphere of the unexpected and unknown can be harnessed to create cinematic spaces that heighten the user's sense of anticipation and wonder. This thesis will explore this connection between architecture and film through the redesign of the vacant Olympia Brewery into a Center for the Cinematic Arts.