Cinematic Stars Dwell

Italian artist Federico Babina brings a dynamic feel to architectural illustrations in his Archilife Series. Architectural spaces are designed for daily life; however, Babina states that he “never liked the lack of life in the architectural representations that are often aseptic, clean and neutral.” The artist tries to imagine “what life would be like in these static images.”

In his 17 illustrations, Babina adds life to the world’s most famous interiors. Cinematic stars, such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Marlon Brando are paired with modern architectural spaces by Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Alvar Aalto and others. The starts are displayed as ‘people’ performing daily activities; “who better than some of the myths of cinema to help me animate these scenes and to play themselves into a frame of an ordinary day?” Said Babina.

In the illustrations, the cinematic stars are interacting with the spaces, providing dynamism and life into each one. This genius graphic display shows the main reason for any architectural space; to host people and their activities. Babina’s series bring us closer to these glamorous spaces by providing images to which we can relate. From displaying Michael Caine vacuuming the carpet inside Louis Khan’s Esherick House, to Cary Grant ironing a shirt inside Oscar Niemeyer’s Casa de Canoas, the artist has given ‘life’ to these famous spaces.