Exploring Science Fiction through Architecture: A New Cultural Initiative in Bucharest

This Saturday, July 26th, a unique cultural event will take place in the charming Cotroceni neighborhood of Bucharest. Hosted by the newly founded Eliahi Foundation, in collaboration with architect Andreea Caplescu, the event invites participants to attend an engaging course titled “Architecture in Science Fiction Cinema”, held at Str. Sf. Elefterie no. 31.   Andreea Caplescu, a multidisciplinary architect with a rich background in both design and cinema, has spent years studying how science fiction set design contributes to cinematic storytelling. From makeup and costumes to props, vehicles, and expansive sets, she views the visual language of sci-fi as an essential narrative tool. The lecture will explore how architecture has traditionally played a role in cinema and how, despite early limitations due to budget constraints, science fiction films have evolved into visually ambitious projects.   Participants will be guided through an insightful journey: beginning with a classification of science fiction narratives into four major types—technological futures of Earth, post-apocalyptic worlds, alternate realities, and other worlds—and continuing with notable examples and shared visual techniques used in constructing these imaginative universes.   Architects and designers often find themselves experiencing movies a little differently than the vast public, especially when it comes to the science-fiction genre featuring buildings, cities or urban landscapes that are “out of this world”; they see the buildings in the background (or foreground in some cases) and begin to analyse how they are designed. Some sci-fi movies or TV shows suggested technologies that have inspired generations of scientists to research and develop them. In other cases, the images of buildings and cities envisioned some 30 or 40 years ago, predicting the future, have a striking resemblance to some present day urban environments; there are also movies with visions radically different from what we have today. Sci-fi can sometimes serve as a warning but often enough can be a source of inspiration. Several movies have acquired a cult status, not only in popular culture but also in the scientific community, their images becoming almost iconic, referenced by many architects, theorist and researchers   A New Foundation with a Vision for Growth and Inclusion   The event is one of the first public offerings from the Eliahi Foundation, a newly established cultural initiative that aims to provide courses and workshops for adults, youth, and children interested in deepening their understanding of the world.   The foundation embraces a holistic approach to learning, encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and philosophical reflection outside the traditional academic framework.   Its mission also includes strong social support components, offering guidance and education for young mothers and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Whether through visual arts, theatre, philosophy, advanced mathematics, financial literacy, or reading clubs, the Foundation provides high-quality educational experiences delivered by professionals.   The Eliahi Foundation describes itself as a space for freedom and exchange, and fittingly, its motto—borrowed from Léon Bloy—beautifully expresses this spirit: “Here, no one knows who is giving and who is receiving.” With this weekend’s course, the Foundation marks not only its cultural debut but also a bold statement of its dedication to meaningful dialogue, creativity, and community building