Private city – the use of stairwells
Director: Jingyang Guo
Synopsis
Stairwell areas metaphorically represents people’s urge towards a better life, it has also redefined the definition of public and private areas. Private areas are entirely under the users’ control, it symbolizes trust. Yet public areas are owned by the public, users’ behaviors are restricted, which illustrates the lack of trust. However, under different circumstances, public areas may become more private. Not due to trust, but due to people’s urge towards a better life.
Stairwells, a compartment extends vertically through a building allows us to move between floors. However, in modern residential buildings, elevators are the main vertical transportation, stairwells are often out of use on daily basis. After a short comparison, high-rise modern residential buildings have left this public area untouched. On the other hand, older residential buildings are using the space efficiently due to the lack of space in their living area, Residents hang their clothes there, place potted plants and place cleaning tools. In the absence of a storage room, they use stairwells. In the absence of a balcony, they use the stairwells. And in the absence of a garden, they use stairwells as their gardens… This has weakened the boundary between private and public areas, as public may be private, yet private could be public. Despite limited resources, people always strive for a better life.
Data collection and research method
For the comparison, I have chosen two of the most popular residential building types in Xi’an China. One is the modern residential buildings that is constructed after 2010, the other type is relatively older residential buildings dedicated for factory employees which is usually constructed around 2000s. For data sampling, I have collected data from two sites for each building category for a more accurate representation to carry out the contrast. To collect the data, real estate websites are primarily being used to calculate the mean area. As it’s a clear representation of all possible housing types in the chosen residential area. Indeed, the site used for data sampling is the identical one shown in th footage. To avoid bias, two modern and two older residential buildings are in the same area: Wei Yang district, Xi’an. It is possible that the environment and neighborhood in which the site is located have more variables that cannot be modified, such as the difference in residents’ lifestyle, the differences in policy, etc. For instance, one district might have tight restrictions against the usage of stairwell areas, the other district might not have such policy.
Filming technics and visual presentation
The video clips are all filmed in first-person perspective, using the camera to imitate the audience’s eyes, allowing the audience to participate in the film. For instance, the shot of me walking down the stairs allows the viewer to see the environment from my perspective. In terms of shots, medium shots and close ups are being frequently used. Particularly when presenting different items around a site. Medium shots are used to visualize the general surroundings and the environment. Close ups are used to capture the details of the subject placed in the stairwell area. Since architecture of stairwells and residential buildings involves a lot of vertical structures, I have frequently used tilt camera movement to allow the camera to capture the entire structure. Which adds depth and movement to scenes that can otherwise be static.
All footages used for visual presentations are originals. All footage presenting real-life situations is shot on location in order to show a more accurate reflection of reality. Whereas stairwell structure illustration is made from CGI (computer generated imagery) animation by using 3D modeling software Sketchup & rendering software Twinmotion. In comparison with physically based processes, it results in a higher quality of footage. A stairwell can be illustrated to demonstrate its architectural structure, which assists audiences in understanding it better.
Reflection
While I’m aware that stairs exist, I’m unable to recall the last time I attempted to use one. As a resident of a modern residential condominium, I may think stairwell areas are useless and unnecessary most of the time. However, after going on a few site visits to different types of residential areas. The purpose of stairwells goes well beyond their most basic function, as I have realized. Indeed, it has reminded me how stairwells have such a crucial role that allows individuals to extend their living area, improve user’s neighborhood environment. Stairwells are not just vertical structure that allow us to transport between floors, but a space. A public yet private space.
Jingyang Guo 3035853975
References
Background music:
Fluidified. (2021, January 16). For Work | Productive Chill Music Mix [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDYP6AKw8bk&t=228s&ab_channel=Fluidified
Citations:
AlSayyad, N. (2006). Voyeuristic Modernity: the Lens, the Screen and the City. In Cinematic urbanism: A history of the modern from reel to real (pp. 147-168). New York: London: Routledge.
Schultz, T. (1972). Privacy for Apartment Dwellers. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 51(1A), 128.
Madanipour, A. (2003). Public and private spaces of the city. London ; New York: Routledge.
Allies, Bob. “On Public, Private and Communal Space.” Allies and Morrison, https://www.alliesandmorrison.com/research/on-public-private-and-communal-space.
“Computer-Generated Imagery.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/computer-generated_imagery.htm.
“Filming 101: Types of Camera Shots and Angles.” PolarPro, https://www.polarprofilters.com/blogs/polarpro/filmmaking-101-types-of-camera-shots-and-angles.
McGregor, Lewis. “Understanding Point of View in Film and Video.” The Beat: A Blog by PremiumBeat, 4 Feb. 2022, https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/understanding-pov-in-film-and-video/.
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西安最新人均住房面积34.8㎡ 超过北京、广州、深圳, https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1689294438768164848&wfr=spider&for=pc.
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西安重型机械研究所家属院二手房-安居客 WS:878252029, https://www.anjuke.com/fz/cm311444/.
Very interesting and informative film! I love the way you implemented a 3-D rendered environment into your film, it’s unique and provides a clearer look at how stairwells work and how they are integral in our daily life. The organization of your film is clear and focused, I can easily follow the structure of your film without being confused, I also like how you used the stairwell as a metaphor for people striving for a better life amidst the urban city. For example, I like how you explored how they utilized the stairwell as a space for comfort within the city, like as a garden, balcony, etc. Overall, you clearly demonstrated the importance of the stairwell to the city.
Thank you!
I appreciate the various attempts you have made for this short film, both real-scene filming and animation. This makes the visual effect more rich and vivid. And based on the theme of stairs, you have chosen two different types of stairs (built before 2000 and built after 2010), which express the more robust distinction between public and private spaces reinforced by architectural modernization. The animation helps bring out the stairwell structures of modern buildings that are hard to capture by camera. In the reflection part, you are deeply aware of the complexity of stairs in terms of construction, function and social meanings. However, the transition of the “privacy function” of the two stairwell types is so apparent that it is worth further analysis.