And the Oscar Goes To…

Image by Pien Duijverman, via vecteezy.com

 
And the Oscar Goes To…

by Sweiskloss
March 12, 2026
Who can forget King Kong scaling the Empire State Building far above the streets of New York? Didn’t you want to kick up your heals and dance watching Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling twirl under the stars at Griffith Observatory in La La Land?

Architecture is not merely a backdrop for the scenes, but can set the mood, evoke emotions, and shape the world of a film. Ahead of the Oscars this weekend, our SweisKloss team share some of their favorite architectural structures that shined in movies and are themselves worthy of the golden statue.

Zaid Soudani’s pick for the golden statue goes too… Ennis House
A cult classic that defined the dystopian genre with rain-soaked imagery and cyberpunk visuals, architecture played a crucial role in creating the mysterious world of Blade Runner. For SK Designer and Project Manager, Zaid Soudani, the “textile block” technique featured in Ennis House contributed to the movie’s dramatic and emotional feel and created a sense of otherworldliness. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1924, Ennis House is “among the best examples of Mayan Revival architecture”. Located on a hill in the Loz Feliz neighborhood of LA, the home rises in stages, with over 27,000 blocks all made by hand using decomposed granite extracted from the site and arranged across a concrete platform (franklloydwright.org). The patterned surfaces create a textured appearance. Exterior shots of Ennis House were used for the movie, while the block style was recreated off site for the interior scenes of Rick Deckard’s (Harrison Ford) apartment (architecturaldigest.com). Its distinct architectural façade has made appearances in other films such as Karate Kid III and Rush Hour and TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twin Peaks.

Cynthia Salah Kraus’ pick for the golden statue goes to…the Bonaventure Hotel
Featured in films ranging from the dramatic Rain Man to action thrillers True Lies and In the Line of Fire, among other blockbusters, the Bonaventure Hotel holds sentimental and architectural value for Cythina Kraus, SK’s Director of Architecture. The native Angeleno remembers riding the exterior glass elevators with her father at the hotel’s grand opening. The massive open lobby stunned and impressed the 6-year-old budding architect. Built by John Portman in 1976, the structure exemplified his innovative “atrium hotel” concept that used “circular shapes, massive forms and the concept of space as experience” (laconservancy.org). Futuristic in design, four mirrored cylinders surround a taller central tower, which sits atop a high concrete base like a rocket on a launch pad. Interiors include curved walkways, reflecting pools, and a revolving cocktail lounge on the top floor with panoramic views of LA. The mirrored glass, cylindric tower and labyrinth atrium of the hotel played a role in creating a futuristic atmosphere in sci-fi films such as Escape from LA, Interstellar and The Dark Knight Rises.

Irina Tehrani’s pick for the golden statue goes to… 576 Meadow Lane
Located in Southampton, NY, the house at 576 Meadow Lane played almost as big of a role as Diane Keaton and Jack Nicolson in Something’s Gotta Give. Only the exterior of the private beach house was used in the film, while the interiors were custom designed sets built on the soundstage. Nevertheless, SK Designer and Assistant Project Manager, Irina Tehrani, loves the timeless quality of the house and how the home “holds life with grace”. Showcasing the epitome of coastal-style, the house features a cedar-shingle siding, large windows and a wraparound porch surrounded by hydrangeas. This Shingle Style, a decidedly American architectural aesthetic developed around the turn of the 20th Century, features asymmetrical rooflines, rounded dormers, minimal trim, and deep porches (mainehomedesign.com). Curated interiors blended a sophisticated and relaxed décor that transported audiences to the exclusive Hamptons beach town. The home sold for $41 million in 2014 but it’s place in Hollywood history makes it priceless.

Patricia Ballarin’s pick for the golden statues goes to…the Plaza Hotel
“I’d like a hotel room, please… with an extra-large bed, a TV, and one of those little refrigerators you have to open with a key,” Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) famously requests from the front desk staff at New York’s Plaza Hotel in the Christmas classic Home Alone 2. For SK Designer and Project Manager, Patricia Ballarin, the hotel feels magical, especially during the holidays with its dazzling decorations, lights and proximity to Central Park, all on display in the movie. She admires the building’s classic limestone façade with detailed carvings and distinctive mansard roof with dormer windows that give it a timeless and elegant look. The hotel’s grand lobby with crystal chandeliers, intricate gold accents and mosaic marble floor almost stole the scene when Kevin met Donald Trump. From the wood paneled Oak Room Bar to the Palm Court to opulent suites, the hotel is synonymous with luxury and old-world style and was featured in classic thrillers such as North by Northwest to Gilded Age movies like The Great Gatsby (2013) to modern day romcoms like Bride Wars.

Jessica Handy’s pick for the golden statue goes to… Sideways Inn
Book room 234 at the Sideways Inn in Buellton, CA to see where Jack (Thomas Hayden Church) and Miles (Paul Giamatti) stayed during their Sideways road trip adventure through wine county. Previously known as the Windmill Inn, it features, you guessed it, a faux windmill. SK Project Accountant Jessica Handy loves the campy roadside motel and “Sideways Lounge” that serves more than just Solvang Valley’s famous Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The property has been revamped with updated furniture and showers, pool and jacuzzi, outdoor firepits and gym. Lean over room 234’s balcony to see the parking lot where Jack was walloped with a motorcycle helmet by his love interest played by Sandra Oh. Walk in Jack and Miles’ footsteps along Route 246 to the Hitching Post restaurant where they filmed scenes from the movie and the cast and crew enjoyed downtime. The property is the ideal location for your own Sideways adventure.
Also nominated: LA’s Biltmore Hotel featuring old world glam that starred in many movies including Oppenheimer, Beverly Hills Cop and Ghostbusters and that actually hosted the Academy Awards; Dubai’s towering skyscraper Burj Khalifa scaled by Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible; E.1027 Eileen Gray - House by the Sea - the docufilm was all about the Modernist house inspired by Le Corbusier; and the “Dragon Style” Oslo house (inspired by Viking ships and Norwegian stave churches with dark wood, intricate carving and steep roofs) from Sentimental Value, in which the house becomes a central character to the story chronicling the family’s memories, joys and trauma.
See you on the red carpet!
 
Laura McMahon