Inhabiting the imagined future

Science fiction cinema as a prospective tool for gender-sensitive housing design

Abstract

Science fiction cinema not only reflects social concerns but also constitutes a productive medium for envisioning alternative forms of dwelling. This study examines how residential architecture depicted in science fiction films, through its inherently speculative nature, may generate innovative strategies for housing design from a gender perspective. The research focuses on six films that propose diverse approaches to housing in imagined futures: Oblivion (Kosinski, 2013), The Giver (Noyce, 2014), Ex_Machina (Garland, 2014), Equals (Doremus, 2015), Blade Runner 2049 (Villeneuve, 2017) and Dune: Part One (Villeneuve, 2021). A qualitative methodology was used, structured around five tools of film-architectural analysis applied to each case: technical record, environmental and physical context record, questionnaire, timeline and comparative chart. This framework enabled a systematic examination of architectural representations and sociocultural implications. The purpose of the study is to extract proposals that enrich architectural practice by incorporating critical perspective that promotes spaces more attentive to diverse experiences and consolidating cinema as an interdisciplinary tool for research and design. The findings demonstrate that science fiction architectural representations, beyond presenting alternative visions of dwelling, critically challenge traditional models of spatial organization and gender roles within domestic environments.