Space in the Image

A reflection on the dynamic interplay between spatial experience and its representations in cinema and photography. 

Space in the Image focuses on cinematic and photographic portrayals of the built environment, from individual buildings to entire cities. It addresses a timely and relevant topic, reflecting the prominence of urbanization and the widespread use of digital audiovisual media in architecture, planning, and design. Bringing together scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, and digital media, the volume engages with both contemporary practice and current debates in the field.

In light of the growing ubiquity of media platforms and the immediacy of digital representation, the contributors critically examine the evolving relationship between spatial experience and its mediated forms. These inquiries are situated within the broader context of accelerating urbanization, making the book timely for architects, urban designers, planners, and media theorists alike. Rather than treating images as static records of the past, the volume interrogates their role as active participants in shaping contemporary urban life, identity, and memory. 

LJ Theo is associate professor of media and communication studies at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where he oversees postgraduate study programs; teaches screenwriting, communications, and research practices; and supervises Masters and Doctoral research in media, communication, and design. 

Gul Kacmaz Erk is an associate professor in architecture at Queen’s University Belfast, where she leads architecture and planning disciplines; teaches architectural design studio, history, and theory in architecture; and conducts research on cinematic architecture and spatial media. 

June Jordaan is a professional architect and senior lecturer in architecture from Cape Town, South Africa.