Movie Houses: Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Bruce Wayne’s Residence
I need to be very honest in sharing the fact that Super Hero Movies are more my colleague Nick Maylor’s thing than mine. The Superhero movies I have seen I have enjoyed, especially when dark deco styled metropolis sets are involved, or in seeing how historic Wayne Manor is depicted. My younger self is fascinated by the idea of this scenario, where a historic setting is easily adapted into the ultimate clubhouse in which a man of means can fulfill his ultimate fantasy life with caves, toys, and secret passages. No thought, of course, given to the army of engineers, contractors, technicians, and tradespeople required to construct this network, no building plans submitted for a permit and no building inspectors required, thereby ensuring the required ultimate secrecy. But that’s just me being cynical. In each version of the story, the historic and irreplaceable Wayne Manor is destroyed and ultimately recreated, by tradespeople and skills which no longer exist, and accomplished within unrealistic timelines. Sorry, did I mention I was cynical?
In Batman v Superman, Dawn of Justice, the historical Wayne Manor has yet again been destroyed (although not actually explained how or why). Refreshingly though, this time Wayne Junior opted for a light and airy glass-walled replacement of the family’s ancestral home, rather than replicate the ancient building. The stressful action and battle sequences were filmed in Detroit, having received the Hollywood treatment to appear more menacing and decrepit. This filthy, immoral world creates a brilliant contrast to the clean lines and fresh air of Bruce Wayne’s tranquil Mid Century Modern bachelor pad.
Bruce Wayne’s new residence was unfortunately just a set, constructed for the movie on a private 350-acre lakefront property 50 miles north of the Detroit city limits. The house was designed by Patrick Tatopoulos emulating the classic style of architect Mies van der Rohe. Of course, Wayne’s classic MCM home remains conveniently tied to the customarily secret high tech underground cave network, so integral to the franchise.
