Barbenheimer refers to the cultural moment in 2023 when the films Barbie and Oppenheimer were released on the same day, sparking global conversation around their stark contrast. The term came to represent the coexistence of two opposing emotional worlds; one defined by color, fantasy, and optimism, and the other by gravity, realism, and moral complexity. Over time, Barbenheimer evolved into a broader symbol of duality, highlighting how light and darkness, playfulness and seriousness, spectacle and consequence can exist simultaneously within a single narrative.
Inspired by this duality, the spatial explorations investigate how contrasting emotional tones can be translated into architectural atmosphere. Through variations in color, material, scale, and light, the studies explore the tension between softness and severity, vibrancy and restraint, and surface expression and underlying depth, resulting in spaces that embody layered and conflicting spatial identities.
Abeer Fatima 