House of Ghosts: Dorothy & Arena + Q&A

Programmed by Sean Burns, House of Ghosts features two films that profile significant buildings, exploring architecture as a material container for experience and memory.

Dorothy Towers is the story of the legendary Clydesdale and Cleveland Towers, two residential blocks in the centre of Birmingham. Completed in 1971 as a social housing development and located adjacent to the city’s Gay Village, the towers’ proximity to the community means they have long been a haven for LGBTQ+ people. The film opens a space to reflect on the complex relationship between architecture, community, and memory.

Arena: Chelsea Hotel is a documentary from 1981 exploring the history of the storied New York hotel – expect a candid dinner between William S Burroughs and Andy Warhol in the same room where Arthur C Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968. Though different, Dorothy and Chelsea Hotel attempt to engender the atmosphere of the respective buildings, invite us in, and provide a stage for the unique residents, past and present.

This event is part of Dorothy Towers Playlist, curated by Sean Burns.