From Barbie’s pink hues to the enigmatic tones of Oppenheimer’s, there’s much to explore in the craftsmanship of the Oscars 2024 set designs.
As the year begins, it brings the excitement of fresh starts, including the unveiling of the nominees for Oscars 2024. In announcing the 96th annual Academy Awards nominations, “Oppenheimer” emerged as the frontrunner with an impressive 13 nods, closely trailed by “Poor Things” with 11.
Looking back, last year was a cinematic phenomenon, with “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s WWII epic, “Barbenheimer,” captivating global audiences and earning significant box office success.
This is the pinnacle for movie enthusiasts, akin to the World Cup—an opportunity to witness the epitome of Hollywood and global cinema. For interior designers, it’s a moment to appreciate the finest craftsmanship behind the scenes in design and art direction.
That’s because movie sets mirror the real world, seamlessly blending the best art, architecture, and interior design to craft captivating worlds on the big screen. We invite you to join us through the Oscars 2024 breathtaking top 5 set designs.
5. The French Luxury of “Napoleon” (Directed by Ridley Scott)
The era of Napoleon marks the dawn of modern history. This Oscars 2024 nominee witnessed the ascent of the Empire Style, a neoclassical movement evident in furniture, interior design, and architecture. Inspired by Napoleon’s vision, it seeks to revive the splendor of imperial Rome and ancient Egypt.
The set design of this Oscars 2024 nominee exudes luxury, meticulously recreating the opulence of French royalty. British set decorator Elli Griff brought it to life, expertly curating everything from precise lighting to period-perfect decor selections.
French Empire furniture boasts gilt, paint, or mahogany finishes, clean lines, and motifs inspired by Roman, Egyptian, and Greek aesthetics. Its enduring appeal, featuring claw or paw feet and legs, makes it a timeless and popular choice even today.
4. The Intimacy Of “Maestro” (Directed by Bradley Cooper)
In crafting the Oscars 2024 nominee “Maestro,” a poignant portrayal of Leonard Bernstein, Bradley Cooper delves into the complex dynamics between the legendary conductor and composer and his wife, Felicia Montealegre.
The film’s Production Design was made by Kevin Thompson. It required immersion in the couple’s intimacy, achieved by filming in their original home purchased by the Bernsteins in 1962 and later bequeathed to their children.
This allowed the team of this Oscars 2024 nominee to witness the intricate layers added by Felicia, the primary decorator of her home. Notably, Felicia’s hand-painted artworks on the walls stand out, showcasing her artistic prowess, including the meticulously crafted wallpaper paint.
From the early ’60s to the late ’80s, this Oscars 2024 nominee captures the furniture details of these eras, featuring patterned fabrics and colorful handmade rugs. The use of terracotta hues, wooden elements, and neutral tones encapsulates a timeless aesthetic, and the vintage pieces showcased could easily be found in a contemporary project today.
3. Recreation Of Los Alamos in “Oppenheimer” (Directed by Christopher Nolan)
This Oscar nominee has a fascinating design narrative. For “Oppenheimer,” production designer Ruth De Jong was tasked with locating a site to recreate Los Alamos entirely from scratch, as the director opted against using CGI.
After months of extensive research and effort, the team successfully replicated the 1940s town, the site of the Manhattan Project that ultimately led to the development of the atomic bomb.
Additionally, numerous interior scenes were filmed in authentic locations at Los Alamos, including Oppenheimer’s house, preserved nearly untouched since his residency.
This Oscars 2024 nominee draws inspiration from the brutalist German movement, featuring raw forms such as the showcased fireplace that exude both organic and visceral qualities. Within these well-preserved interiors of a bygone era, the minimalist aesthetic of the 1940s is evident, with straight lines evoking a sense of seriousness and gravity to the ambiance.
2. The Dream World Of “Barbie” (Directed by Greta Gerwig)
In the previous year, when this Oscars 2024 nominee was released, everyone was mesmerized by the comprehensive design project in the live-action adaptation of Barbie, the world’s most famous doll.
Production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer reimagined Barbie’s cinematic home, transforming it into a fuchsia fantasy. The residence features a slide coiling into a kidney-shaped pool, drawing inspiration from the midcentury modernism of Palm Springs.
The ultimate aim of this Oscars 2024 nominee was to create a whimsical world where pink took center stage. The team combined a clamshell headboard upholstered velvet in Barbie’s bedroom with a sequined coverlet, showcasing impeccable material coordination.
The careful selection of colors adds a functional touch to the space, almost making us overlook its toy house origin. The vivid yellow daybed and the fluorescent pink sofa are so striking that they could seamlessly fit into any contemporary maximalist project today.
1. The Imaginative World of “Poor Things” (Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos)
Yorgos Lanthimos’ Oscars 2024 nominee, “Poor Things,” adapted from Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel, follows the resurrection of Bella Baxter (portrayed by Emma Stone) by an eccentric surgeon, akin to a modern Frankenstein tale.
This Oscars 2024 nominee’s wildly imaginative visuals, crafted by production designers Shona Heath and James Price, emerge from intricate and extravagant sets. A standout set in the film is Lisbon, Portugal, which is transformed into a vibrant and technicolor dream world.
Absurd elements, such as oversized dining chairs and overhead heat lamps, seamlessly coexist with conventional British decorating motifs like plates on the dining room walls.
It’s a realization of a creative and imaginative world akin to a fusion of maximalist and boho styles in an interior project. The overall effect exudes a Frankenstein-esque quality, with elements blending seamlessly as if they were destined to be together.
In the vast and captivating realm of Oscars 2024 set designs, from the vibrant hues of Barbie’s world to the enigmatic tones of Oppenheimer’s, the craftsmanship unfolds as a testament to cinematic artistry. So, it’s a platform to celebrate not just the actors on screen but also the unsung heroes behind the scenes—the production designers, set decorators, and visionaries who bring these cinematic worlds to life.
Indeed, the Oscars 2024 nominee showcases incredible craftsmanship in designing these sets, and the upcoming award show, scheduled for March 10 and hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, promises to celebrate these artistic achievements. In the meantime, you can embark on creating your imaginative worlds. For additional inspiration, explore our curated trends for 2024.
