In coordination with the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Embassy in Manama supported a film screening and documentary film making workshop with the “Mawane” independent art project. Chad and Jaime Fredrichs, two American documentary filmmakers, visited Bahrain to show their film “The Pruitt Igoe Myth” and lead workshops with local filmmakers.
The film attempts to dispel the myths surrounding St. Louis’ Pruitt-Igoe housing project by examining the rise and fall of the once-promising development within a historical context. Constructed in 1956, Pruitt-Igoe offered people who once lived in poverty the change to enjoy modern living in a convenient urban setting. But by the late 1960s Pruitt-Igoe was overrun with crime, and the following decade it was demolished. As a result, Pruitt-Igoe is often cited as an example of both failed Modern Architecture and public planning. By looking a bit deeper and examining the circumstances surrounding the fall of Pruitt-Igoe, however, Freidrichs posits that those who perpetuate these arguments may be missing some crucial components of the big picture.
