Educational Media Reviews Online

In September 2010, twelve temporary structures constructed in accordance with biblical parameters for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot were presented to the public. The structures, or sukkahs, were installed at Union Square in New York City for an architectural competition dreamed up by best-selling author Joshua Foer. The competition has since spawned similar competitions in other cities, but at the time, the sukkah was little-known to the non-Jewish design community. Among the lengthy list of parameters set by Jewish Law, or Halacha, are the following: the sukkah must have three walls, one of which may be partial; by day, there must be more shade than light; the roof must be made from something that once grew from the ground, but is no longer attached to the earth; and at night, one must be able to see the stars.

Sukkah City offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of a juried international architecture competition. Some of the best scenes allow us to listen in on the prestigious 14-person jury tasked with whittling down over 600 submissions, whose members included starchitect Thom Mayne, critic Paul Goldberger, and author/illustrator Maira Kalman. The documentary follows the twelve winning teams, showing the progression from concept through fabrication, transportation, and installation. As the jury was charged with curating “the one best Sukkah City,” the structures are wide ranging in concept, materiality, and authorship. According to Foer, “The sukkah is supposed to make you confront the things that you have that are not permanent, and the ways in which you yourself are not permanent,” an interpretation that extends past its roots in Judaism to reach a universal audience. The creativity shown by the architects involved is inspiring, and the documentary deftly traces the design process from beginning to end. Sukkah City is appropriate for both a general audience and for one well-versed in the profession, due to its unique subject matter and intimate glimpse into the process of putting on an internationally-recognized installation.