Henri Alekan, the film's legendary cinematographer (who had worked with Jean Cocteau on Beauty and the Beast ), lit the concrete to look like clouds. By shooting in black and white (switching to color only for the human perspective), Wenders transformed the harsh grey of the Plattenbau into a silver, ethereal dreamscape.

There is a melancholy inherent in visiting Kasselwood. Unlike the Hollywood sign or the steps of Philadelphia (Rocky), these are not static monuments; they are living, breathing homes. They age. The concrete stains. The windows are replaced with modern PVC frames.

The Nord-Holland estate, built in the 1970s, is a fortress of solitude. It features long, unbroken façades, repetitive window grids, and vast empty spaces between structures. Architecturally, it was designed to be efficient. Emotionally, it was often criticized for fostering alienation.

All screws or nails are hidden under the overlapping shingles, protecting them from the elements and eliminating common leak points found in exposed-fastener systems.