Palace Cinema: A Symphony of Design and Cinematic Experience

Oft Interiors Ltd. Transforms Cinema Design with a Unique Water-Inspired Concept

At the heart of the Palace Cinema design is the concept of water and its many forms. The design team drew inspiration from the idea that films, like water, can be both fierce and mild, reflecting and rejecting, depending on the viewer's perspective. This concept is beautifully translated into the design of the cinema, where materials were carefully selected to create a soothing rhythm that invites audiences to "go with the flow".

The two-story cinema provides a holistic experience for its audience. The entrance and lobby on the fourth floor lead to the screening houses on the third floor via escalators. The color palette is kept subtle, with white representing water and bronze representing pulses. This choice allows the aesthetic shapes, lines, and edges of the design to shine through, creating a space that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant.

Technical specifications reveal the use of marble, aluminum, fabric, carpet, glass, and painting in the 6463 sqm area. The design team, consisting of CM Jao, Ken Cheung, and Yoyo Au, has skillfully incorporated these materials into the design to create a space that is as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing.

The design's interaction with its audience begins right at the entrance. The bright white color scheme, coupled with concealed lighting, creates a crystalline effect. Bronze ripple patterns spread across the walls, columns, and floor, creating a sense of movement and flow. The ceiling outlets in the lobby area are cleverly designed as half-moon shapes made up of wooden stripes painted in bronze, adding to the overall aesthetic.

The project, which started in 2017 and was completed in 2019, was executed in Shanghai, China. The design team faced creative and technical challenges, especially in designing the two types of screening houses - the Standard House and IMAX House. The IMAX House, in particular, uses stone grey as the main color, with different shades of grey faux leather seats, walls, and floor, creating a natural and comfortable space.

Palace Cinema is a testament to the power of design in creating immersive experiences. Its unique water-inspired concept, combined with meticulous attention to detail, has resulted in a space that is not just a venue for watching films, but a part of the cinematic experience itself. The design's success is evident in its recognition at the A' Design Award, where it was awarded Silver in the Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design category in 2021.