Cine Times: A Minimalist Cinema DesignTracing the Roots of Filmmaking
The 21st century opens a gateway to the new era of modern technologies and innovations. With the widespread of 3D and even 4D high definition movies available on the global market, the old method of filming has gone scarce, if not extinct. When thinking of the theme for this cinema, the designers, Ajax Law & Virginia Lung, wanted to trace back to the roots when filmmaking began. Back in the 19th century, photographers captured continual images and stored them on a single compact reel of film. This ancient object - roll films, was symbolized all over the cinema, reminding the audience of the long-forgotten history behind the scenes.
LCD movie screens playing the latest trailers greet the audience in the entrance, giving them news on the hottest movie trends. The edge of the ticketing office table bends smoothly along the ambient, matching the bending angles of the 'roll films' on the wall. This design choice brings an extra dramatic vibe to the whole space.
Above head, special-designed LED spotlights of various lengths hang in black, ranging from 1-6maiming at different directions. Light and shadows fill every corner, creating an atmosphere that resembles a shooting spot of the newest film. The audience might fall into the illusion of fantasizing that they are the lead actor or actress in a romantic comedy.
On the ground, the floor reflects the original state of roll films, with black being the principal color. Grey stripes cut the black space into different geometric shapes and sizes, contrary to the rectangles on the wall, giving the design a frolicsome note.
Inside the auditorium, spotlights of different lengths direct all over the perimeter, intersecting along the wall. This creates an additional multidimensional atmosphere, providing moviegoers with a warm and comfy viewing environment.
The design is realized using various materials such as acoustic panels, wallpaper, carpet, fabric, glass, steel, stone, and wood.
The Cine Times design covers an area of 1900sqm and was completed in November 2013 in Hong Kong. It embodies a minimalist style, using black and white as the main color components. The simplicity of the design reflects the user-friendly interfaces of modern technology.
Project Details and Credits
Project Designers: Ajax Law
Image Credits: Ajax Law
Jonathan Leijonhufvud
Project Team Members: Ajax Law
Virginia Lung
Project Name: Cine Times
Project Client: Ajax Law