Client: HUBEI CHANGJIANG FILM GROUP

Overview

This cinema is located inside a shopping mall, both the mall and cinema owner wanted us to create a space that would attract more people to stay longer.

After the site visit, we found out that many families would visit this area. Then we came up with this ‘playground’ idea – we think it is such a brand new idea to combine cinema and playground in the same space, which perfectly illustrates the mix-use of a commercial space. We hope that with this stylish design, we would especially attract more adults to come and have fun. We would like to awaken the childlike innocence of the adults and remind them they can still have fun and play like a child even if they are grown-ups. Even if the audience does not really play with the slide, they would immediately think it’s funny when seeing it. They can also climb up and slide down to truly enjoy being a child again.

The design was inspired by the complementary colours used in negative film. We came up with this design concept also because of the low budget. This way we can rely on the colour contrast which won’t necessarily require expensive materials, yet still can create strong visual impact. The lobby red and white meant to be a Georges Rousse-style optical illusion when looked at from a certain angle.

Goals

The art installations are created by us as interior designers to enhance the interactive experience. We were inspired by familiar playground facilities, e.g. merry-go-round, slides and seesaws etc. They serve the purpose of both interactive entertainment for the audience and as aesthetic decorative installations. The red and white meant to be a Georges Rousse-style optical illusion when looked at from a certain angle.

They do not only target children, but adults as well. If we’ve built a regular playground for children, adults may not feel as comfortable to stay and have fun there. We hope that with this stylish design, we would especially attract more adults to come and utilise the facilities. We would like to awaken the childlike innocence of the adults and remind them they can still have fun and play like a child even if they are grown-ups.

The green and white tubes in the kids’ play area are metal tubes painted in green and white colour. We added the exposed ductwork so that both adults and children can play with them. They are inspired by the barber’s pole outside Shanghainese barber shops and Christmas candy canes. The complementary colours also echo with the main theme.

Process

From a certain angle you can only see red or white in the lobby. This is especially difficult to achieve for our project because so much coordination is involved. There are so many objects inside the space which all need our careful consideration, e.g. slides, seatings, counters etc. Right from the beginning of the design stage until the contractor’s finishing touch, every step needs to be meticulously planned and executed.

When you step into the ‘red’ space, the red color of the walls and ceiling, combined with the red light, makes you feel like you have stepped into another completely different space. The white space seems so far far away. When you walk towards the cinema along the red space, there are clear signs to guide you towards different auditoriums.

Additional Information

After the site visit, designers found out that many families would visit the shopping mall that this cinema is located in. Then we came up with this ‘playground’ idea so to attract more people to stay and play in this cinema. We also think that no one has ever thought about combining cinema and playground together before. It’s a very new concept that we were very excited about. The main challenge would be achieving this outcome with a limited budget. We hope that with this stylish design, we would especially attract more adults to come and have fun. We would like to awaken the childlike innocence of the adults and remind them they can still have fun and play like a child even if they are grown-ups.