Cinerama is a design proposal for the redevelopment of a former movie theatre in Rotterdam. In this redevelopment the cinema's entry and foyer from the 1950ies will be reused, while a new mixed-use tower will be built behind the existing building. The building will be host to a number of functions, including apartments, a hotel and a parking . We feel, however, that it is important to maintain the movie theatre's cultural, public role for nthe inner-city of Rotterdam. We therefore propose to add a supporting cultural program, comprising multifunctional auditoria, an art gallery, a record shop, bars and a restaurant. One of the auditoria will be situated on the rooftop, providing great views of the skyline of Rotterdam. The different public functions will share the entrance and the foyer. Functions and spaces can be used together or separately. This is one of the mayor assets of the design, and increases the chance for the Cinerama tower to be a success.
The Cinerama redevelopment will be located on one of the cities main roads, surrounded by a number of uninspiring high rises. Therefore the appearance of the tower has to be recognisable and inspiring. The tower will be situated in a courtyard, and ill be rather large in comparison to the surrounding building. The façade will either be been seen from large distances, or from inside the courtyard, and therefore has to have a sculptural, vivid yet at the same time 'soft' feel. GROUP A strongly favours an approach that creates an natural transition between between the existing and the new. The office feels that the original foyer and the new tower are both part of the same design, a smooth movement with a sculptural feel.
This design was submitted for the 'Tweede leven? Eerst een idee?' exhibition organised by Rotterdam-based architecture Institute AIR...
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