Act Two - Preston Retrospectively II.II Cine-metrics -

Picture houses in Preston

Cinemas, Picture-houses and Theatres of the Late 19th and early 20th century were characterised by a renaissance in ornate and decorative architecture. They represent an extract of the height of technology, style and luxury of the era of their genesis. Whether examples of early Edwardian, Art Deco or Mid-century architecture, the picture house was at its height the centre of socialisation, modernity and enjoyment and their style reflects this indulgence in gilded luxury, colour, vibrancy. Beyond their architectural style there are several main components of the 20th Century Cinema. This criteria defines form, style, elevation and spatial layout. The foyer - a space to meet and a vestibule between the real world and the fictional is intrinsic to the theatre, the elevation is denoted by; a canopy, a secondary meeting space, for sheltering from rain and booking tickets under; bold signage; decorative motifs and use of ornament and often a symmetrical and rhythmic façades. The two main types of theatre - on the corner or within the high-street have their own typology and style, the corner plots often having bevelled or rounded edges adorned with domes or parapets. Internally the screen is segregated into layers seating to form an auditorium and the proscenium arch shrouds the source of entertainment. The forms and criterion identified will inform the spatial moves and forms that I begin to test on-site, the intention to reference the sites cinematic past through the types of spaces created, a memoir to the unique architectural typology that stood before.