INNOVA
CINEMA
LLEIDA
STILLS
The White Introduction
Second Skin: Thanks to innova::designers, a visit to the new cinema in Lleida means stepping into a futuristic world even before the film begins.
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Having been commissioned to design interiors for the new Moviespace theatres and entertainment centre on the outskirts of the Catalan city of Lleida, brothers Diego and Pedro Serrano were faced with a former warehouse whose undulating shell of metallic blue had to remain intact. The founders of innova::designers set out to make the new interiors from scratch – an intervention that included the creation of a second skin. They drew inspiration from the fantasy worlds of films that stir the emotions and shake the senses. As Diego Serrano describes it, ‘Our idea was to create a futuristic atmosphere that would seem imaginary but real at the same time – a combination of two worlds that would have an impact on visitors even before they enter the movie theatres.’ To achieve the desired effect, the Serranos made use of
materials and solutions rarely seen in cinema design. A customdesigned module of curved, white, moulded fibreglass was the key to a pattern that eventually enveloped the interior of the building in a semi-opaque second skin. Embracing the perimeter of the stairwell, including its balcony, the oval garland is backed by a railed fence of dark perforated steel. The ceiling is clad in randomly shaped Lycra ‘sails’ that are illuminated from behind by colour-changing LEDs. A ground floor in spotless white offers a dramatic contrast to the black environment of the upper floor, which prepares an audience about to enjoy the cinematic experience. Words Sarah Martín Pearson Photos courtesy of Innova designers
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