rotunda

Initial sketches for the entrance and ground floor level of the film museum

I wanted the museum to be directly accessible from the cafe-bar, with wide entrance doors welcoming visitors to the space. I chose to split the space across the ground floor and basement as this allowed better lighting options for exhibits.

Sketches for the film museum entrance

The materials throughout the North Rotunda were inspired by details including the red velvet seats and brass box offices of classic cinemas.

I wanted the separate museum rooms with the coloured curtain doors to create a sense of excitement and encourage visitors to explore on their own route.

Sketches and notes exploring ideas for the film museum

The South Rotunda was inspired by the futuristic worlds depicted in films of the past, especially Blade Runner (pictured below). I found the contrast between old-fashioned and futuristic objects and environments interesting, and wanted to evoke that contrast in the design.

As the building sits on a slope, the ground floor is partially underground. This made the floor ideal for the cinema, as the smaller windows could easily be darkened by curtains, and the larger windows could be utilised for the social and circulation spaces instead.

Sketches experimenting with floor levels in South Rotunda

Sketches exploring layout and floor level of cinema

I aimed to make the cinema an exciting space whilst focusing attention on the cinema screen. The seating is located at the curved wall, with angled walls directing the audience’s attention towards the film. The entrance doors open out onto a central seating row, allowing wheelchair users a better view of the screen. The seating, cinema screen and projector are positioned with the audience’s comfort in mind, meeting requirements for field of view and sightline clearance. The angled walls and sloped ceiling also allow better sound absorption.

Vectorworks technical drawing detailing projector, wall and ceiling heights alongside sightlines of the audience on each row.

The acoustic wall is inspired by Inception, where the city environment is manipulated and buildings rise out of the ground and sky.

Sketches for the stairs and consistent lighting

I aimed for the lighting to be warm and subtle. I chose inset strip lights around the edges of the ceiling, which create highlights and shadows on the acoustic wall, exaggerating its form. Vertical strip lights allow sufficient lighting for the audience to find and take their seats.

As the film begins, these strip lights dim as the curtains close around the windows at the back of the auditorium. The curtains across the screen then open, building up anticipation before the film begins.

I wanted the Snack Bar to be the central space in the South Rotunda; an open space where people can socialise in groups of all sizes. The space was inspired by futuristic cityscapes in film, and I intended to create a range of different seating and standing areas evoking streets and alleyways of a city at night.

Sketches for the bar

The bar was inspired by petrol stations lit up at night, and classic cinema signage.

Initial sketches of window detail

As the snack bar is an evening-focused space, and the South Rotunda is a hidden part of the proposal, I wanted the windows to be mirrored from the outside, creating mystery and intruige for passers-by.

The popcorn stand is inspired by city laundromats at night. The contrast between new and old, light and dark, and rough and shiny was interesting to me. I was drawn to the combination of the bright neon glow and the regular pattern of stacked washing machines, and wanted to replicate this in the design. This was also inspired by the laundromat in Everything Everywhere All At Once.

An Aesop storefront which I found interesting for the contrast between industrial and sleek design

Everything Everywhere All At Once

The snack bar is a busy space where people are always moving, where groups to come together before or after a film for drinks and snacks late into the night.

The corridor towards the seating booths, WCs and lift is inspired by the neon signage of large cities at night. I designed an abstract version of this with coloured PVC and spotlights.