one plus partnership completes 'meteor cinema' in guangzhou

hong kong-based firm one plus partnership has completed a two-storey cinema, which draws parallels between the observation of meteors and the production of films. found within a shopping mall in guangzhou, china, the movie theater features a variety of architectural interventions that each portray a different aspect of a meteor shower — a scene that, in reality at least, only appears very briefly.

all images courtesy of one plus partnership limited and jonathan leijonhufvud

‘the process of filmmaking reminds of a meteor,’ explains one plus partnership. ‘a movie takes years to be completed; it is comprised of the hard work of a big team of people. the designers wanted to pay tribute to the filmmakers through the design of this cinema, to remind the audience of the passion and effort filmmakers have cultivated into their relatively short-lived enjoyment.’

the movie theater features a variety of architectural interventions

in the lobby, long cuboid forms extend from the ceiling, mimicking the motion of a meteor shower streaking across the sky. the edges of the rectangular strips, which point in two directions, have been slanted to create a dramatic sense of movement. these aluminum plates are coated with earthy patterns in two different shades of brown to create a wood-like effect.

in the lobby, long cuboid forms extend from the ceiling

other interventions are found elsewhere in the cinema: stainless steel signage makess the auditorium numbers appear as if they are flying towards the audience, while flat rectangular-shaped counters and partitions look as if they are growing out of the ground. this theme is continued within the auditoriums, where different styles of wall decorations have been installed throughout.

the edges of the rectangular strips have been slanted to create a dramatic sense of movement