za bor architects: pushkinsky cinema proposal, moscow

‘pushkinsy cinema’ by za bor architects, moscow, russiaall images courtesy of za bor architects

russian designers arseniy borisenko and peter zaytsev have proposed to blanket the existing historical pushkinsky cinema with slotted metal structure in an effort to restore the iconic quality of the movie house. the architects aimed to keep the original historical volume, but symbolically connect old and new by way of form and material. originally opened in 1961 as the rossiya theater, the structure was the first post-war, modern building in moscow. the 3000 seat theater hosts the moscow russian film festival every two years and is considered one of the most important sites to premier russian film.

the proposal is an architectural reinterpretation of the ‘kino-eye,’ an early soviet filmic idea that touts the primacy of the ‘camera eye.’ the slots in the new facade create an optical effect as the movement of bodies breaks up light emitting from the building. it is this phenomena that led the project to be coined ‘the ants,’ for the flitting illumination recalls the dynamic dance of the insects en masse. the cinema posits to continue the symphony of the city with the faceted envelope of white polymer corian interspersed with sections of tempered sentryglas, all top tree-like pillars. the existing program, including an ever-thriving casino, would remain untouched, while the addition would revitalize pushkin square and restore the tectonic relevance of the movie house for the digital age. 

the faceted new skin remains dynamic in the daylightimage © za bor architects

the proposal uses the volume of the historic cinema, but drapes a new skin over the existing structure image © za bor architects

layered apertures break up light image © za bor architects

view of the new entrance image © za bor architects

lobby views show a multiplicity of light shapes and reflections image © za bor architects

image © za bor architects

night views show the illuminated volume most clearly image © za bor architects

entrance view image © za bor architects

the new envelope play off the existing program and light system

image © za bor architects

1/4