PLANTEA estudio presents a vintage inspired redesign of an abandoned cinema in madrid

sala equis is a set of spaces collected in the structure of the abandoned cinema duque de alba of madrid. when this original cinema had fallen into disuse in 2016, PLANTEA estudio of spain was commissioned with the design of a new concept cinema which would encompass many secondary programs: live music, circus performances, presentations, conferences or exhibitions, all accompanied by food and drink served in each of the different areas.

all images courtesy of PLANTEA estudio

in their redesign of the sala equis, PLANTEA transformed the existing gallery into a multifunctional space, illuminated during the day by the large skylight open on the roof. on the screen, in its original location, there is a continuous projection. during the week there are other activities, especially live music. beneath the screen is a bar with a small kitchen. the public is presented with many seating options: stands made of plywood board, fixed benches of iron pipe and cushions, hammocks of pine and canvas, and swings that reach 11 meters in height. the seating is all arranged together as a small public square focused around the screen and bar.

this new theater for 64 people is covered in dark earth velvet and equipped with high quality sound and projection systems. the running benches and the auxiliary tables offer a level of comfort that is more casual and carefree than a traditional cinema. next to this area is a cocktail bar, collected in a darker atmosphere which abstracts the movement of the plaza below. the access passage, an intermediate space between the street and the inner square, has been fitted with benches and tables where visitors might to wait for friends or make plans.

for sala equis, PLANTEA has designed a range of environments. from the spontaneity of the square and the passageway, with industrial materials combined with the bare walls of the old structure, to the sophistication of the cinema and the ambigú, dominated by velvet and red lights that tint the atmosphere and the public. the vegetation, projected in collaboration with rent a garden, brings the character of an exterior to the square, while the vintage signage return a classic tone to the concept.