syndicate's reflective pyramid for garage museum's summer movie theater opens in moscow

the temporary pavilion designed by syndicate architecture bureau for the garage screen summer movie theater in gorky park, moscow is now open. the winning proposal of a competition organized by the garage museum and strelka KB, the project comprises a weightless, practically floating pyramid covered in a reflective film that allows it to blend in with the surrounding space during the day, and transform into a glowing attraction that creates a celebratory atmosphere on the square during the night.

image © iwan baan, header image © mark seryy

the main focus of the concept developed by syndicate for the new garage screen was user experience for both audiences and visitors of the square. the floating pyramid seems to lack walls, yet, at the same time, the velvet curtain around the perimeter of the auditorium creates an illusion that audiences are not on a square in the center of moscow, but in an intimate space instead. in this way, the interaction between audiences and the pavilion turns into a performance: on the one hand, they are watching a film, but on the other, gorky park visitors turn into an audience for the pavilion’s timely architecture.

image © mark seryy

almost all solutions proposed by syndicate were preserved during the development stage of the project, including complicated moving parts, such as a lift for the curtain featuring non-standard details. the theater complies with all contemporary demands for holding film screenings and other events, including those related to accessibility for guests with limited mobility.

image © iwan baan

image © iwan baan

image © iwan baan

project info:

name: garage screen summer movie theater

architect: syndicate architects

client: garage museum of contemporary art

competition organizer: strelka KB

location: moscow, russia