Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Movie Theatres by Mitsuhiro Shinohara |
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| DESIGN NAME: Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai PRIMARY FUNCTION: Movie Theatres INSPIRATION: Mark Is Minatomirai, which houses the cinema, is a commercial building directly connected to Minatomirai Station and has a wide range of customers. The aim was therefore to create a cinema that is accessible to people of all ages. In addition, a free demo space has been set up right outside the lobby entrance to allow a wide range of people to experience the FLEXOUND. UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The most distinctive feature of this cinema is the installation of the Flexound Augmented Audio system in all seats. This is a world first and one of the factors that make this cinema unique. Furthermore, this cinema is unique in that it is not being installed in a new building, but in an existing facility. Due to floor-area ratio restrictions, it is not possible to build projection rooms in every theatre, so many projectors are exposed above the customer corridors. OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Most audiences will notice the vibrations that occur in conjunction with the bass when they sit in the chairs, but the Flexound is characterised by the cinema sound that comes from the head of the chair without any discomfort at all. It sounds so natural that you may not notice it unless you know about it beforehand. However, the difference is obvious when compared to a normal chair, and you will be surprised at how clearly even the smallest whispered sounds can be heard in your ears. Surround sound is also perfectly rendered, so no matter where you are in the theatre, you will be satisfied that you are in your own special and perfect acoustic environment. PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in November 2022 and the cinema opens in April 2024 in Yokohama. FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Interior Space and Exhibition Design |
PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The design was carried out under highly restrictive conditions due to the fact that it was an existing facility, including the reuse of an oval-shaped theatre, the largest theatre where the old tenant, a museum facility for experiencing the great nature of the earth, used to screen editorial works of the British "BBC EARTH". The cinema was realised thanks to the high storey height, but the high ceilings in the corridors of the auditorium also gave it an archaeological feel, so the lighting in the corridors was darkened as much as possible to highlight the impressive spherical lighting. Vertically extending, brightly coloured design columns and striking wall finishes with patterns create a sense of the extraordinary. The Flexound experience space in the lobby uses the same colour scheme as the guest corridor to maintain a sense of unity, while the areas with plenty of outside light are furnished with furniture and sofas that allow many people to relax, giving each space its own distinct character. SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: 12 screens, 1050 seats in total capacity, 4779sqm, Flexound Augmented Audio in all seats, Flexound technology from Finland, Construction by Taisei Corporation TAGS: Cinema, Cinema Complex, Movie Theatre, Flexound, Flexound Augmented Audio, Laser Projectors, Booth-less Cinema RESEARCH ABSTRACT: The plan was to open a cinema complex in the Yokohama Minatomirai area, where there are already three cinema complexes with IMAX and 4DX. With restrictions on floor space and load-bearing capacity when moving into an existing commercial building, it was thought that Flexound, which has few architectural requirements and is unique in the world, would be a sufficient countermeasure. The commercial building was also very positive about attracting a cinema on the occasion of its 10-year anniversary. CHALLENGE: Floor space cannot be increased due to floor-area ratio restrictions, so the projectors were installed above the customer corridors, as if they were on display. The Flexound system requires wiring from dedicated amplifiers in the sound racks of each theatre to each chair, so wiring routes had to be secured in advance in the floating floor and wiring work had to be carried out in advance. The wiring had to be done in advance by securing the wiring route in the floating floor. The length of the speaker cables was nearly 10 km for the nearly 1000 seats in all 12 theatres. With regard to the chairs, the project started with the development of this system to be installed in the chairs of a Japanese manufacturer. Furthermore, it was a very challenging project for each company, including the design of the base for the system's on/off switch to be installed in each chair. ADDED DATE: 2024-06-18 02:18:58 TEAM MEMBERS (7) : Interior Designer: Kei Sagara, Architect: Hironobu Imamura, Mechanical and Electric: Nao Uda, Lighting Chief Designer: Shinji Yamaguchi, Lighting Designer: Yayoi Aota, Director: Kunihisa Akiyama and Project Manager: Mitsuhiro Shinohara IMAGE CREDITS: All Images: Toshiyuki Yano |
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| Visit the following page to learn more: https://www.unitedcinemas.jp/minatomirai |
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NAME: Lawson United Cinemas, inc PROFILE: Lawson United Cinemas has a history of being founded in the UK by Hollywood majors Paramount and Universal in 1985 and starting as a Japan branch of a chain store that has expanded around the world, including Europe. Currently, it is managed with the capital unique to each country.　The expansion in Japan has expanded every year from the first store that opened in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture in 1996. The company name has changed in 2024 from united Cinemas to Lawson United Cinemas. IMAX has 9 screens, ScreenX has 5 screens, 4DX has the largest number of 24 screens and FLEXOUND has 2 cinemas in Japan, 1 screen for the first dinning cinema in Japan, and also operates art screens. At our movie theatres, we think about the concept for each store and change the design. That is because there is an idea that a movie theater should be built that meets the needs of the local people and the concept of commercial facilities. |
| AWARD DETAILS | |
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Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Movie Theatres by Mitsuhiro Shinohara is Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category, 2024 - 2025.· Read the interview with designer Mitsuhiro Shinohara for design Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai here.· Press Members: Login or Register to request an exclusive interview with Mitsuhiro Shinohara. · Click here to register inorder to view the profile and other works by Mitsuhiro Shinohara. |
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