UFA Cinema Center in Dresden, Germany by COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Article source: COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

The design concept of the UFA Cinema Center is characterized by two intricately interconnected building units: The Cinema Block, with eight cinemas and seating for 2600, and the Crystal, a glass shell which serves simultaneously as foyer and public square.

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

• Architects: COOP HIMMELB(L)AU
• Project: UFA Cinema Center
• Location: Dresden, Germany
• Photography: Duccio Malagamba, Gerald Zugmann and Hélène Binet
  
• Client: UFA – Theater AG, Düsseldorf, Germany
• Design Principals: Wolf D. Prix, Helmut Swiczinsky
• Design Architect: Tom Wiscombe
• Project Architect: Verena Perius
• Project Team: Eric Geddes, Alex Hagner, Spencer Hunt, Laura King, Johannes Kraus, Miro Krawczinski, Andreas Mieling, Stefanie Murero, Florian Pfeifer, James Puckhaber, Stefano Pujatti, Jennifer Rakow, Stephanie Reich, Andreas Schaller, Karolin Schmidbaur, Alexander Seitlinger, Bernd Spiess, Michael Volk, Andras Westhausser, Susanne Zottl
• Construction Documents: Arge Eiger Nord Vienna; Coop Himmelb(l)au – ATP
• Structural Engineering: B+G Ingenieure, Bollinger und Grohmann GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany
• Site Area: 1,847 m²
• Floor Area: 6,174 m²
• Built-up Area: 1,522 m²
• Competition: 1993
• Start of Planning: 02/1996
• Start of Construction: 02/1997
• Completion: 03/1998

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

The Cinema Block opens up towards the street and is permeable for pedestrian traffic. It is differentiated by the circulation system of the cinemas and by views through to the street.

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

The Crystal is no longer merely a functional entry hall to the cinemas, but an urban passageway. The urban quality of the space is reinforced by circulation systems of stairs and bridges which allow views of people through layers of light and color.

Image Courtesy © Gerald Zugmann

Image Courtesy © Gerald Zugmann

The eight cinemas extend over four floors including the basement and offer seating for 2,600 people. The different levels are connected by free floating stairs and an elevator.

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

The bridges, ramps and stairs to the cinemas are themselves urban expressions. They allow views of the movement of people on a multitude of levels, unfolding the urban place into three dimensions. The lively quality of this space can be described in relation to the dynamic structure of film.

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

The Skybar, the “floating” double-cone inside the foyer, is accessible and will host different functions (café, bar etc.).

In this way, the content of the building becomes visible to the city as much as the city is visible from the building. It is an inside-out building which sustains a dialogue with the city.

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

Image Courtesy © Duccio Malagamba

Image Courtesy © Gerald Zugmann

Image Courtesy © Gerald Zugmann

Image Courtesy © Hélène Binet

Image Courtesy © Hélène Binet

Image Courtesy © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Image Courtesy © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Image Courtesy © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Image Courtesy © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Image Courtesy © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Image Courtesy © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Image Courtesy © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Image Courtesy © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Image Courtesy © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Tags: Dresden, Germany

Category: Cinema

This entry was posted on Friday, January 6th, 2017 at 6:29 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.