6 Matchless Movie Theaters, in Honor of the 87th Academy Awards

Time and again, if anyone in the media mentions the Pritzker Architecture Prize, it’s dubbed the “Oscars of architecture.” While film and architecture are both intensely collaborative ventures, the Oscars acknowledge film’s diverse expertise with awards in directing, cinematography, sound editing, and many more. In contrast, the Pritzker is a solo prize for a lifetime achievement, and even that single category was profoundly called into question when the Pritzker jury failed to recognize the contributions of Denise Scott Brown in 2013.

Honoring the collaborative spirit of the Oscars (acceptance speech lengths aside), these six movie theaters all bring unique architectural approaches to what’s typically a generic building type.

ARC- River Culture Multimedia Theater Pavilionby Asymptote Architecture

Perched dramatically on a hilltop, this theater in Daegu, Republic of Korea, makes full use of the low mountains around it for dramatic effect. The ark-like structure features ETFE panels all along its exterior; the material’s subtle reflectivity picks up color and light from the landscape, sky, and reflecting pools around the building’s base. The ETFE panels also create a dark interior ideal for multimedia exhibitions.

Kineform Misbar by Csutoras & Liando

Located in Jakarta, Indonesia, this temporary theater was built for the 2013 Jakarta Biennale. The client and collaborator was Kineforum, a non-profit that runs the only cinema in Jakarta dedicated to local art-house and international film. The 125×46-ft theater is draped in 20 feet of translucent cloth, which envelopes a ticketing counter, bleacher seats, and a snack bar. Built from plywood and common pipe scaffolding in only ten days, the entire theater was recycled after the Biennale.

Kino, Rye by JD ArchitectsPhotos by Oliver Perrott

While some theaters need to stand out, others need to blend in. This cinema is located in the middle of the historic city of Rye in the United Kingdom. A simple slatted wooden façade, seamlessly traversed through all-glass doors, hides a modern 100-seat theater and a bar/café.

Infoversum by archiview

With a large corten steel shell and a monocoque steel shell, the Infoversum is part planetarium, part multimedia exhibition space. The project, initiated by a astronomy and technology professor seeking to make science accessible to a general audience, most prominently features a 65ft IMAX-like theater. Much like at the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space, the unique form of the theater becomes a part of the building’s iconic appearance.

MEGABOX (Bundang) by studioVASE

A preference for a futuristic aesthetic seems to run strong in cinemas. With clean white surfaces, stainless tubular steel furniture, and fluorescent sculptural chandeliers, this Seoul theater exudes a cool 1960’s futurism.

Shepherds Bush Pavilion by Flanagan Lawrence

Last but not least, architects are sometimes tasked with breathing new life into old cinemas. Originally built in 1923 as a 3,000-seat theater, this previously ruined West London building was given new life as a 320-room boutique hotel. Its curved roof has been outfitted with glass panels, to bring sunlight to the rooms underneath.

Can’t get enough movie theaters? Check out last year’s round-up of stunning cinemas.