Positioned on the Promenade ring that circumnavigates the centre of Moscow, the Pushkin cinema is a punctuation mark on the circuit, exhorting passers-by to pause and engage with this landmark. Pushkin Square is a junction where contemplation and cinema intersect.
To link the square with the cinema, or in other words to invite the Muscovites to invest something of themselves in the idea of cinema, an intelligent surface is manifest in the floor of the square itself. This surface would be capable of projecting any scenario imaginable onto the square, inviting the public to engage in an interactive experience.
The billboard that currently obstructs the cinema forms a barrier which severs the flow from cinema to square. As a solution, the billboard would be incorporated into a structure that sits astride the road, forming the foundations for the famous steps.
Deeply rooted in any developed culture is an attempt to emulate the principles intrinsic in nature; a set of mathematical rules that govern the universe, found in everything from sunflowers to galaxies. These simple rules are realised herein the rotunda form of the cladding that has the ability to change its colour and radiance, thereby altering its mood. This interplay between logical and emotive characteristics pays tribute to the transition from the deep structure of nature to the unbridled expressive freedom of cinema.
This cladding system also addresses the issue of insulation in Russia's harsh climate. Hundreds of reflective panels are linked together, mimicking the behaviour of fur. Each panel is set to its own unique angle ensuring that, regardless of the sun's position, a percentage of the panels will catch the sun's rays and channel them into the entrance lobby to the cinema, thus keeping it warm throughout the day and changing seasons.