Inspiration through material
In Haikou, on the island of Hainan, stands a cinema unlike any other. Designed by the architectural firm One Plus Partnership Limited, the Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema intrigues as much as it fascinates with its avant-garde architecture. Its structure, decorated with terracotta bricks, reminds one of the waves of the China Sea opposite.
For One Plus Partnership Limited, it was unimaginable not to link this project to the surrounding ocean. “Rather than using the blue colour associated with the sea, we chose brick as the central material to shape the theme of our project.” So, to pay homage to the coastal landscape, the clay bricks used for the structure of the cinema were made from sand taken directly from the beaches of Haikou. A versatile material that unequivocally won over the architects in charge of this project. Inside the Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema, the terracotta waves tell the story of a space that, despite the passage of time, will remain timeless.
A meeting place for film buffs, this cinema also serves as a café. The terracotta tables and chairs of the venue are arranged to mimic the tips of waves with curved edges that flare out like a bell. The waves crash before the eyes of visitors giving form to the topaz-coloured walls, counters and other cabins. Their positioning is not left to chance. Each ripple has been placed so that it can be seen from every angle. At first glance, the clay bricks appear rough, but appearances can sometimes be deceptive. Their surface is much smoother than it appears.
Inside the Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema, light is gently and sparingly allowed in, contributing to the aesthetics of the space, while prioritising safety by minimising the risk of tripping for visitors. Upon entering the hall, natural light streams in through the few windows on either side. As visitors move towards the two auditoriums, the light softens, giving way to light rings located at the ends of the terracotta arches. This prevents eye strain for the viewers leaving a screening.
The walls of the first auditorium reflect the colour of the entrance hall, creating the illusion of freshly cut wood. The chairs are carefully arranged to create the atmosphere of a florist’s workshop with a subtle scent of lavender and peonies wafting through the space. Meanwhile, the shape of the terracotta panels in the second auditorium are evocative a tiger lily. Once you get to the top, the curves comes to an end and completely envelop the space like the China Sea surrounding the island of Hainan. Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema, a venue that is clearly rooted in its environment. •
3 questions for the One Plus Partnership Limited architecture studio
The sea is generally associated with the colour blue, but we wanted to challenge this convention and present it in a new way. Besides the sea, the beaches are a key part of the landscape. Given that they are made of sand, terracotta bricks naturally evoke this element. We chose this material to symbolise the sea, arranging them meticulously to imitate the shape of waves. This design not only creates the right visual effect but also fits in perfectly with the functional elements, e.g. the bars and seats.
The bricks, that are made from sand, fit into our approach to design and providing an eco-friendly solution. Since the size of the bricks is fixed and they cannot be cut, precise adjustments were necessary during implementation to achieve the desired curvature.
Each brick is held by a metal frame. Since the bricks have a fixed size and cannot be cut, precise adjustments had to be made in the ceiling and floor design to achieve the desired curves. This process required a lot of time and effort to arrange the bricks in the various configurations needed to create a smooth, natural look without undermining their integrity. Additionally, we applied an extra layer of colour to the sides of the bricks and added lighting to improve safety and prevent accidents for the public. •
Year: 2024
Address: Haikou, China
Space design: One Plus Partnership Limited
Materials: Terracotta
Surface: N/A
