matali crasset: cinéma nouvel odéon

‘‘cinéma nouvel odéon’ by matali crasset, paris, france images courtesy of matali crasset

parisian designer matali crasset has completed ‘cinéma nouvel odéon‘, a one room cinema for independent films distributed by ‘haut et court’. located in saint germain des pres, the theater – one of the only wheelchair accessible cinemas in paris – is backed by the CNC, the city of paris and iles de france region. the transformable design can accommodate a wide variety of events and meetings that could take place within the facility.

rendering of the entrance and cafe

rendering of the theater

rendering of the exterior facade

exterior facade

cafe and transitory space

adapting the formal structure typically associated with a cinema to suit the particular and engaged viewers, ‘nouvel odéon’ aims to transform the traditional theater experience. a large window opens on to the street, drawing viewers in and welcoming them, unlike the typically impermeable movie house. centrally located is a cafe where viewers can take the time to transition between reality and the fantasy or impact of the film. white metal structures abstractly represent stage curtains, folding around the architectural fixtures to define the transitory space.

cafe and transitory space

cafe

state of the art technology, left exposed to act as a piece of art, is equipped to show both digital and 35mm films. sophisticated projection and sound equipment further refine the experience.

the projection equipment is left exposed

bright orange at the entrance of the inner theater fades to a deep purple at the screen to ease viewers in to the atmosphere within the theater. the chairs, designed by crasset have storage for personal items and are each numbered so that the moviegoers can reserve and print their tickets at home and arrive at the last minute. the last row of seats were created in a way that allows them to turn into one long table should it be needed.

theater