A great night out

A modern cinema would be barely recognisable to an audience of movie-goers a century ago. Early movie theatres resembled palaces highly ornate and lavishly decorated, they catered for large audiences.

Today, we're more likely to visit a cinema complex containing a number of small, simply furnished theatres showing a variety of different movies. Some theatre complexes may specialise in mainstream movies, while others place more emphasis on showing arthouse and festival films.

Cinema operator Richard Dalton has developed a boutique style with his award-winning Lido Cinema and Capitol Cinema in Auckland, and he has transplanted his recipe to the new Lido in Centre Place, Hamilton, which replaces an existing cinema complex.

Chris Gudgeon, chief executive for Centre owner Kiwi Income Property Trust, says the cinema will provide an entertainment experience unlike any cinema Hamilton has seen.

The boutique cinema has three theatres with seating for approximately 320 patrons and facilities for serving icecream, espresso coffee and wine. A comfortable lounge with a fireplace, and sofas and chairs in small groups, creates a welcoming and cosy seating area for patrons who are waiting to see a movie.

Martin Lowery of project management company Pragmatix says the objective was to create a renovated space that was finished to a high standard to ensure the new cinemas were full of character and would encourage people to go out and enjoy a fabulous cinema experience.

Architect Grant Morley of Concept Design worked closely with Dalton to create three smaller, modern theatres from the existing complex.

As with his other theatres, Dalton wanted seating at the Hamiton Lido to be larger than standard and to be tiered up from the screen.

"A critical part of the design was to provide enough seats in each theatre to ensure commercial viability. We also had to get the entrance to each theatre as far back as possible, to ensure patrons are not disturbed by later arrivals," says Morley.

Story by: Trendsideas