Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ọdụ Ihe Nkiri by Mitsuhiro Shinohara

Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ọdụ Ihe Nkiri by Mitsuhiro Shinohara is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz in Nhazi Ime Ụlọ na Ngosipụta Competition Category.

BronzIme Ụlọ· 2025

Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ọdụ Ihe Nkiri

by Mitsuhiro Shinohara

Client: Lawson United Cinemas, inc

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz Winner in Ime Ụlọ Category

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The Design

About Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ọdụ Ihe Nkiri

Ederede Akwụkwọ: Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai bụ ọdụ ihe nkiri e wuru n'ime ụlọ ahịa dị adị na Yokohama. Ebe a nwere ihuenyo iri na abụọ, oche 1050, na ohere ala nke mita kwụ n'akụkụ 4779. A na-etinye usoro Flexound Augmented Audio n'oche ọ bụla, nke na-eme ka ụda si n'ihe ndaba isi ruo onye ọ bụla na-ele anya. Oke ohere ala mere ka o siri ike inwe ọnụụlọ ndozi efe efe iche, ya mere e debere ngwa ndozi efe efe n'elu ụzọ ndị njem si aga. Ọkụ na-agba dịka gburugburu, kọlụm nwere agba dị iche iche, na mgbidi nwere ụdịdị ọmarịcha na-akara ụzọ ndị njem. Ohere ngosi n'efu dị nso na ọnụ ụzọ mbata na-enye ndị njem ohere ịnwale usoro ụda a.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz

Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ọdụ Ihe Nkiri meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị pụtara ìhè nke a ma ama maka nzụlite ihe, ọgụgụ isi na nghọta. Ndị meriri na Bronz bụ ihe e mere nke ndị nwere nka nke ukwuu ma dị mma n'imepụta nke na-egosi ahụmahụ buru ibu, echiche na ọgụgụ isi nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ọdụ Ihe Nkiri ga-abụ ihe a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz na-agụnye ụzọ kacha mma n'ime nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ, ma dị mma nke ukwuu maka nlebara anya ya n'obere ihe. Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ọdụ Ihe Nkiri na-emezu mkpa nke ọma, na-emetụ ọchịchọ aka, na-adọrọ mmetụta obi ma na-adọta ọchịchọ ịmara.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The most distinctive feature of this cinema is the installation of the Flexound Augmented Audio system in all seats. This is a world first and one of the factors that make this cinema unique. Furthermore, this cinema is unique in that it is not being installed in a new building, but in an existing facility. Due to floor-area ratio restrictions, it is not possible to build projection rooms in every theatre, so many projectors are exposed above the customer corridors.
Dimensions & Packaging: 12 screens, 1050 seats in total capacity, 4779sqm, Flexound Augmented Audio in all seats, Flexound technology from Finland, Construction by Taisei Corporation
Tags: Cinema, Cinema Complex, Movie Theatre, Flexound, Flexound Augmented Audio, Laser Projectors, Booth-less Cinema
Production Technology: The design was carried out under highly restrictive conditions due to the fact that it was an existing facility, including the reuse of an oval-shaped theatre, the largest theatre where the old tenant, a museum facility for experiencing the great nature of the earth, used to screen editorial works of the British "BBC EARTH".
The cinema was realised thanks to the high storey height, but the high ceilings in the corridors of the auditorium also gave it an archaeological feel, so the lighting in the corridors was darkened as much as possible to highlight the impressive spherical lighting. Vertically extending, brightly coloured design columns and striking wall finishes with patterns create a sense of the extraordinary.
The Flexound experience space in the lobby uses the same colour scheme as the guest corridor to maintain a sense of unity, while the areas with plenty of outside light are furnished with furniture and sofas that allow many people to relax, giving each space its own distinct character.
Design Challenge: Floor space cannot be increased due to floor-area ratio restrictions, so the projectors were installed above the customer corridors, as if they were on display. The Flexound system requires wiring from dedicated amplifiers in the sound racks of each theatre to each chair, so wiring routes had to be secured in advance in the floating floor and wiring work had to be carried out in advance. The wiring had to be done in advance by securing the wiring route in the floating floor. The length of the speaker cables was nearly 10 km for the nearly 1000 seats in all 12 theatres.
With regard to the chairs, the project started with the development of this system to be installed in the chairs of a Japanese manufacturer. Furthermore, it was a very challenging project for each company, including the design of the base for the system's on/off switch to be installed in each chair.
Research: The plan was to open a cinema complex in the Yokohama Minatomirai area, where there are already three cinema complexes with IMAX and 4DX. With restrictions on floor space and load-bearing capacity when moving into an existing commercial building, it was thought that Flexound, which has few architectural requirements and is unique in the world, would be a sufficient countermeasure. The commercial building was also very positive about attracting a cinema on the occasion of its 10-year anniversary.
Inspiration: Mark Is Minatomirai, which houses the cinema, is a commercial building directly connected to Minatomirai Station and has a wide range of customers. The aim was therefore to create a cinema that is accessible to people of all ages. In addition, a free demo space has been set up right outside the lobby entrance to allow a wide range of people to experience the FLEXOUND.
Project Duration: The project started in November 2022 and the cinema opens in April 2024 in Yokohama.
Operation Flow: Most audiences will notice the vibrations that occur in conjunction with the bass when they sit in the chairs, but the Flexound is characterised by the cinema sound that comes from the head of the chair without any discomfort at all. It sounds so natural that you may not notice it unless you know about it beforehand. However, the difference is obvious when compared to a normal chair, and you will be surprised at how clearly even the smallest whispered sounds can be heard in your ears. Surround sound is also perfectly rendered, so no matter where you are in the theatre, you will be satisfied that you are in your own special and perfect acoustic environment.
Team Members: Interior Designer: Kei Sagara
Architect: Hironobu Imamura
Mechanical and Electric: Nao Uda
Lighting Chief Designer: Shinji Yamaguchi
Lighting Designer: Yayoi Aota
Director: Kunihisa Akiyama
Project Manager: Mitsuhiro Shinohara
Image Credits: All Images: Toshiyuki Yano