Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Kino Kompleksi by Mitsuhiro Shinohara is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Bürünç Baýragy in Içki Giňişlik we Sergi Dizaýny Competition Category.
BürünçIçki Bezeg· 2025
Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Kino Kompleksi
Client: Lawson United Cinemas, inc
A' Design Award Bürünç Baýragy Winner in Içki Bezeg Category
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The Design
About Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Kino Kompleksi
Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai — Ýokohamada bar bolan täjirçilik binasynyň içinde gurlan kino kompleksidir. Bu mekanda 12 ekran, 1050 orunlyk oturgyç we 4779 inedördül metr meýdan bar. Flexound Giňeldilen Ses ulgamy her oturgyçda oturdylandyr, şonuň üçin ses baş direýän ýerden her tomaşaça gönüden-göni ýetýär. Gatyň meýdan çäklendirmeleri aýratyn proýeksiýa otaglarynyň gurulmagyny mümkin etmändigi sebäpli, proýektorlar myhman geçelgeleriniň üstünde ýerleşdirilendir. Sferiki yşyklandyryş, reňkli sütünler we nagyşly diwarlar geçelgeleri bellik edýär. Wagtyndan öňki zalyň golaýyndaky mugt görkezme meýdançasy myhmanlara ses ulgamyny synap görmäge mümkinçilik berýär.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Bürünç Baýragy
Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Kino Kompleksi A' Design Award Bürünç Baýragynyň ýeňijisidir; bu döredijilik, ussatlyk we ýiti akyl bilen tapawutlanýan tapawutly dizaýnlara berilýän aşa abraýly ykrarnamadyr. Bürünç ýeňijileri dizaýnerleriniň giň tejribesini, hyýalyny we tapawutlylygyny tassyklaýan örän ussat we geň galdyryjy derejede döredijilikli eserlerdir. Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Kino Kompleksi uly baha berilýän, haýran galynýan we söýülýän, üns çekiji derejede hünärmenlikli we täzelikçi zat bolmagy garaşylýar. A' Design Award Bürünç Baýragyny gazanan bu dizaýn sungatda, ylymda, dizaýnda we tehnologiýada iň oňat tejribeleri öz içine alýar we jikme-jiklige edýän üni bilen ajaýypdyr. Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Kino Kompleksi zerurlyklary ajaýyp derejede kanagatlandyrýar, isleglere degýär, duýgulary özüne çekýär we gyzyklanmany çekýär.
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
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