Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai سنیما کمپلیکس by Mitsuhiro Shinohara

Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai سنیما کمپلیکس by Mitsuhiro Shinohara is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award کانسی انعام in داخلی جگہ اور نمائش ڈیزائن Competition Category.

کانسیداخلی سجاوٹ· 2025

Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai سنیما کمپلیکس

by Mitsuhiro Shinohara

Client: Lawson United Cinemas, inc

A' Design Award کانسی انعام Winner in داخلی سجاوٹ Category

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Colors

The Design

About Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai سنیما کمپلیکس

لاسن یونائیٹڈ سنیماز میناتومیرائی یوکوہاما میں ایک موجودہ تجارتی عمارت کے اندر تعمیر کیا گیا سنیما کمپلیکس ہے۔ اس مقام پر 12 اسکرینیں، 1050 نشستیں اور 4779 مربع میٹر کا رقبہ ہے۔ فلیکس ساؤنڈ آگمینٹڈ آڈیو سسٹم ہر نشست میں نصب کیا گیا ہے، تاکہ آواز ہر ناظر تک ہیڈ ریسٹ سے پہنچے۔ فرش کے رقبے کی حدود کے باعث الگ پروجیکشن کمرے ممکن نہیں تھے، چنانچہ پروجیکٹرز کو زائرین کی راہداریوں کے اوپر نصب کیا گیا ہے۔ کروی روشنیاں، رنگین ستون اور نقش و نگار والی دیواریں راہداریوں کی شناخت بناتی ہیں۔ لابی کے قریب ایک مفت مظاہرے کی جگہ زائرین کو آڈیو سسٹم آزمانے کا موقع دیتی ہے۔

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award کانسی انعام

Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai سنیما کمپلیکس A' Design Award کانسی انعام کا فاتح ہے، جو ان ممتاز ڈیزائنز کو دیا جانے والا انتہائی باوقار اعتراف ہے جو تخلیقی صلاحیت، چالاکی اور ذہانت سے پہچانے جاتے ہیں۔ کانسی کے فاتحین نہایت ماہرانہ اور حیرت انگیز طور پر تخلیقی نمونے ہیں جو اپنے ڈیزائنرز کے وسیع تجربے، تخیل اور ذہانت کی تصدیق کرتے ہیں۔ Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai سنیما کمپلیکس سے توقع کی جاتی ہے کہ وہ ایک نہایت قدر کی جانے والی، سراہی جانے والی اور عزیز شے ہوگا جو قابل ذکر حد تک پیشہ ورانہ اور جدید ہے۔ A' Design Award کانسی انعام جیتنے والا یہ ڈیزائن فن، سائنس، ڈیزائن اور ٹیکنالوجی میں بہترین طریقوں کو شامل کرتا ہے اور تفصیلات پر توجہ میں ممتاز ہے۔ Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai سنیما کمپلیکس ضروریات کو خوبصورتی سے پورا کرتا، خواہشات کو چھوتا، جذبات کو مسحور کرتا اور تجسس کو اپیل کرتا ہے۔

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