Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ile Iṣere Fiimu by Mitsuhiro Shinohara is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Àyà Inú Ilé àti Ibi Àfihàn Competition Category.
IdẹInú Ilé· 2025
Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ile Iṣere Fiimu
Client: Lawson United Cinemas, inc
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Inú Ilé Category
Verified Award Winner
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About Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ile Iṣere Fiimu
Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai jẹ́ ilé iṣẹ́ ìtàgé fíìmù tí a kọ́ sínú ilé òwò kan tí ó ti wà tẹ́lẹ̀ ní Yokohama. Ibi náà ní ìwòye 12, àwọn ìjókòó 1050 àti agbègbè tí ó tó mítà óńlá 4779. A ti fi ẹ̀rọ Flexound Augmented Audio sí ìjókòó kọ̀ọ̀kan, nítorí náà ìró ń dé ọ̀dọ̀ olùwòran kọ̀ọ̀kan láti orí ìtẹ́wọ́gbà orí rẹ̀. Àwọn ààlà agbègbè ilẹ̀ ilé jẹ́ kí kíkọ́ àwọn yàrá ìtàgé ọ̀tọ̀ọ̀tọ̀ má ṣeéṣe, nítorí náà a gbé àwọn ẹ̀rọ ìtàgé sí orí àwọn ọ̀nà àbáwọlé àwọn àlejò. Ìmọ́lẹ̀ tí ó yíká, àwọn ọ̀wọ̀n aláwọ̀ àti àwọn ògiri onífáàrí ni a lò láti sàmì sí àwọn ọ̀nà àbáwọlé wọ̀nyí. Ààyè àfihàn ọ̀fẹ́ tí ó wà nítòsí gbọ̀ngàn gbígbàlejò ń fún àwọn àlejò láààyè láti dán ẹ̀rọ ìró náà wò.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ile Iṣere Fiimu jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ile Iṣere Fiimu yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Lawson United Cinemas Minatomirai Ile Iṣere Fiimu ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.
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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