Light House Cinema

Project Description
The Light House Cinema at Smithfield is a four-screen, 600-seat commercially operated cultural cinema which presents a diverse and individual programme of the best Irish, independent, foreign-language, arthouse and classic cinema.
Design Brief
“The challenge of this project was to combine the ‘insertion’ of four cinema volumes into ‘existing’ basement voids with the creation of an informal circulation ‘route’ providing a dramatic experience for the public. The conceptual approach originated from the desire to express the individual cinema forms creating an increased tension between surface and void. Due to the difficulties associated with taking the public down three floors below ground, it was critical that the lighting levels / colours / ambience were considered and designed to achieve an optimum level of comfort whilst complimenting the architectural proposal. Wink sought at every juncture to design the lighting to support and compliment the overall architectural concept, providing both comfortable and challenging lighting solutions where appropriate. Their advice was invaluable in terms of design, product selection, technical requirements, simulations and presentation.” - Colin Mackay, Director DTA Architects
Architect
DTA Architects www.dta.ie