DESA1002 'Nine Quarter City' - <Alisha Gore>

Abstract

Madrid; a city shrouded in history, culture and tradition. The streets, alive with a myriad of stalls, vibrant patterns and bustling café’s on each corner, draw the Spanish people out into the courtyards of the city. ‘El Cine Madrid’ seeks to continue the spirit of this outdoor street culture by engaging the public with its grand, monumental entrance, its glistening, shiny exterior, the demystifying projection booths visible from outside and its forest of red columns that soar majestically through the air. The two cinemas, clad in lightweight aluminium, float well above the ground surface like aeroplanes floating on clouds. As the Spanish sun sets over the city, the cinemas illuminate, enticing passers-by to enter. For two hours, viewers are transported to another time, place and dimension where they can escape from reality, relax and be entertained. ‘El Cine Madrid’ prides itself on providing viewers with a unique experience as they make their way into the theatre. The broad, generous stairs at the front draw people in to experience the spatial qualities of the building. As you make your way up the stairs and ramp, the light begins to dim as the sloping floor of the cinema above closes in on you. Moving past the first cinema, you are drawn to a second doorway that leads you under the second cinema. As you walk through, the light increases, affording another brilliant view of Madrid. As a group of viewers in the cinemas up above indulge in a variety of films, down below on street level, talented performers entertain large crowds in the forest of red columns, as they delight in a range of snacks and drinks served from traditional carts and trolleys. ‘El Cine Madrid’ embraces the historic street culture of Madrid and melts into the urban landscape to provide the Spanish people with another courtyard to celebrate in.