Kino Hawkhurst was the first all digital screen in the UK. The design addresses the challenge of providing a stylish and comfortable environment for enjoying film within the constraints of a listed church hall and a phenomenology tight budget. The auditorium is an insertion within the church hall and was detailed to address the acoustic and technical requirements of a cinema without damage to the original fabric of the building. If the cinema ceased to operate within the hall, it could be stripped out to reveal the original painted timber boarded ceiling and walls, elaborately detailed window frames and reveals and timber trusses.
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The technical requirements of the brief to accommodate acoustic absorption, house and emergency lighting and a surround sound installation have been used to create a striking interior based on an interpretation of a Paul Klee painting. While evoking the identity of an art house the cinema has proved popular with cinema goers of all ages including teenage audiences. A café bar and landscaped courtyard has also been provided. The design of front of house areas, while respecting the character of the building carries through the colour palette used in the auditorium. The gridded design for the cinema has been adopted as the Kino logo.
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| Victoria Hall, Hawkhurst (David Anstiss) / CC BY-SA 2.0 |