Floating Cinema by Studio Weave
An energetic assemblage of creatives came together to bring about this new route in to the Olympic park, via a re-commissioned British Waterways workboat. Given the brief, “ to connect and engage the people who live and work in the Olympic host boroughs in a cultural event” by the Olympic Delivery Authority. UP Projects developed the concept of a Floating Cinema as part of their on-going programme of commissions called Portavilion, which brings temporary pavilion structures to London’s parks and public spaces.
The existing 52 foot narrow boat owned by Annie and Hazel, was redesigned to include a cinema structure by London Architects Studio Weave so that it could navigate the waterways of East London and also take people into the Olympic park. “We invited them to collaborate with us and their boat has temporarily become the Floating Cinema. Their expertise and knowledge of the boating community has been invaluable and Hazel is also our resident skipper.” Says Emma Underhill, Portavilion Curator and Director, UP Projects
The collaborative team extends further to include artists Nina Pope and Karen Guthrie whom together form a multi-disciplinary, non-profit creative company known as ‘Somewhere’. Pope and Guthrie are responsible for developing the Floating Cinema programme of films. “There is something very engaging about a mobile cinema, it is an accessible concept and previous projects demonstrated that there is considerable public appetite for this kind of thing.” Says Underhill. The team have ensured that the Floating Cinema shows a broad range of films including work from local artists and filmmakers.
This community involvement was exercised further during the design and fit-out stages. Studio Weave, inspired by the opulence of the traditional picture house, approached local makers to create the interior seats, fixtures and fittings for the 12 seat, on-board cinema auditorium. The scheme features Deco inspired intricate smocking details giving the cinema a sense of luxury and glamour. In contrast to the functionality of the boats exterior a soft, quilted, uniquely patterned canopy forms the entrance to the cinema room, consisting of a treacletart-like lattice made from steel tubes.
Collaboration of this kind, which involves such a great variety of talent is bound to have been hard work, but more importantly fun. Project Director Emma Underhill says, “We have gotten to know each other very well during the project development and have watched many films together!”
This was also included in the print edition, Issue 24 click here
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