| Category | Retail | Sports, Community & Recreation |
|---|---|
| Year | 2016 |
| Size | 750sqm |
Projects
Cinemaxx Junior
Visual entertainment meets physical play
It is every child’s wonderland and every parent’s perfect movie date venue. It is ultimately, a space and experience that you can enjoy as a family. The first theatre of its kind in Asia, Cinemaxx Junior is a distinct departure from your traditional movie-going experience. Its concept of fully integrating play elements into the movie experience is at once innovative and intriguing. Here, at Cinemaxx Junior, children are not constrained to assigned seats and parents are free from the worry that their children will be a disturbance to other patrons of the cinema.
Designing Cinemaxx Junior, our team was challenged to delve deeper into consumer behaviour in relation to space, design and social context; and in the process, we broke down social boundaries to deliver a blended experience of visual and physical entertainment that simultaneously and effectively caters to the social needs of children and their families. Through this project, we have also gained new ground in the typology.
Details
The design also aims to empower children with important skills such as decision-making and problem-solving while enhancing their gross motor skills through tactile and concrete learning. The playground design encourages children to tumble and sprawl for positive cognitive and physiological results.
For time-strapped families, the space can accommodate manageable three-hour blocs for users. This means a full hour of playtime in the play area before the start of the film screening and children are free to move between the two areas anytime.
Special attention was paid to address safety concerns and ensure optimal viewing conditions – overall lux level was kept between 80 to 100 lux in the screening area to ensure children can see clearly. Generous legroom was provided along each platform to allow for a safe passageway.
Comprehensive and in-depth consideration was given to the design in terms of function, aesthetics, ranges of play equipment and lighting with safety at the forefront. Thus, children can enjoy in a fun diverse environment while parents can also rest assured with a peace of mind.
Conceptualised for the family
Cinemaxx Junior responds to a contemporary social issue in today’s urban environment. Many families today are dual-income, which turns parent-child bonding time into a precious commodity. The custom-designed space goes beyond its individual components, seamlessly integrating two separate recreational functions – a child-friendly movie theatre and a playground – into a single enriched and holistic experience for children between the ages of three and ten.
Designing for Junior
Children learn through play. As such, the designers thoughtfully created child-friendly settings within the theatre to encourage repeat visits. With a deliberate inclusion of early childhood development considerations, the design team considered a child’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs to construct a deliberate design of a series of simple to complex micro-environments for independent and imaginative play.
This was achieved through several design strategies. They are namely the non-linear circulation design; fantastical and informal interiors that appeal to the senses; bespoke family-friendly furniture and fittings; child-friendly washrooms; and sensitive lighting, sound and safety designs suitable for children.
Specialist Services
Integrated services provided for this project.