’Centipede’ cinema opens in European Capital of Culture
A new free-standing 'centipede' cinema designed by an academic at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UK - will open this week in Guimarăes, Portugal as part of celebrations for the 2012 European Capital of Culture. The centipede cinema conceived by Professor Colin Fournier in collaboration with artist Marysia Lewandowska, was commissioned by the 2012 European Capital of Culture as a 'public intervention' for the Portuguese city. The design team lead by Professor Fournier included two former graduates from Diploma Unit 18 at the Bartlett School of Architecture, George King and Mark Nixon, founding partners of a London based design firm called "Neon". The cinema invites film-viewers to enter its canvas and cork structure via one of 16 nozzles so that their upper bodies are part of the cinematic experience whilst their legs are rooted in the outside world. The alien-like structure creates a stark contrast with the historical streets of Guimarăes, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. This contrast is echoed in the playful juxtaposition of reality and the world of fiction. The authors were inspired by the Guimarăes CineClube (CCG) when conceiving the cinema project.
