city screen, riverside

Location: York
Client: Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd
Status: Completed 2000

Reuse of riverside buildings
The Yorkshire Herald printworks are located on the River Ouse in the centre of York. The building complex stood vacant for over a decade until it was purchased by City Screen Ltd in 1996.

A cultural hub for the community
With the aid of a £2.37 million capital grant from the Arts Council through the National Lottery Fund, the buildings have been redeveloped to provide an arts cinema, crèche, internet cafe and a bar and restaurant.

Sensitive placemaking
The scheme involved both the refurbishment of parts of the existing structure and the introduction of a number of new elements. The three cinema auditoria are located on the upper level. Each auditorium is given a different expression - one is clad in stone, one in zinc, one in timber.

Activating the riverside
A new riverside walkway has been constructed along the front of the building, allowing public access to this stretch of the river for the first time. The walkway connects through to the neighbouring Ebor Hall which has also been restored and extended by Panter Hudspith.


Photography
Chris Henderson 2000 Civic Trust Award