picturehouse central, soho

Location: London
Client: Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd
Status: Completed 2015

“Panter Hudspith knows how to breath new life into old cinema.
In 1998, just up Shaftesbury Avenue, it turned the struggling Curzon Soho into one of the hippest hang-outs in town.
But it’s the eclectic, electric Picturehouse Central that has the new wow.”
Blueprint, issue 342

at the heart of the West End
This complex of listed buildings of the Trocadero has been a prime site in London’s entertainment district, for over a century. Yet the structure was altered extensively and unsympathetically during the 1980s and the decades that followed.

creating a flagship cinema
Our client, Picturehouse Cinemas, challenged us to undertake a major restoration and reworking of the buildings including an existing redundant cinema within the complex, to create ‘Picturehouse Central.’ Our approach was to strip back the historic layers of the structure and weave new spaces into the building.

multi-level scheme offering dramatic views
Our scheme comprises a first floor restaurant and bar areas accessed by a double-height foyer with ground floor cafe. A new, exclusive members' bar and roof terrace spans three floors of the upper levels, offering panoramic views over London.

extensive upgrade to the auditoria
The restoration included creating larger screens, with luxurious seating, improved sight-lines, state-of-art sound systems and a bespoke grand curtain in Screen One.

working in co-laboration
The restoration is complimented by interior and lighting design by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio throughout the space, which helps create a fitting flagship for Picturehouse Cinemas.


Photography
James McDonald

Publications
2015
OnOffice Magazine - Offscreen
Blue Print Issue 342 Project Picturehouse Central
CLADmag and Leisure Management - Panter Hudspith create new Picturehouse Central cinema
Wallpaper - West end screening
FX Magazine - Client file: Picturehouse Cinemas
The Guardian - Picturehouse Cinema expansion could help the silver screen regain its lustre 2016 AJ Retrofit Awards: Leisure - Shortlisted
2016 Restaurant and Bar Design Awards - Shortlisted
2016 Architect of the Year Award - Winner (Sports and Leisure)