The brick waves of the Gaoxingli Insun Cinema in Haikou allude to the sea surrounding the Chinese island of Haikou. The red bricks form fine arches whose forms are surprising. The architects from Hong Kong studio One Plus Partnership lined the interior not only with brick, but also with grey and red carpets. This consistent and stunning aesthetic has earned the studio as many as 12 prestigious awards in several countries.
Jade island
For centuries, the island of Haiannan, located near Vietnam, did not encourage settlers to settle due to its harsh subtropical climate and unpredictable weather. In the late 1980s, the situation changed when the island was granted the status of a special economic zone. The provincial capital, Haikou, with a population of 680,000, particularly benefited from this change. Interestingly, the island’s former affliction, the sea, has become partly an advantage, as the attractive beaches attract many tourists. The Chinese now refer to Haikou as the ‘Jade Island’ because of the vegetation that grows there.
The architects from One Plus Partnership wanted to celebrate the South China Sea, which surrounds Hainan. For this reason, they decided on impressive brick waves inside the new cinema and café in Haikou. It is worth mentioning that the studio has dozens of designs for colourful cinemas, galleries, jewellery shops, etc. in its portfolio. Their designs are characterised by interesting colour compositions and casual, serene forms.
Brick sea
Sunlight streams into the brick foyer, which is quite rare for cinemas. However, it is worth remembering that there is also a café inside, for which access to sunlight is important. There are waves on both the floor and the ceiling, and the length of each wave varies. At times, the agitated bricks form benches and countertops at which to wait for the seating. The sides of this ‘furniture’ have been painted a dark grey, introducing a subtle distinction in a sea of red. Interestingly, some of the technical elements, such as ventilation or additional lighting, have been hidden in the groins of the arches on the ceiling. The main lights, on the other hand, were installed in the holes of the hollow brick.
The studio’s creativity doesn’t stop at the unique foyer, however. One of the rooms is lined with an acoustic carpet in a brick colour. Interestingly, this shade is also a reference to the Asian tiger lily. On the walls, rows of razor-shaped panels stretch all the way to the screen. An interesting accent to the room is the copper framing of the leather armchairs. Black is an essential accent to any room.
The colour scheme of the second room again refers to the warm colours of the foyer, but this time the shade of the carpets is slightly lighter. The floors are decorated with abstract, floral patterns and the walls are hung with wavy panels in light wood. In another room, on the other hand, the ceiling plays a major role. The orange patterns are reminiscent of brick pipes swirling against a black background. The rest of the room is flooded with shades of black and grey.
Winning creativity
This display of ingenuity and freedom in design has guaranteed the studio as many as 12 architectural awards. The Gaoxingli Insun Cinema in Haikou, for example, won an award in the competitions: Restaurant & Bar Design (UK), Iconic Award (Germany), Global Excellence Awards handed out by the International Interior Design Association (USA). Hong Kong-based studio One Plus Partnership created a cohesive and unique composition that elevates simple, classic brick to an art form.
Photo source: One Plus Partnership
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