Kino Palace in Nitra

Project Overview

The primary goal of the cinema renovation was to transform it to meet the functional requirements and demands of modern multifunctional buildings, while preserving and understanding the approaches of architect Weinwurm and implementing them into the design. We stripped the building of the layers of renovations from the second half of the 20th century down to the essential torso preserved from 1925, and followed the signature style of architect Weinwurm. The priority was to create a direct relationship between the internal operation and the external form—designing from the inside out. We created the simplest, most legible layout and functional division possible, which we subsequently reflected on the facade. At the same time, we aimed for greater extroversion of the building, given the change in the cinema's function to a multifunctional space intended to be a prominent cultural hub in Nitra. In terms of the structural solution, we are keeping the building in its original state as much as possible. The only significant interventions include the demolition of the existing stepped concrete floor in the hall to the level of the foyer, the removal of a later-added wall between the hall and the foyer, and the construction of a new elevator. The lightweight steel structure of the footbridge will not disrupt the existing structural system. Where possible, we inserted window openings into the perimeter walls to maximize natural light in the hall, which simultaneously highlighted its longitudinal symmetry and the grid of the load-bearing frames. We excavated the necessary depth in the hall floor to install a lifting system, which allows the hall to be zoned by height without the need for additional storage space for temporary mobile podium and seating structures.