Repurposing Cinema Buildings

The expansion of cinema in the 1920’s contributed a building type that became a focal point in almost every town centre. Many have disappeared, others have been repurposed, and some have been listed as buildings of special architectural and historical importance.

The basic structure was usually functional in design and construction; it was the street façade that presented the visual attraction to passers-by, and the interior that provided an element of fantasy to support the entertainment. Converting such buildings without destroying their significance is a challenge.

One such building in Northampton started life as a mid C19 corn exchange and was converted in succeeding years, first to an assembly hall, and then to a cinema, bingo hall and nightclub. The classical decoration was overlain by various iterations of the latest modern cinema style, and each later conversion destroyed the character of its predecessor. Designated a Grade II listed building, primarily for its historical significance and contribution to the streetscape, the building’s story tracks the vogues in entertainment over the course of C20.

Malcolm Payne Group were tasked with designing a scheme to insert three new upper stories for residential use above ground floor commercial space.  The solution is to erect an independent steel-framed box structure to support the upper levels, to be constructed inside the original brick shell and timber roof structure.

Planning permission was granted for change of use, and listed building consent for the alterations. The scheme envisages a ground floor restaurant with student accommodation on the upper floors, with separate access and means of escape. The stucco decoration on the main façade is proposed to be restored to reestablish the significance of an important element in the backdrop to the Market Square.

The utilitarian rear elevation was originally enclosed by other buildings but has been more recently exposed to public view by demolition and road improvements. The restoration of earlier fenestration and provision of a new entrance to serve the upper stories are proposed to create an attractive rear facade.

Implementation of the scheme will reveal what remain of the layers of alteration and of any original features that contribute to the interest of the historic building.