Palmes Beach
Cannes Temporary Cinema, Archasm Competition, 1st Prize, 2020
Cannes: a blend between the breeze, the sun, the sand, the beach, the palmes, the history of the city - the sensation of a slow time. Every year, this relative calmness is suspended by the frenziness of world cinema. Sitting between these two dynamics, the temporary cinema is a living/breathing canvas that people can experience in multiple ways to gather, relax, watch the sea, and enjoy the ‘theatre’ both of shades and moving images.
The multi-purpose pavilion is meant to be a mini convention center during the Film Festival, complementary to the Palais des Festival, and its purpose is to recreate a virtual experience and aura of being in the film festival at the Palais. As such, ‘Palmes Beach’ is a merge between the theater experience and the beach, setting the stage for an immersive 24x7 cinematic experience.
The concept is an invisible ‘armature’ that becomes present through its interplay with the breeze, the sun, the cinematic projections, and through its interaction with people. With the overlap of these two realities - real time and cinematic time - an element of surreal emerges.
The simple diagonal gesture divides the frame into two halves:
The upper part is a big open platform facing the sea, where people can feel almost like floating on a boat, surrounded by the sea and film. The movable screens allow for multiple subdivisions, so that the space can be modulated for smaller or larger screenings. With the surrounding curtain, the pavilion can be completely open or enclosed.
The lower part incorporates a welcoming space and other complementary functions. With the movable hanging furniture, there is a flexibility to configure the space in multiple ways. Depending on the activities: it can serve as a bar, a library where beach goers can pass by, or a place for panel discussions and other gatherings.
The pavilion is a fluid extension of the beach and it comes alive through the fleeting stories rippled by the breeze.
