Busan Cinema Complex

The complex is envisioned as an urban plaza of four overlapping zones which are formed by highly recognizable building objects housing the project functions.

Project Details

• Project Name: Busan Cinema Complex / Pusan International Film Festival, Busan, South Korea (2005 - 2010)
• Planning: COOP HIMMELB(L)AU -- Wolf D. Prix, Helmut Swiczinsky + Wolfdieter Dreibholz
• Principal In Charge/Senior Design Architect: Wolf D. Prix
• Project Partner/Senior Design Architect: Michael Volk
• Project Architect/Design Architect: Martin Oberascher
• Project Team: Sergio Gonzales, Rob Henderson, Halstein Guthu, Matt Kirkham
• Competition Team: Victoria Coaloa, Rob Henderson, Paul Hossowski, Joerg Hugo, Irakli Itoni Alex Jackson, Matt Kirkham, Shannon Loew, Mona Marbach, Jens Mehlan, Tom Wiscombe, Burcu Bicer, Etienne Chanpenios, Monika Heliosch, Akvile Rimantaite
• Renderings: Armin Hess
  
• Client: Municipality of Busan
• User: Pusan International Film Festival
• Coordinatior: BIACF-Busan International Architectural Culture Fstival Organizing Committee, Yeonjegu Jungangro, Korea
• Structural Engineering: B+G Ingenieure, Bollinger und Grohmann GmbH, Frankfurt / Vienna
• Environmental and Energy Concept: Brian Cody / Arup Germany
• MEP Engineering: Arup Germany
• Project data: July 2006
  • Site Area: 32,100 m²
  • Floor Area: 32,600 m² (interior spaces)
  • Built-up Area: 8,774 m²
  • Cubage: 183,100 m²
  • Competition (1st Prize): 11/2005
  • Start of Planning: 01/2007 (estimated)
  • Start of Construction: 10/2007 (estimated)
  • Completion: 10/2010 (estimated)
  • Scheduled Opening: 10/2010
  • Building Costs: 71 Mio Euro (budget)
  • Costs per m²: 2,200 Euro (excl. exterior spaces)

Busan Cinema Complex - Floor Plan. [opens in a popup window - 40KB image]

Busan Cinema Complex - Section. [opens in a popup window - 70KB image]

Coop Himmelb(l)au's proposal for the Busan Cinema Centre and home of the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) suggests a new intersection between public space, cultural programs, technology and architecture to create identifiable landmarks within the urban landscape.

The concept envisions an Urban Plaza of four overlapping zones including an Urban Valley, a Red Carpet zone, the Walk of Fame and the PIFF Canal Park. The zones are formed by highly recognizable building objects housing the project functions. These objects include the Cinema Mountain, the PIFF Hill, the concourse Double Cone and the outdoor amphitheatre BOWL. Roof elements acting as a Virtual Sky connect the objects and zones into a continuous, multi-functional public urban space.

The double cone

The double cone is the connective element between the Cinema mountain and the PIFF hill, and the symbolic landmark entrance to the entire site. During the festival it marks the VIP entrance to the Busan Cinema Centre complex as well as to the concourse.

The red carpet

During the PIFF festival, or for other special events, the Red Carpet zone creates the special drop-off and media-event procession entrance. A conceptual red carpet extends from the Double Cone event space to the south through the park and along a pier. VIPS can enter from Limousines along the street edge, or arrive by boat from the pier.

The red carpet continues as a vibrant spiralling ramp from the staging level of the event space to the VIP lounge of the upper roof and to overviews of the public on the way to VIP entrances to the grand cinema in the Mountain and concourse in the PIFF Hill.

Credits

• Text: Courtesy, the architect
• Image renders by Armin Hess, copyright isochrom.com, courtesy of the architect
• Compiled by Manish Mehta