Summary of Proposed Alterations to Cinema City
Summary of Proposed Alterations to Cinema City
The development of the Screen Heritage Centre
The new alteration and development will include access for all to two refurbished education spaces via a new stairway and lift from the courtyard of cinema city.
The two new rooms will be facilities for education workshops, film discussion groups, meetings, private hire as well as a screening facility for specialist film.
The centre will also contain a permanent exhibition on Norfolk’s cinema heritage.
The main challenges of this project will be the integration of the new heritage centre into the existing fabric of the Grade 1 listed Cinema City complex. Improving access to the facility is a primary aim of the project. Aesthetically, interventions are modern but aim to be of appropriate quality for a Grade 1 listed building. The opportunity has also been taken to improve the environmental performance of various parts of the building and to repair the fabric in certain areas.
The Cinema City complex is a diverse and extremely popular centre of social and cultural activity in Norwich, providing a triumvirate of valued services. The cultural provision of a renowned independent cinema, the social/commercial activity of a successful restaurant and bar and the educational / research facilities provided by Cinema Plus.
The complex in its current form was completed in 2007 by architects Burrell Foley Fischer and the subsequent inclusion of the upper floors of No 7 St Andrews Hill have expanded the leasehold to include all the physically connected buildings on the site. Integration started in 2009 with the formation of a door between the upper floors of No 7 St Andrews Hill and Stuart House. Currently, the changes of level within the building are a major impediment to the day to day activity particularly for the elderly and the physically challenged.
Fig 1. Showing the three 1st floor rooms that will constitute the new Screen Heritage Centre.
Improving access to the upper floors is considered essential to the project – early proposals included a stair-lift and alternative lift locations that were too invasive and disruptive to the more ancient parts of the fabric. Installation of a lift into the back range has been considered the least intrusive option. Constructed in the mid 20th century, the back range is currently a simple construction. Our proposal is to form a new courtyard front door into the Screen Heritage Centre and install a platform lift and a staircase in the manner of a front hall. The 1st floor level of the back range will be adapted to include staff cloakroom and a disabled WC with an adjacent wheelchair refuge.
Fig 2. Ground floor plan of Cinema City.
Another important physical alteration is a proposal to raise the floor level of what is currently the education room (and will be renamed the Colman Room) by approx. 160mm – bringing the floor up to the same level as the current conference room (renamed the Marchesi Room) and the lift access level. The floor level in the existing WC will also be raised to the same level. The new floor is designed to float over the existing floor rather than replace it, avoiding any interference with the historic fabric and vaulting below.
Fig 3. First Floor plan indicating the area of proposed raised floor.
Other alterations to key elements of the building are to enhance circulation and improve visual connection between the various spaces.
Fig 5. First Floor plan showing the location of the proposed reinstatement of the opening overlooking the courtyard.
A further proposed alteration to improve the visual connection between the Screen Heritage centre and the public realm of the courtyard is the opening up of a small arched medieval doorway in the wall at first floor level between the Colman Room and the courtyard. Thought to be a redundant doorway out to a gallery or a staircase – opening up will allow views down into the courtyard to reveal activities taking place in in the Screen Heritage Centre. The intention is carefully remove the flint rubble fabric and install frameless glazing with modern stone dressings to the courtyard side.
The Attic
The attic space at the top of the buildings will be refurbished to allow us to archive material from the project. Improvements to the attic are to overhaul and repair to the floor boards, removal of a fibrous board lining and improvements to the floor level insulation.
Fig 6. Showing the area of attic storage available.
The Kitchen:
Other alterations proposed are in the kitchen facilities, including improving accessibility to the cellar for wine and produce storage via a new opening so that the cellar can be accessed by staff on a daily basis.
It is proposed to rationalise the layout of the kitchen, increase the area of preparation space, re-locate the cold room, and provide additional larder space.
Repairs to the fabric:
•Repairs to the No 7 St Andrews Hill portico.
•Repairs and flashing to the Gothic window on St Andrew’s Hill
•Repairs to brickwork around the Gothic window.
•Overhaul and repair RW goods
Environmental improvements include:
•Replacement of the inefficient storage heating system in Stuart House & No 7 St Andrews Hill.
•Improvements to small power provision
•Improvements to lighting
•Integration of AV installation
•Refit of cloakrooms and wcs
•Integration of h+c water supplies
•Integration of above ground drainage
•Redirection of kitchen ventilation ducts