Photograph courtesy Nina Pope
UP Projects and The Architecture Foundation issued an international Open Call to architects and designers to design for the 2013 Floating Cinema project, to be commissioned by The Legacy List and sponsored by Bloomberg, as part of the new Bloomberg East programme.
The project was the next phase of the acclaimed Floating Cinema 2011 (designed by Studio Weave), a scheme launched as part of UP Projects’ Portavilion series for innovative temporary public art spaces, in collaboration with artist duo Somewhere (Nina Pope and Karen Guthrie).
The competition sought an innovative and creative design solution that would embody UP Projects’ 2013 theme of ‘Extra-Ordinary’, offering delight and playfulness as well as being robust and serviceable for a permanent lifespan on the water. This vessel needs to accommodate intimate on-board film screenings, larger outdoor film events as well as provide a base for film related talks and activities.
The Floating Cinema will navigate the waterways that connect the boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest and Hackney with the new Olympic Park, hosting events, activities and also tours into the Olympic Park.
This two stage competition invited entrants to express their interest in taking part by responding to a prequalification questionnaire, which was due in June 2012. Group submissions were also welcomed.
Based on the information submitted, UP Projects and The Architecture Foundation selected a shortlist of four practices to develop designs for the Floating Cinema in response to a brief. After a design development phase, Duggan Morris Architects were declared the winner.