Studio Modijefsky add an all-day brasserie to a three screen movie theatre in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, revitalising a historic building and creating an alluring destination for food and film in what’s quickly becoming a new cultural hub for the city.
With a design concept that captures the building’s rich history — it served as a convent, school and laboratory before settling as a cinema — Studio Modijefsky wove historical elements into a timeless visual language with expressive shapes, warm colours and materials to evoke feelings of the past. Iconic motifs from the convent include the Cloister (secluded walkways that nuns use for meditations), the school’s presence felt in the corridors, with tiled walls, windows looking into classrooms, bulletin boards and class benches, while chemistry sets nod to its former incarnation as a laboratory.
Whilst the former De Witt Cinema had two entrances, the refurbishment sees visitors routed through a new main entrance designed by Lugten Malschaert Architects. The old façade was broken through to uncover old windows and create access to new ones allowing natural light to fill the interior via the stunning floor to ceiling glass façade. Once inside, the ticket booth encased in light blue velvet curtains hanging floor to ceiling, and a wall of movie posters becomes visible.
The Brasserie features a main area, three smaller areas and a bar, each visually connected by hanging lights in the shape of cloister arches given extra depth by aged brass mesh crowns above them. The lights reflect gently off the darker walls and ceilings surrounding them to create an intimate atmosphere and lead you to the heart of the space: the bar. An ode to cinema and the performing arts it’s home to a stage with a majestic three-layered velvet curtain in shades of indigo, from which delicious cocktails are served under a spotlight. You can enjoy this performance from all around the bar thanks to seating that extends the bar space and offers direct access to the brasserie around you and the terrace outside.
Two staircases lead to a film lounge with a bar and ticketing area. The floor pattern is the same as downstairs, but up here’s the floor is made of two shades of oak instead of tiles. Routing between the lounge and the two cinema screens is conducted by a simpler version of the cloister arch lights without the aged brass mesh crowns. Opposite the bar area, guests will find a balcony overlooking a wild flower garden, a great spot to relax with a cocktail before watching a movie.
Evoking the old-school glamour of the silver screen and combining it with their signature style, with the De Witt brassie, Studio Modijefsky continue their impressive run of incredible Dutch hospitality projects.
@studiomodijefsky
@dewittdordrecht
De Witt Dordrecht Photography, Maarten Willemstein.
