Project Name: Gaoxingli Insun Cinema

Location: Haikou, China

Design Team: One Plus Partnership

Lead Designers: Ajax Law & Virginia Lung

Area: 6,000 m²

Completion Year: 2024

Photographer: Jonathan Leijonhufvud

Feature：

Project - One Plus Partnership has unveiled a cinematic landmark in Haikou, China, where sculptural brick formations and undulating surfaces create an immersive architectural narrative inspired by the city's maritime context. The 6,000-square-metre Gaoxingli Insun Cinema reimagines the conventional movie theatre typology through a sophisticated interplay of materiality and form.

Rather than defaulting to predictable oceanic blues, the design team, led by Ajax Law and Virginia Lung, opted for an unconventional approach to maritime references. The studio utilized brick – a material derived from sand – as the primary design element, creating a conceptual link to Haikou's coastal identity while maintaining a warm, earthy palette throughout the space.

The cinema's most striking feature is its dynamic brick installations, which have been meticulously arranged to simulate wave patterns visible from multiple vantage points. These architectural waves cascade through the public spaces, transforming into functional elements such as countertops and seating arrangements. The innovative use of brick extends beyond mere aesthetics – each piece is deliberately sized and positioned to create rhythmic variations in the surface texture.

Natural light, typically avoided in cinema design, becomes a crucial design element as carefully positioned windows allow sunlight to interact with the textured brick surfaces. This interplay is complemented by concealed lighting systems that highlight the architectural undulations while serving practical safety purposes.

The auditoriums further develop the maritime concept through unconventional material choices. The first features dimensional fabric treatments that create wooden-like textures, while the second employs panels in warm hues reminiscent of tiger lilies. Both spaces incorporate curved elements that echo the wave motif established in the public areas.

What sets this project apart is its ability to balance bold design gestures with functional considerations. The flowing forms and material choices serve dual purposes – creating an engaging visual narrative while addressing practical concerns such as visitor safety and circulation. The result is a cinema that transforms the movie-going experience into an architectural journey that begins long before the first frame appears on screen.

Design Team - Founded in 2004, One Plus Partnership has established itself as a pioneering force in spatial design, particularly renowned for their revolutionary approach to cinematic environments. Under the visionary leadership of co-founders Virginia Lung and Ajax Law, the Hong Kong-based practice has garnered an impressive portfolio of 660 international accolades, cementing their position in the global design arena.

The studio's design philosophy centers on phenomenological spatial experiences, characterized by bold volumetric interventions and materiality-driven narratives. Their portfolio spans diverse typologies, including retail environments, hospitality spaces, and commercial interiors, with a particular expertise in cinema architecture that has redefined the contemporary movie-going experience.

Virginia Lung's achievements include the prestigious Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award and multiple Best of Best Awards in the Iconic Design Awards. Ajax Law, recognized as one of JCI Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 2014, brings technical precision and innovative spatial solutions to the practice.

The firm's methodology emphasizes thematic exploration through iterative design processes, resulting in spaces that transcend conventional interior architecture. Their work is distinguished by its tectonic expressions, spatial choreography, and the successful integration of narrative elements into built form, exemplifying their commitment to pushing the boundaries of experiential design.