JD Architects Ltd

Kino – Rye

Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott

KINO – RYE

Jonathan Dunn Architects

LOCATION
Rye, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Coffee Shop, Auditorium, Refurbishment 

AREA
220.0 m²

YEAR
2015

MAIN CONTRACTOR
R.Durtnell & Sons Ltd

BUILD COST INCLUDING FIT OUT
£1.5m

KEY CONSULTANTS/CONTRACTORS
Munro acoustics ltd, sound associates ltd, jmla engineers ltd, bjc connections, brith services ltd, richard cullinan joinery, chris butler archeological services ltd.

Text description provided by architect.

The project consists of a collection of Victorian school buildings which were left empty for several years and quickly fell into disrepair. Local residents rallied to overturn a planning approval to develop the site into housing.

Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott
Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott

A local volunteer group named Fletcher in Rye were formed – named after playwright John Fletcher who was born in the building opposite.

Fletcher in Rye purchased the site after the housing scheme had been overturned with the aim of preserving the site for future generations as well as promoting film and the arts in Rye.

Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott
Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott

The site is in the heart of Rye’s Citadel, a highly protected conservation area with very awkward site access. The design intention was to re-use as much of the existing building as possible and remove the remodelled 1950’s elements and strategically using openings that had been formed previously.

The main auditorium extends from the central existing block and uses the natural sloping gradient to form the raked seating platforms.

The smaller auditorium is formed in the opposite direction which creates level access to both auditoriums yet both cross over at the highest point allowing shared air handling plant between the 2 auditoria.

Kino – Rye
Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott

The plan was formed by striking key sight lines from the site to form the angular extensions. The concept was to open up the views of the Rye roof scope and church tower to reference the context before the audience enter the auditoriums.

The new elements are fully clad in western red cedar with the intention of limiting the materials pallet to contrast with the Victorian detailing in the existing buildings.

The roof form was also important as the church tower looks directly over the site and is the most visited point in the town. The sculpted roof form emphasises the site lines taken to form the plan with a raised section to make clear the hierarchy of auditorium over circulation.

The rear auditorium has a grass roof to reference the former garden space that it now occupies. This is also of an acoustic benefit as the mass of the build-up is beneficial in absorbing sound leakage.

Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott
Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott

The interior design objectives were to restore as much of the existing building as possible and take a datum line for new and old. The door head height of 2.2m is the datum level and everything above this point has been restored.

Below this point ribbed oak wall cladding has been installed which also conceals the service runs and heaters. The 12th rib on the panellin is a wider strip to represent 12 frames per second based on the early silent movies and when the eye begins to read movement.

Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott
Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott

In the auditoriums JDA worked closely with acoustic specialists to achieve high performance levels without compromising on design. The high quality digital projectors and receivers make the venue more than a traditional cinema.

The Kino (building operator) show live theatre events, ballet, opera, sporting events and much more alongside the vast variety of film which makes the venue appeal to a varied and wide audience.

Kino – Rye
© Oliver Perrott


Kino – Rye
Ground Floor Plan
Kino – Rye
Roof Plan


Kino – Rye
Elevation 1
Kino – Rye
Elevation 2
Kino – Rye
Elevation 3


Kino – Rye
Section 1
Kino – Rye
Section 2
Kino – Rye
Section 3

JD Architects Ltd
T +44 207 8872230
JD Architects Ltd
Unit 3a Mandeville Courtyard, 142 Battersea Park Rd, London SW11 4NG, United Kingdom