The first all digital screen in the UK, Kino Hawkhurst’s design addresses the challenge of providing a stylish and comfortable environment for enjoying film within the constraints of a Grade II listed church hall and a phenomenally tight budget. 

The auditorium is an insertion within the church hall and has been detailed to address the acoustic and technical requirements of a cinema without damage to the original fabric of the building. If the cinema ceased to operate within the hall, it could be stripped out to reveal the original painted timber boarded ceiling and walls, elaborately detailed window frames and timber trusses.

The technical requirements of the brief to accommodate acoustic absorption, house and emergency lighting and a surround sound installation have been used to create a striking interior based on an interpretation of a Paul Klee painting. While evoking the identity of an arthouse the cinema has proved popular with cinemagoers of all ages. 

A café bar and landscaped courtyard have also been provided. The design of front-of-house areas, while respecting the character of the building, carries through the colour palette used in the auditorium. The gridded design for the cinema has been adopted as the Kino logo.