Modernizing the Modern. "Modern" Cinema center, Suceava

Thematic Dossier

Modern Cinema, Suceava

Text: Constantin GORCEA

General and architectural designer:
S.C. Arhitectura Grafica Design S.R.L. Suceava - arh. Constantin Gorcea (project manager), arh. Viorica Sarghi, c.-arh. Ioan Doinel Spineanu, c.-arh. Constantin Stroescu, c.-arh. Carmen Mariana Zorin
Specialized designers:
Strength: S.C. Structura S.R.L. Suceava - eng. Vanda Radianov, sing. Constantin Rusu
HVAC installations: S.C. Giproiect SRL Suceava - eng. Gabriela Crăciunescu
Electrical installations: S.C. Acsa proiect S.R.L. Suceava - eng. Sebastian Bordeianu, eng. Cristinel Știrbu
Roads: eng. Iustin Ursachi

The urban and historical context in which the presented intervention takes place is particularly complex and representative for the city of Suceava. The buildings that delimit the roundabout intersection serve as landmarks for the various stages of the city's construction:
- Medieval period - through the Church of St. Nicholas and the houses of rural typology visible on Dragoș Vodă Street;
- 19th century - through the building of the Ștefan cel Mare High School, built by the Austrian administration and extended after 1980 by a building that discreetly takes over the architecture of the original building;
- the early years of the communist period - with the Modern cinema (opened in 1958) built in the Stalinist neoclassical style as a temple of the new culture subordinated to the authority;
- the optimistic and progressive period of the 1970s - through the Hotel Arcașul, which subtly and subversively rebuilt a monastery enclosure around St. Nicholas Church;
- the cinema is oriented towards the blocks of flats that complete the contours of the intersection, with an architecture that betrays an evolution from purely functionalist socialist housing towards collective housing with a national (!) specificity;
- the years after the revolution, when capitalism was regained - through the commercial building next to the cinema which, with two extensions and a storey, ended up by destroying its dominant character and even enclosing its fire water tank in an inner courtyard, rendering it unusable.

In this context, although the theme and intentions of the investor did not exclude an intervention that would have annulled the original architecture of the building, it was opted to preserve the historical and architectural moment of the 1950s and clearly juxtapose the current moment with a contemporary architecture that joins and integrates the valuable elements of classical architecture (symmetrical concept and decorative elements).

The solution proposes a plan and vertical extension of the Modern Cinema building in order to transform it into a Cultural Centre that will accommodate other specific activities (performances, actions of cultural organizations). The parts of the building that could be consolidated according to the strength expertise have been integrated into the proposed new functions. The stage area was enlarged and elevated to create a stage tower and was bordered with functional spaces arranged in a U-shape. The space above the auditorium can be utilized by using a metal structure that can provide cover, but at the same time house the functions of the new cultural center. Maintain the current spaces for the operation of the movie theater. The technical spaces will be on the ground floor and on the terrace created around the stage for the ventilation units.
The extension of one of the old cinema's evacuation staircases provides direct public access to the multi-purpose hall (exhibitions, conferences) on the newly built second floor.
The floor of the hall is treated as a new, transparent structure, open to the city. The main facade will continue the glazed access area with an advertising screen (realized incompletely and in a somewhat inadequate technical formula).
By preserving the symmetrical treatment, the classical monumentality of the original building and its location on the axis of Nicolae Balcescu Street from the center of the municipality will be maintained.
It is also proposed to improve the existing (dysfunctional and unorganized) roundabout by increasing pedestrian circulation and, in particular, by providing additional parking spaces in the area of the cinema (the modification of the roundabout intersection was not fully implemented, as it was not part of the basic investment).

The city's old movie theater has become MODERN again!
In addition to all the above, the functional and spatial concept allowed the establishment of the "Matei Vishniec" Theater (patronized by the great playwright from Suceava County). Many of the plays staged by the young Suceava troupe make use of the technical possibility of simultaneous projection of filmed images, resulting in complex performances of outstanding quality.

In general, there is also an alternation between theatrical events (such as the Matei Vișniec Festival) and film screenings (in Suceava you can now even see the Cannes films by director Cristian Mungiu), the new MODERN becoming a real cultural center.

The policy of constructive and functional rehabilitation of cinemas is continued by Suceava City Hall with the proposal to modernize and extend the ARTA cinema in the Burdujeni district. The technical project is finalized, being in an advanced stage of approval of the financing through European funds and preparation of the tender for the execution of the works. The different urban context, the better condition of the existing building and the integration of functions related to the creation of a decentralized administrative pole of the city hall - including social, recreational and educational activities - have obviously led to a different type of intervention.
The solution of the architectural part will allow a dual use - cultural and administrative - by serving the hall from two functionally distinct areas. The authors of the project hope to respond efficiently to the complex user requirements.

In order for such types of cinemas to become more active and more present, by replicating commercial cinemas in shopping malls, we believe that they should be integrated into a national network along the French model, where the Cinema d'art et d'essai network promotes independent cinema, which allows for state subsidy. Many of them are located close to town hall buildings, such as those in Saint Denis and Conflans.
In Suceava, the first steps have been taken to reintegrate old cinemas into the cultural life of the city!
The project, entitled "Transforming the Modern Cinematograph Suceava", received a mention in the Regional of Architecture Moldova 2015 (RAM 2015), organized by OAR Iași, North-East, Bacău-Neamț in the Section of Architectural Restoration and Rehabilitation.

SUMMARY ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE, NR.1/2019
Architecture. Film. Cinema