Cinema REX & Film Fest Ghent – Sustainable Regeneration
Instructor(s):
Wim Oers
Engagement:
Craftsmanship
Location:
Gent
Language:
English
Semester:
Semester 1, Fall 2025
Description:
This studio focuses on the sustainable regeneration of the historic Cinema REX in Ghent, a listed monument and former atmospheric movie theatre. Students will explore how to revitalize this unique venue to meet the contemporary needs of Film Fest Ghent while respecting its architectural legacy. The studio challenges students to develop architectural strategies that combine heritage conservation with innovative reuse, aiming to transform the site into a vibrant cultural hub for cinema, education, and public engagement.
Line of Inquiry:
Workign With / Practice as Study
Topic, Thematic Focus:
Cultural heritage, adaptive reuse, atmospheric architecture, sustainability, cinema architecture, urban regeneration
Key Questions or Provocations:
How can historic cinema architecture be reimagined for contemporary cultural use?
What does sustainable regeneration mean in the context of architectural heritage?
How can design contribute to the revival of communal cinematic experiences?
Methodologies or Formats:
Design research, historical analysis, conceptual modeling, stakeholder engagement, spatial storytelling, prototyping
Design / Expected Outcome(s):
Students will produce architectural proposals that reinterpret Geo Henderick’s atmospheric theatre concept for today’s needs. Designs will integrate restoration, renovation, and new interventions to support diverse programming—from film screenings to lectures and performances.
Deliverables:
Design proposals (individual or group), conceptual drawings, models, thematic publications, documentation of process and research
- Find the full studio brief as pdf here.