Luminous Transcendence

The project is a movie theater located in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. This project attempts to propose an architecture that gives people different experiences of light through its light filter facade and uses light to identify different spaces and programs.

The building’s interior spaces are purposefully divided into several distinct groups, each with unique functionality and ambiance, encouraging exploration and interaction. The facade combines perforated metal panels and glass blocks to complement this internal arrangement. Serving as filters for incoming light, this dual facade system regulates light exposure while establishing a delicate interplay of transparency and opacity. Solid volumes within the building are encased in translucent skin, creating a visual contrast of opacity and transparency. This design choice allows for controlled light penetration, contributing to visual and spatial experience.

In the context of massing development, the elevation of the northern site volume has been implemented to establish an open and accessible space, facilitating various activities and fostering a welcoming environment for visitor engagement. The elevated volume on the northern facet is designated to accommodate a substantial indoor cinema. On the central and southern facets of the site, two raised volumes serve as supporting structures.