Congratulations to recent Daniels graduates Chansoo Byeon and Daichi Yamashita! Their project, Cinepalego, recently won first place in an international architectural competition organized by Archtriumph.

Cinepalego focuses on Kabukico, a nightlife and entertainment mecca in Shinjuko, Tokyo. Byeon and Yamashita were interested in addressing the problem of decreasing cinema attendance and the closure of the many mini-theatres that were unique to the area, which has negatively affected the local economy.

Write Byeon and Yamashita:

Cinepalego is an urban intervention, utilizing the vacant rooftop spaces in Kabukicho in order to create a network of mini-theaters that will spontaneously emerge and provide a variety of social spaces for people. The act of cinema going will be completely redefined, becoming seamlessly integrated into day-to-day life. The intervention will not only rejuvenate the experience of cinema but also energize the urban fabric of Kabukicho.

Cinepalego cinemas work in conjunction with a dedicated mobile application CinepaleGO. Once registered, the user can enter a set of preferences of movies (i.e. genre, director, style.) The application gathers information in real time on the users currently in the Kabukicho area, triggering cinematic events around the region. The user is able to choose from a list of cinemas catered to his/her preference. In addition, each cinema will have an estimated attendance number and the available services offered in the buildings underneath.

Occupying the vacant space on the rooftop, the cinemas will be closely integrated with the businesses underneath. The types of services are divided into four categories: restaurant, entertainment, 18+, and gambling. Instead of attempting to compete with other forms of services and leisure activities, the cinema absorbs and enhances the benefits of other forms of entertainment. The businesses will be responsible for maintaining the cinema and providing necessary services, and in return, the cinema will attract more people to the building, hence improving their business.

For more information on the award and the competition, visit: http://www.archtriumph.com/