Hyde Park Picture House

The Hyde Park Picture House is a unique Category-II listed independent Cinema in Leeds - known for being the very last gas-lit cinema in the UK. The brief set out to make the cinema accessible to all, and to secure its future both in physical fabric and financial resilience. The venue is cherished by locals and visitors alike for its cosiness and charm, and retaining this character was crucial to the project. The redevelopment consisted of 3 key aspects; comprehensive conservation works/fabric repairs to the original building, construction of a new 3-storey extension to offer better access and facilities, and a new 52-seat second screen excavated from the basement. There was also a full MEP overhaul.

Alongside these physical alterations, the project aimed to celebrate the cinema's rich history and bring some of its architectural features to the spotlight - including the gas lighting. The Picture House has a huge community, many of whom are protective of the building. The design approach had to be respectful to this, whilst acknowledging that significant alterations may be required to address its accessibility and performance issues. To meet the brief sensitively, utmost care was taken with every design decision – keeping conservation principles and the cinema’s community at the heart.

For all fabric repairs to the original building, traditional materials and detailing techniques were used, and as much original fabric retained or re-used as possible. Externally, new landscaping resolves what was previously a stepped main entrance, now providing a ramped level access through automatic opening doors. Major structural works to the foyer allowed for a larger kiosk space and new accessible WC facilities, where there were none previously. A new lift gives access to all floors of the extension, including the new 52-seat second screen which has been excavated out of what was previously a modest sized basement.

Though the extension is essentially acting as a 'bolt-on' support unit, it was important that its design gave a nod to the Picture House’s 107 years operating as a cinema. As a playful gesture, the facade brickwork has been articulated to depict a series of 35mm film reels – also paying homage to the city of Leeds as the birthplace of motion picture film. In respect of the original cinema building, the scale of the extension has been kept to a minimum, and complementary materials of red brick and granite used.