Depeche Mode, the synth-pop legends, have their roots in the English town of Basildon. The band members grew up in the first generation of children in Basildon, which was one of the first cities in England to be transformed into a “New Town” in 1949. In recent years, the Eastgate shopping center in the center of Basildon has lost its attractiveness and visitors, prompting the town council to launch an infrastructure project to revitalize it. The project focuses on a new multiplex cinema with 10 cinemas, six new restaurants, bars, and cafes with outdoor dining, and the largest cinema screen in the county of Essex. 

Ascending pixels

The hexagonal shingle facades rise to a highest point on two sides of the building. The Empire Cinema logo is displayed on both sides around the central axis, and the shingles continue to the flat roof, creating an impression of an image slowly building up from its pixels.

Cinema with skyline

The multiplex cinema has a facade area of around 4000 m², with vertically aligned MOZAIK cassettes covering some areas instead of shingles. The color design creates a special effect, with the varying colors of the cassettes giving the impression of a staggered skyline. The colors range from dark ANTHRA-ZINC for nearby buildings to lighter QUARTZ-ZINC for imaginary skyscrapers and finally, to bright and matt AZENGAR for the sky.