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Golden

Arch Design Award 

Winner

in

Interior Design Category

'25

Orbital Dawn

Designed by

Design Action

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Orbital Dawn

Commercial & Office Architecture

Nanjing, China

Design Action

Vincent Li / Mancy Li

Photo Credits:

Design Action,2025

Copyrights:

Design Action,2025

The design concept draws inspiration from the streaks left by stars slashing across the pre-dawn sky. These star trails represent time’s passage, each star’s arc marking a fleeting moment. Countless intertwining star trails compose the cosmic timeline. Cinema itself, an art form of time, transports the audience on a condensed journey through a lifetime or a fantastical adventure within a mere two hours.

The circular form created by the star trails shapes the ceiling, becoming not only a visual focal point but also a portal connecting different times and spaces. Before entering the cinema hall, patrons pass through a "Dawnlight" corridor crafted with gradient glass. Patrons transition from reality to the cinematic space via a "Dawnlight" passage constructed of gradient glass. The designer expertly captures the ethereal qualities of dawn, that interplay of light and mystery bridging day and night, reality and dreams. This chromatic shift acts as a psychological cue, aiding patrons in transitioning from the mundane to the cinematic, preparing them for the immersive experience ahead. Journeying through this "Portal of Time," audiences embark on adventures beyond reality within the virtual worlds created by film.

The immersive experience blurs reality, utilizing LED screens in the lobby as dynamic film promotion windows. These screens, reflecting on smooth metallic walls, create a visual effect that merges reality with the film's virtual world. Located in Nanjing's high-end IFC mall, the cinema's unique design enhances its market value. Features like "check-in spots" encourage social media sharing, expanding the theater's influence and establishing it as a landmark cinema.

The designer chose wood-plastic composite (WPC) panels for the walls, which are lightweight and eco-friendly, reducing structural load and transportation costs. WPC is made from recyclable materials, promoting sustainability.

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