This column hosts portraits of cinemas in Europe and the rest of the world which are quite different from one another but have in common the fact that they have all adopted digital projection.

HAMBURG and the KINOPOLIS HafenCity
by Cristina Chinetti

A port city, “free and Hanseatic” as its official name states, Hamburg is an urban center with a cosmopolitan vocation which, in its urban fabric, manages to combine tradition and innovation, the old and the new. Today it is so avant-garde from an architectural point of view that it is considered a true training ground for architects from all over Europe.

The City’s urban plan focuses not only on enhancing green areas and improving sustainable mobility with kilometers of cycle paths, but above all on redeveloping vast port and industrial areas, while respecting the City’s strong ties with its maritime past and with its port - the third largest in Europe - which continues to be its beating heart, economic engine, and a central element in its urban and architectural development.

This is particularly evident in the grand redevelopment project of the former port area connecting the historic city center to the banks of the Elbe: the ultra-modern HafenCity district. Here, on a surface of 100 hectares - while another 55 hectares are water - dozens of buildings have been constructed, comprising thousands of residential units of various types with great attention to accessibility, as well as shops and offices intended to host 40,000 workplaces, kilometers of riverside pedestrian walkways, two underground stations, museums, and open spaces with names evoking transoceanic epics: Magellan Terrace, Marco Polo Terrace, or Vasco da Gama Square.

This renewal project has been driven by the construction of the large auditorium, started in 2007 and inaugurated in 2017, the Elbphilharmonie - an original building with thousands of curved-surface glass windows and a sinuous profile reminiscent of a wind-filled sail - and by the meticulous restoration of the traditional Speicherstadt, the historic warehouse district and a symbol of the city. These red-brick neo-Gothic buildings with towers and pinnacles were built between 1883 and 1927 to store goods in transit from the port; today they host offices, museums, and quirky tourist attractions such as Miniatur Wunderland, the largest model railway in the world.

At the heart of HafenCity stands the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, inaugurated last April, which - with its 419,000 square meters, 132 shops, 40 restaurants and cafés, multi-purpose buildings, facilities for leisure and fitness, and a cruise-ship terminal still under construction - aims to be not just a commercial hub but also a place for social interaction and entertainment, as well as an attraction for tourists.

The multinational real-estate company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the project’s developer, invested 2.5 billion euros and commissioned architects from all over Europe to work on 14 buildings, which also include 3 hotels, under the coordination of ATP Asymetria from Kraków.

The Stuttgart-based firm Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Oei designed the office building “The Yard,” inspired by the Doge’s Palace in Venice; the two towers “Luv & Lee,” offering 19,656 square meters across 13 floors, were conceived by Dutch architects UNStudio; while the architect Christian de Portzamparc of France designed “Skysail,” a 73-meter high building offering space for 1,650 workstations.

Hamburg-based architect Carsten Roth created the luxurious residential tower “Eleven Decks,” with 306 duplex apartments and a green inner courtyard, and the renowned firm Kbnk Architekten, led by Franz-Josef Nähring, is behind the visionary project “The Lyte,” consisting of 83 apartments and three penthouses across 16 floors.

Moreover, Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier is the first urban district in Germany to obtain the “excellent” rating from BREEAM Communities, the voluntary certification system developed in the United Kingdom to assess the sustainability of buildings - from infrastructure to renovation projects. This recognition is also due to the district’s excellent services and transportation options. Überseequartier is served by two public bus lines and an underground station, and includes car-sharing services, about 2,500 parking spaces, and over 3,500 bicycle parking spots.

Upon entering the Westfield shopping center overlooking the Elbe, one is struck by the spectacular roof covering the common spaces, designed by Stuttgart-based engineer and architect Werner Sobek, promoter of the DGNB (the German Sustainable Building Council). The glass and steel roof consists of nearly 8,600 elements resting on 34 columns that look like tall tree trunks: the effect is that of walking under the shade of a transparent forest!

Among the many commercial and recreational activities in the center, a cinema could not be missing: the Kinopolis HafenCity is a premium two-level multiplex of an entirely new concept, the largest in Hamburg with its 10 screens and 2,150 seats.

The architectural design and construction planning of the cinema were carried out by the Düsseldorf-based firm Chapman Taylor, which drew inspiration for the interior design from the very “nature” of Hamburg as a port city, with elements evoking water, such as materials and fabrics from the maritime tradition, dominated by shades of blue and gold.

Indeed, as soon as one arrives - via convenient escalators - into the spacious atrium, one is immediately struck by the warm lighting, the alternation of materials (exposed concrete, wood, and metal), and the original wavy structure of the suspended ceiling. In the ticketing and dining areas, the elegant Golden Sea Bar creates a comfortable space with sofas and small tables inviting guests to linger before or after a film while enjoying coffee, cocktails, or snacks.

The entrance portals of each auditorium have a specific design and extend diagonally into the foyer area to make orientation easier for guests. Inside the ten theatres, the design, lighting, and materials continue the theme of the underwater world.

This newest addition to the Kinopolis group, inaugurated on April 8, 2025 together with the entire site, is of course equipped with cutting-edge technology for both projection and sound.

The Barco RGB laser projectors produce luminosity up to 40,000 lumens, and offer high energy efficiency with a 70% saving compared to xenon lamps. The 4K resolution ensures an exceptionally sharp image.

All theatres use the Dolby Atmos sound system, which delivers immersive and intense audio. The wall-mounted surround speakers and additional ceiling speakers distribute sound throughout the three-dimensional space of each auditorium, creating a truly realistic effect.

All auditoriums are equipped with premium seats - electrically reclining armchairs, relaxation chairs, and two-seater sofas. In selected spots, innovative Comfort/D-BOX seats are installed, which, thanks to sensitive and calibrated technology, move in sync with what is happening on screen.

The programming is customized for each film: motion designers analyze the sequences and create dynamic movement for the seats, which are connected to the digital projection system to ensure synchronized playback. A special server synchronizes the motion code with picture and audio and transmits the effects to the D-BOX seats. It is also possible to freely adjust the intensity of the movements via a control panel on the armrest. Screenings that support D-BOX are clearly marked in the cinema program.

The film programming is varied and aims to meet the needs of different audiences. Special initiatives for families have already started, with particular discounts for both 2D and 3D screenings. School screenings are also offered starting from kindergarten age, currently only with films already in the regular program, but with educational material provided in advance by the cinema to encourage a more thoughtful viewing experience even among the youngest.

Every first Tuesday of the month, the “Best of Cinema” series presents beloved classics, all meticulously restored.

A collaboration has also begun with the Royal Opera House in London, to broadcast live on the big screen four opera and five ballet productions from the 2025/26 season, featuring titles such as “Tosca,” “La Traviata” and “The Magic Flute,” or “Cinderella,” “The Nutcracker,” and “Giselle” for ballet. Each broadcast will also include exclusive backstage footage, interviews, and insights.

Kinopolis can also be transformed into an event venue for companies seeking a special scenario for their promotional or non-promotional activities.

Certainly, Kinopolis HafenCity is newly born, but it is clearly already looking to the future - just like the City that hosts it!

KINOPOLIS

• Family-owned group, led by the fourth generation of the Theile family.

• One of the oldest cinema groups in Germany, active for over 120 years.

• 19 sites, 159 screens nationwide, more than 28,000 seats, mainly located in central and southern Germany.

• A technological pioneer in the German market:

  • fully digital projection since 2011
  • Dolby Vision experiences since 2019
  • extensive use of Dolby Atmos, laser projection and premium seating.
     
• Flagship site: Mathäser Filmpalast in Munich, the most visited cinema in Germany.

Sustainability

Kinopolis:

• uses energy-efficient technologies, including LED lighting, optimized heating and cooling, and green electricity;

• prioritises digital communication over printed materials to reduce waste;

• implements waste reduction policies, promoting reusable materials and proper recycling systems;

• works with local and certified partners for catering and event services, offering seasonal, organic, vegetarian and vegan options.