A Hidden Space come to Life
The old backstage area of the original Classic Cinema in Elsternwick has been converted into a 60-seat cinema designed by ITN Architects.
The Classic Cinema is the oldest continuously operating cinema in Australia (since 1911), and before that operated as a live theatre. The old stage has been sitting behind the main cinema screen, gathering dust for 100 years. This dead space was slightly expanded, with new acoustic walls and a stepped floor added to the space, to create an intimate new cinema.
Referencing its former life, painted stage flats and pulley ropes line the walls framing the action on the screen, and providing the necessary acoustic attenuation. old spotlights found on site were refitted and hung from new lighting rigs, giving the room theatrical light and shade. Sections of the existing rough red brickwork were exposed, and the red velvet curtains and dark leather of the generous Effuzi Phatt cinema seats also recall the old theatre experience.
World first in seismic engineering
Many an architecture critic will tell you that, on receiving a press release emblazoned with the words: ‘leading’, ‘award-winning’, ‘state of the art’ or ‘a world first’, they send it straight to Trash. These catchwords are now so ubiquitous as to render them meaningless, but this is not the case for this building leading the way in modern earthquake engineering.
The building’s advanced seismic engineering make it one of the most resilient buildings in the city. It is the first in the world to use a post-tensioned timber seismic frame, which flexes like a push-puppet toy during earthquakes. In production testing at The University of Canterbury, the key structural features of the building were found to withstand ground shaking and acceleration greater than that experienced in the Christchurch February 2011 earthquake.
The project – Athfield Architects’ new Creative Arts Building or Te Ara Hihiko, part of the College of Creative Arts (CoCA) at Massey University Wellington’s campus has transformed it from the days when students endured Wellington winters being taught in drafty prefab buildings on a poorly laid out Mount Cook campus. It is, therefore, an extremely fortunate bunch of design students which is to be pulled out of its prefabs to discover the joys of ‘proper architecture’ joyful spaces created with purpose and expose them to inspirational architecture raising their spirits, aspirations, expectations and, better still, their talent.
With an increasingly competitive education sector, CoCA is sure to win a great deal of attention and admiration from local and international students, and beyond.
Cuisine School to Open in the Heart of Wellington
WelTec’s award-winning School of Hospitality has joined forces with the internationally renowned Le Cordon Bleu to create a centre for cuisine and hospitality excellence.
Located in the heart of the Wellington CBD this modern facility has been designed with both the training of students and industry professionals in mind.
The stunning new building is a state of the art, purpose built, and of the very highest quality. The brand-new facilities include a demonstration kitchen-lecture theatre, new kitchens, library, changing facilities, classrooms and an on-site student run restaurant. It is scheduled to open in September 2012
With 600 students attending either WelTec or Le Cordon Bleu programmes this new venture will make a significant contribution to the vibrancy of the city centre.
Chair selected: Lurna with Foldaway Desk
A long History
The Royal Australian Air Force RAAF Base Richmond is 50km north-west of Sydney. Best known as home for their Hercules medium transport aircraft and also a number of other units call Richmond home. The Effuzi club cinema chair was chosen for the recent refurbishment of their Metro Theatre.
RAAF Base Richmond was the first Air Force base to be established in New South Wales and the second within Australia. In 1925 the first Air Force element in New South Wales, No. 3 Squadron, was formed at Richmond.
From 1923 to 1936, RAAF Base Richmond was also used as a supplementary airport for Sydney, with Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith landing the Southern Cross there after his trans-Pacifica flight in 1928, and Miss Jean Batten landing after her solo flight from England in 1935.
At the outbreak of World War 2, No.3, 6, 9 and 22 Squadrons were based at Richmond, together with No.2 Aircraft Depot. No.8 Squadron formed on 11 September 1939 and No. 11 Squadron two weeks later.
During World War 2, Richmond developed into a base of major importance to Australia’s defence, and has since evolved from a combat centre to become the home of most of the Air Forces air transport fleet. As such, the base is now the hub of logistics support for the Australian Defence Forces.
Your boutique Cinema and Cafe experience
A collaborative venture between Horowhenua District Council and Focal Point Cinema has bought the movies back to the Horowhenua.
At Focal Point Cinema coffee and wine bar it is their aim to provide an amazing cinema entertainment experience, a relaxing and friendly environment, and a thoroughly enjoyable night out. They are an award winning boutique movie theatre complete with fully licenced coffee and wine bar.
Located in the busy country town Levin sits at the heart of the Horowhenua Plains, surrounded by the rolling countryside of the Manawatu just 50 kilometres south of Palmerston North & Feilding.
The Council has applauded Focal Point Cinema’s enthusiasm for the venture stating good business builds great communities and great communities attract good businesses. It takes courage, careful planning and a belief that business has a vital role to play in contributing to the well-being of the community.
The refurbished complex boasts three cinemas - Cinema 1 seats 176 patrons and is used for the ‘big’ latest release films on show and as well as catering for live entertainment. Meanwhile, in the intimate settings of the luxurious Cinema 2 and Cinema 3 boutique theatres, the more discerning and mature audiences are treated to a mix of new-release, mainstream and art house movies. Because the cinemas adjoin with the café/restaurant, patrons can enjoy a glass of wine and other refreshments while reclining in comfortable lounge seating. Projection equipment caters for 35mm films as well as state of the art digital projection technology.
The Council are always looking to enhance the living experience of the Horowhenua District and Focal Point cinema certainly adds to the range of community activities available in Levin and the wider area. It illustrates how successful partnerships between Council and different sectors of the community can deliver much needed facilities and employment opportunities that benefit the whole community.
With the renovations complete and Effuzi’s mojo seating sitting the audience comfortably the District’s residents can enjoy a movie-going experience fit for the 21st century!
Effuzi Seating Teams with Designcraft
A partnership between Effuzi Seating and Designcraft was the key element in the successful fit-out for the Gareth Evans Theatre, RG Casey Building Canberra.
Designcraft an award winning Canberra based company specialising in furniture, joinery and showcases teamed with Effuzi to supply and install replacement Seat and Desking within the Gareth Evans Theatre, RG Casey Building for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Designcraft have over the years have acquired a depth of knowledge, experience and expertise which has enabled them to take on an enormous variety of complex and challenging jobs both nationally and internationally. Their existing relationship with the Department was a stepping stone for Effuzi’s Viva Chair and Foldaway Desk to be selected for this refurbishment.
Renowned for delivering the best quality and a high level of customer service, at a fair price, Designcraft continue to remain committed to never compromising this great achievement. Selecting Effuzi products has enhanced this ethos.
Members of the Australian design alliance (ADA) created to support the integrity of original authentic design, Designcraft share in their belief that support of these values is an ethical, practical and aesthetic decision which promotes respect for the designer. “Both our design heritage and our creative design future rest upon the support of designers’ original work and that original design is an investment”.
CQ Universities multipurpose sports complex transforms yet again
A series of floods hit Australia, beginning in December 2010, primarily in the state of Queensland including its capital city, Brisbane.
The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities. At least seventy towns and over 200,000 people were affected with three-quarters of the state of Queensland being declared a disaster zone.
Communities along the Fitzroy and Burnett Rivers were particularly hard hit, while the Condamine, Ballone and Mary Rivers recorded substantial flooding. An unexpected flash flood raced through Toowoomba's central business district before devastating communities in the Lockyer Valley. A few days later thousands of houses in Ipswich and Brisbane were inundated as the Brisbane River rose and Wivenhoe Dam used a considerable proportion of its flood mitigation capacity. Volunteers were quick to offer assistance and sympathy was expressed from afar.
Central Queensland Universities Rockhampton Campus was transformed into an evacuation centre by CQU staff, Australian Red Cross volunteers and members of the Local Disaster Management Group, welcoming displaced locals and providing temporary accommodation for around 700 people. The basketball courts were also used as an animal rescue centre.
Looking at the venue today, transformed yet again with Effuzi’s ‘Axor’ Telescopic Seating System having a capacity of 1960 spectators seated on ‘Albany’ stadia tilt seats you could be forgiven for forgetting the terrible scenes experienced only months ago that now seem to pale into the distant past.
In the Beginning
The garage was dark, dust ridden and dismal yet the hearts and the singing and the feeling of all the people inside emanated a bright light and glow, which far compensated for the lack of physical comforts. These were Jews who came from war torn Europe and traveled to the far shores of Australia and began rebuilding their Jewish heritage in a little suburb by the beach known as Coogee.
Here they sang the ‘lecha dodi’ every Friday night full of hope that Coogee, Australia would be their safe haven, a start of a new beginning to rebuild the lives that they lost for themselves and for their children. There is a tradition that communities will transplant themselves in the times of Moshiach and be there for everyone in Jerusalem. What happened in Coogee was that War saw,Budapest,Minsk, Satmar, and East London were transplanted to these distant shores.
The life of the refugee after the holocaust in Australia was challenging and demanding. Families had no language, no money, no understanding of Australian culture and no family support yet they had each other all sharing the common experience of surviving the hardships of war. It was an enormous traumatic bond that was etched in their lives and in their memories forever. Unequivocally each and every one had a burning desire to rebuild the homes that they lost, and to establish community in the spiritual desert that they found themselves. In this way Coogee Synagogue was no different than the many other post holocaust communities that sprung up to continue the light of the eternal Jewish flame.
Approximately twenty families found themselves in a small little three-block area not far from Coogee Beach. They did not intend to meet but they bumped into each other at the grocer, butcher or just taking a stroll along the beach promenade. It was these unassuming yet heroic people who started the Coogee Randwick Clovelly Hebrew Congregation – Or Chadash.
Today the Synagogue looks back with pride on its achievements as a communal pillar and strong supporter of the land of Israel. In the last 10 years over 300 Bar and Bat Mitzvahs have taken place at the synagogue. The circle of life seems to be turning as many of those Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are now celebrating their weddings. Those who were married in the synagogue are now celebrating their children’s birth. The role of the synagogue throughout the ages has been to provide a second home for its membership. Coogee Synagogue is no different. Coogee is a place where its members come together to celebrate joyous events and happy occasions and to mourn over sad ones. It is a place, which creates the remarkable sensation to laugh and cry at the same time, to shed a tear of both sadness and joy.
New Seating installed by Effuzi September 2011
Eclipse Grandstand Selected at Te Whaea Sports Field
Wellington’s sporting community have enjoyed fewer cancelled games this year with the city’s newest artificial sport field now open. The installation of Effuzi’s ‘eclipse’ demountable grandstand will certainly give the spectators something to cheer about as well .
Artificial surfaces can withstand more play than even the most robust and well-drained grass fields. The park is a fantastic new asset for the city and helps address the growing demand for sportsfields that can be used in all weathers. The new full-sized field is primarily used for community sport, but has been built to specifications so it can potentially be used for FIFA and IRB approved games. The pitch is likely to supplement adjacent Rugby League Park as a training venue during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The artificial turf sportsfield has had a varied history. It was originally a rubbish tip (known as 'Jam Tin Gully'), then a recreation ground, then car park and is now back to a sportsground.
The 100 metre by 65 metres playing field features Effuzi’s ‘eclipse’ grandstand system with Albany Seating, a warm-up area, pavilion consisting of changing rooms and toilets, floodlighting, perimeter fencing and native plantings around the park. The Council is planning to build another five artificial sportsfields between 2013 and 2019.
Coastlands Cinemas Go for Gold
Modern technology and extra comfortable seats will be unveiled when the Downtown Cinema Complex opens at Coastland Shopping Centre this week.
The complex contains three standard cinemas with the forth being a 3-D theatre. All cinemas are fitted out with the latest digital projection technology with crystal clear picture and sound quality including special seats by Effuzi designed for maximum comfort.
Downtown Cinemas is owned by Cinema Holdings, New Zealand’s fourth largest theatre chain, with 21 years’ experience in cinema management and was the first company in New Zealand to build a multiplex cinema development. Cinema Holdings which operates cinemas under the Downtown, Cinema Gold and Paramount brands all boast Effuzi seating.
Substantial growth and development on the Kapiti Coast region reinforced Downtowns decision that Coastlands is the ideal position for a cinema complex and cinema-goers in the area are keen to see the complex opened providing a top entertainment destination for people in the area.
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