Archipelago Cinema: Ole Scheeren's Floating Movie Theater In Thailand

Posted: 03/30/2012 9:55 am Updated: 03/30/2012 10:11 am

Bored of your neighborhood megaplex movie theater? Then perhaps you should plan a trip to Thailand.

Introducing the Archipelago Cinema, an entire theater that floats on water. Located in the Nai Pi Lae lagoon on Kudu Island, the structure was designed by German architect Ole Scheeren and showcased at the Film on Rocks Yao Noi Festival earlier this month.

In addition to the floating screen, there is a "raft-like auditorium" where the viewers -- who must arrive by boat -- can relax on large cushions and take in the film.

According to Architizer, the Archipelago was made from recycled materials.

Scheeren posted about the inspiration behind the theater, over on his website:

The thought of watching films here seemed surprising: A screen, nestled somewhere between the rocks. And the audience… floating. Hovering above the sea, somewhere in the middle of this incredible space of the lagoon, focused on the moving images across the water. A landscape of pieces playfully joined together. A sense of temporality, randomness. Almost like drift wood. Or maybe something more architectural. Modular pieces, loosely assembled, like a group of little islands. A congregation of rafts as an auditorium. Archipelago Cinema.

Now that the festival is over, it's unclear whether Archipelago Cinema is still up and running -- unfortunately, the structure will be taken down and donated to the community of Yao Noi as a playground and floating stage (so if you want to check it out you better get there fast).

For more about the project, head over to Architizer.

The Film on Rocks Yao Noi Festival was curated by actress Tilda Swinton and filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul. You can check out photos of the construction and the cinema itself in the gallery below.

[via Tecca and Architizer]

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Bored of your neighborhood megaplex movie theater? Then perhaps you should plan a trip to Thailand. Introducing the Archipelago Cinema, an entire theater that floats on water. Located in the Nai Pi...
Bored of your neighborhood megaplex movie theater? Then perhaps you should plan a trip to Thailand. Introducing the Archipelago Cinema, an entire theater that floats on water. Located in the Nai Pi...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Gregster
Tea-Party tea smells like Kool-aid.
12:20 PM on 04/06/2012
Now playing: Titanic. Oops! the theatre just hit an iceberg!
09:25 PM on 03/30/2012
If you ever go there, make sure you wear bug spray...
06:53 PM on 03/30/2012
Its sad to see the rich blow money like this when most of Thailand is impoverished.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
idontcare761
It seems I might care afterall..
03:36 AM on 03/31/2012
No more so than here in the States when they build a new sports stadium or convention center with all the bells and whistles in a town that has more than their share of poor and homeless. It's the same all over the world. The rich have the attitude , "it's mine to do with as I please" and as much as I'd like to say different , they would be right.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mangohombre
I am not young enough to know everything.
08:31 AM on 03/31/2012
It's sad that you spent so much on your computer when most of Thailand is impoverished.
06:17 PM on 03/30/2012
Beautiful setting but the bugs from the lights must be torture!!
04:25 PM on 03/30/2012
Do they play american speaking movies?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jbrumf5632
03:52 AM on 03/31/2012
American speaking? What's that?
10:46 AM on 03/31/2012
That's what I ask the little Thai girl.
04:08 PM on 03/30/2012
Cool theater..... BTW, click on slideshow, the LITTLE MERMAID poster still has a castle with penis columns, fyi...
03:40 PM on 03/30/2012
If the film is bad the venue is meaningless.
12:42 PM on 03/30/2012
This is absolutely stunning, I will definitely be making a trip or creating this myself in America.
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Tom Servo
Please Proceed
12:33 PM on 03/30/2012
Bad News. Water World is playing.
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thezestyitalian1
04:01 PM on 03/30/2012
Thanks, that made me laugh outloud xD
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mangohombre
I am not young enough to know everything.
08:32 AM on 03/31/2012
It's okay. They have cigarettes.