Exiting the Fanling train station, it would be impossible to miss a bright and boldly lit facade that marks the Golden Harvest Fanling. Located next to a shopping arcade, the new boutique cinema, designed by Hong Kong-based interior design firm ARTTA Concept Studio, is a recent addition to the neighbourhood.

“The cinema sits well within this district since there isn’t a large shopping centre in Fanling,” explains ARTTA Concept Studio founder Arthur Tang and his team. According to them, leisure and entertainment facilities are lacking in New Territories such as Fanling, where more people in Hong Kong are moving into.

ARTTA Concept Studio is no stranger to designing cinemas, having completed three other theatres for Golden Harvest within the last six years. Despite that, they believe that every cinema should offer a “one-of-a-kind” experience. As a result, no two cinemas that they have worked on are alike.

Unlike most cinemas, which are located within shopping malls, Golden Harvest Fanling occupies a standalone building, which was previously a retail shop. “Golden Harvest decided to renovate this building in hopes of [encouraging] more visitors and [bringing] the community closer together,” the designers say. At, 390 square metres, the boutique cinema possesses two screening halls, sitting up to 218 people.

The compact space did not hamper the team’s creative expression. Upon witnessing the site from the onset, the designers knew they had to create something bold, big and bright. Prominent features such as a neon signage, bold typography, and graphics in bright yellow lights were introduced to draw attention away from the modest floor area. The designers explain, “We wanted to give visitors a feeling that a lot of things are happening around them as they enter the cinema,” a feeling akin to the excitement of catching a new film.

One of the approaches taken was to create multiple layers using colours and materials. With a core black background, the bold signages and graphics bearing lighter tones were able to stand out sharply. A combination of rough concrete, tiles, net wires, and patterned glass help materialise the team’s industrial vision while providing the illusion of depth and space.

Visiting the cinemas remain a popular leisure activity in Hong Kong. “We want [Golden Harvest Fanling] to become a memorable place for visitors so they will come back for more,” the team concludes.

ARTTA Concept Studio
arttaconceptstudio.com