By Helen Hayward, owner of Takapuna Beachside Cinemas.
Trying to make the best out of any situation in life is always the goal and trying to find a silver lining isn't always easy. With the cinema, we were in exactly that position.
In late 2022 and early 2023 there was fire damage to the third floor, and water damage to all three floors. Ceilings, walls, floors, cabinets: really nothing was left untouched in some shape or form.
So what do you do? The plan was to run a cinema, not to carry out a large renovation project. But there we were, we needed that silver lining.
Fortunately, it came in the shape of our friends and family who, when we talked about the damage, the replacement of items and change of the brand, jumped on board and encouraged us to go the whole nine yards and make a much bigger change. Taking the new brand we had only just started working on and translating it into three floors of colour, texture, fixtures and fittings was a mammoth challenge. But also an opportunity you don’t get often. And that's where we were at, an opportunity to have our silver lining, but of mammoth proportions. So we phoned a friend, not just any friend, but someone we knew could work with us to create something beautiful, cohesive and excite us with the possibilities, Sandra Segurado.
Originally from Spain, Sandra is a qualified kitchen designer with over ten years working in the New Zealand market. However it was her background in interior design, and the fact that we had worked together in a number of other projects that gave us the confidence to get her involved.
Sandra looked at the existing colours in the spaces, the colours that we had been working with for the branding, and added some sparkle on top. Having such large open spaces presents unique challenges and we had to look at the project as a whole. Sandra helped us create a consistent space that ticked all the boxes. We had a clear idea of the new branding and direction the business was going to take, but struggled to translate that into finishes and colours for the interior. Having her on board made the process enjoyable and exciting, and we loved the realistic images her studio created for us, allowing us to visualise the space in high realistic 3D renders.
The brief asked to keep the traditional experience of going out to the movies in a sophisticated, luxurious way, combined with the seaside location and more relaxed Kiwi lifestyle.
Sandra nailed the brief, taking into consideration lighting, textures, uses and flow of the space, and even managed to enhance the experience for the patrons into the mix – we cannot wait to share our brand-new space with the North Shore community.
After months of planning, designing, and working together, we are now positive the new Takapuna Beachside Cinemas will add some coastal glamour to your movie nights or special events.
Takapuna Beachside Cinemas – Anzac Street, Takapuna – opening soon!
