Open-Air Cinema Prachatice by Mimosa Architects: A Modern Revival of Cultural Space in Czechia

Reviving a Cultural Landmark in Prachatice

In 2023, Mimosa Architects completed the transformation of the once-dilapidated Open-Air Cinema in Prachatice, Czechia, redefining how outdoor cultural venues can coexist within residential neighborhoods. The project breathes new life into a cinematic space that originally accommodated 800 seats, reducing its capacity to a more sustainable 350, thereby enabling the integration of buffer zones and acoustic protections to improve neighborhood harmony. This architectural intervention also introduced a new pedestrian connection through Štěpánka’s Park, linking the cinema to the town center.

A New Era of Outdoor Cinema Design

Faced with the poor condition and adaptational challenges of the original structures—including the outdated projection wall that once cast shadows over the adjacent park—Mimosa Architects opted for a complete demolition and rebuild. The reimagined complex now consists of three new architectural volumes that house essential facilities: a cash desk, a buffet, accessible restrooms, a projection booth, a smaller screen, artist rooms, and storage spaces. Notably, the entire site is fully accessible and inclusive, maintaining community-first values.

Designing with Terrain and History

The architects honored the natural topography of the site by preserving its subtle terrain slopes, using them to orient the seating gently toward the projection wall. Echoing the historical context, the fractured fencing along the residential edge of the site was preserved and extended through gabion walls, acting as both physical separators and sound barriers. The fractured motif and stone elements also create a visual dialogue with Prachatice’s historic town center, where similar granite and natural stones are prominent.

Film-Inspired Architecture and Lightweight Structures

The design is rooted in the aesthetic language of cinema, referencing the mechanisms of film reels and projectors. These concepts are abstracted in the form and function of the structures, where tensioned roof tarps and corrugated steel panels mimic the movement and rhythm of film strips. This poetic interplay of light, shadow, and materiality is accentuated through black steel elements—visually connecting the site to the nearby Municipal Theatre of Prachatice, previously renovated with similar material finishes.

Enhancing Comfort and Acoustics with Textile Roofing

The cinema’s lightweight textile roofing system spans both the stage and part of the auditorium. It improves user comfort during both sunny afternoons and rainy evenings, while also enhancing the site's acoustic performance. Designed to be as minimal and transparent as possible, the roofing appears almost as a suspended canopy, supported by an elegant structural system of steel ropes and posts that serve both functional and sculptural roles.

Urban Integration and Cultural Impact

Though the Open-Air Cinema and Štěpánka’s Park were designed separately by different studios and at different times, their near-simultaneous completion in early 2023 created a cohesive cultural corridor. This revitalized zone now serves as a vibrant public space for film screenings, performances, and community events, contributing significantly to the cultural vitality of Prachatice’s urban fabric. The project is a model for how adaptive reuse and thoughtful urban integration can enhance both social and spatial dynamics in smaller European towns.

All Photographs are works of BoysPlayNice