Maven | Case Study - Basement Cinema in Bournemouth

Project Overview

Turning quite a small TV room into a dedicated cinema comfortable for 4 people was a real challenge. But then we like a challenge...

Client Anon

Services Home Cinema | WiFi

Location Bournemouth

Year 2018

Project Brief

With no real identity, the existing room was used for occasional TV viewing. The client wished to turn the room into a dedicated cinema where the family could gather for the big sporting event or the latest blockbuster movie, but within a realistic budget.

We designed and installed a full cinema for the family with simple control and outstanding performance.

The Screen & Projector

Originally, we wanted to use a 10ft wide 2.35:1 ratio projection screen, but due to minimal room depth hindering projector throw distance and the client’s priority of sport viewing over movies, we opted for the largest 16:9 image possible. This wasn’t easy, as to achieve the desired screen-width meant removing an existing stud wall and installing a new, shallower, wall, gaining the 50mm required for the optimum projector throw and viewing distance.

The native 4K Sony projector was mounted to the low ceiling at the rear of the room to maximise image performance and minimise noise.

Dynamic Surround Sound

A custom LED-backlit, acoustically transparent projection screen permitted the main front loudspeakers & subwoofer to be mounted in the recess behind, to recreate true cinematic audio through the 4K compatible screen material.

Audio processing and amplification was taken care of by a top-end Yamaha AV receiver with Dolby Atmos, along with Artcoustic amplification for the huge Artcoustic Control1 subwoofer.

Simple Control For All

Full control of the cinema is achieved with a dedicated iPad running Crestron’s control app, providing full control of audio visual sources for the room.

Sources include 4K Blu-ray, Apple TV 4K and Sky Q. These are housed, along with other equipment, in a local AV rack.

The Lutron Homeworks lighting control system used throughout the property was extended to the cinema room. This provides easy-to-use dimmable lighting control, which is further automated by the Crestron AV control system. Press pause on the movie and a gentle glow of LED lighting will fade up. Once the film is resumed, the lighting fades down and you’re back to the action.