Oxford's Picture Palace Receives Restoration Award

The Ultimate Picture Palace and dpa lighting consultancy have received an Oxford Preservation Trust Small Project Award for the lighting scheme for the cinema’s refurbished facade.
Oxford’s only independent cinema, The Ultimate Picture Palace, has undergone a three-year restoration programme, including work on the facade to its former glory.
Owner Becky Hallsmith said: "We are completely thrilled to receive such recognition for this work. The facade is such an important part of the cinema’s character and lighting it properly is crucial. dpa came up with a scheme that highlights the original features of the building, was low-price and, by using LED lighting has very low ongoing costs both financially and environmentally. The dpa team were a pleasure to work with and we are very grateful to them."
Mark Breton of dpa adds: "We are are delighted for The Ultimate Picture Palace to win this prestigious award. This is a fitting accolade for Becky and her team in acknowledging the efforts that have been put into re-emphasising this important landmark building on Cowley Road.
"The project was a joy to work on and we are particularly pleased with the outcome bearing in mind the tight budget that we had to work within. We work on lighting projects worldwide and we are always pleased to be able to demonstrate our creative abilities on buildings and interiors closer to home."
Debbie Dance, Oxford Preservation Trust Director, says: "The Awards are OPT’s way of celebrating the wonderful work that is going on across the city. The lighting of the Ultimate Picture Palace is one of my favourite awards, a small but significant project which adds to the character and vibrancy of the Cowley Road. The judges could not fail to be impressed, and all that remains to say is thank you UPP, and dpa – we love the results of your work."
The Award comes on the eve of the cinema launching a funding appeal on the Kickstarter crowdfunding website. It is seeking £6,000 to go towards upgrading the cinema’s seats and thus completing the restoration programme.
The Oxford Preservation Trust Environmental Awards are now in their 36th year and are judged by a panel of experts chaired by Professor Malcolm Airs, an OPT trustee and eminent architectural historian. This year, the panel awarded eight plaques and eleven certificates across the categories of Buildings Conservation, New Buildings and Small Projects.
www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/planning/awards.php
(IT/CD)