Dreamland Cinema = Turner Centre?
November 8th, 2007 > Posted in: Architecture, Dreamland, Turner Contemporary
Now the credits have rolled for the final time, the Thanet Extra reports that Roy Jackson, the manager of Dreamland Cinema believes the cinema would make an ideal alternative site for Turner Contemporary.
Mr Jackson is absolutely right in his view that the art deco cinema building deserves a grand future, but I’m not sure I agree that it ”fits the bill as a high profile centre for the Turner Contemporary”.
The Dreamland ‘fin’ is an utterly iconic fixture of Margate seafront, but totally unsuitable as a gallery. In terms of modern gallery aesthetics and vision, the cinema building falls short of what is required - if Margate is to house a successful gallery it should be in a building fit for purpose. It must encourage contemporary art (both internationally and locally) and act as a catalyst for the further regeneration of Margate.
What is certain is that considerable thought must now be directed towards this fantastic old building and it’s future.
Monday March 31, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I’m a fan of Arlington House, but I do feel that the whole thing needs re-cladding, while Arlington Square and the NCP car park needs to be demolished. This would leave a huge space open to redevelopment, including the space that is the Dreamland Cinema.
Personally, I’d like the whole corner to be gutted and a new leisure and entertainment centre created. By that I mean using Hartsdown purely for sports and creating a huge splash pool with slides and perhaps an ice rink.
As far as Dreamland Cinema is concerned, I think we should keep the facade of the building, but demolish the rest. What I propose is to then create a huge dome behind the facade featuring a 3D IMAX cinema. The closest one is in London and I’m sure it would get support from local schools as IMAX films have a tendency to be educational. Not to mention tourists in the summer.