The Movies—a former cinema in the heart of Dordrecht, Netherlands—has been transformed into De Witt by Amsterdam-based Studio Modijefsky. The vibrant space combines a brasserie with three existing cinema screens.
The design of De Witt also incorporates nods to the building’s other past lives as a convent, school, and laboratory. The use of expressive shapes, warm colors, and materials evoke each historical layer. The school’s presence, for instance, is felt in the corridors, which feature tiled walls, bulletin boards, and windows that peer into classrooms.
Studio Modijefsky also developed a color palette for the space that adheres to Dordtse kleuren, the official color palette of Dordrecht based on its historic buildings.
A grand entrance, designed by Lugten Malschaert Architecten, directs visitors through a striking glass façade, while the ticket booth, encased in floor-to-ceiling light blue velvet curtains, sets the tone for the cinematic experience.
The brasserie consists of a main dining area, three smaller sections, and a bar, all connected through clear sightlines that allow natural light to flood in. The F&B venue exudes a warm ambiance, thanks to a mix of vintage and custom furniture and wooden hanging lights, reminiscent of test tubes, alluding to the building’s history as a laboratory.
Meanwhile, wimple window frames are inspired by the head coverings of the nuns who resided there during the building’s time as a convent.
Handcrafted alabaster lights connect the different areas of the brasserie, which leads to a dramatic bar sitting at the heart of the space. A majestic three-layered velvet curtain in shades of indigo suspends over the bar.
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