For over a century, the Hyde Park Picture House has been embedded at the centre of its community, a modest civic gem nestled amongst a dense residential neighbourhood of red brick Victorian terraces in the northeast of Leeds. The Grade II listed independent cinema has served as a vital, unassuming resource to many generations, forming the backdrop and setting for innumerable events in locals’ lives. In the theme of 'Critical Action', substantial intervention was required to secure this cherished cinema's future, and allow it to meet the needs of a contemporary audience. This endeavour was led by the Leeds Heritage Theatres Group, working with Page\Park Architects to celebrate and conserve the cinema’s rich heritage whilst extending the building to improve accessibility and expand its offering, both locally and regionally. As part of the forensic research and site investigations undertaken during the development of the project, Page\Park Architects worked with Crick-Smith Ltd to complete detailed analysis of the historic paintwork. The resulting samples serve as beautiful, abstract representations of the buildings’ history, revealing and preserving the decorative decisions made by previous custodians as well as the original colour palette. These images celebrate the many lives the building has come into contact with, serving as a microcosmic illustration of the how it has been adapted over time.

Photo credit – Ollie Jenkins (Hyde Park Picture House)

These works are in dark wood frames and are float mounted on a white backing board.