Cineroleum

The Cineroleum was a self-initiated project and also the first project of the Assemble. It transforms an abandoned petrol station on Clerkenwell Road into a cinema. It is a showcase project to test the potential of the 4,000 empty petrol stations in the UK for diverse reuse.

Built by volunteers learning and experimenting together and transforming an empty petrol station and reusing the space for a cinema for the living community there on Clerkenwell Road.

The design of the cinema is an abstraction of a palace. The Materials like the four-meter-long curtains, which was from Tyvek, was handsewn and most of the materials was donated and built by the volunteers who lived there. Through the artistic spirit and creativity of those involved, new exciting spaces were created.

The Design was heavily inspired by the golden age of cinema like the façade of the place up to the interior elements like the popcorn machine and the movie program, which showed a lot of classics to watch and escape to. The whole concept of creating the project and using it is strongly based on social engagement.

A project like Cineroleum shows how in spite of modest funding an abandoned site can be reused and create a new quality for the community by involving local people in a participatory process.