Escape

The Escape Cinemas Multiplex at the Express Avenue Shopping Mall, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai. Escape by SPI Cinemas is the city’s first luxury multiplex.

A culmination of style, innovation and passion, Escape promises to be all that the city has yearned for by redefining the cinema experience and presenting entertainment in a setting like never before. Spanning a total area of 40, 000 square feet, Escape includes 8 cinema screens and a private dining lounge in each screen and several other amenities like gaming, browsing area, library lounge and a spa.

Design

The space has been used aesthetically so that each area is special. The lobbies and washrooms are resplendent with Botticino marble, granite, Italian tiles and wooden floors coming together to pattern the floor. Back lit Italina onyx stone is used extensively in lobby columns and architraves and a fusion of tiles make the floors in the seating area of the cinema; with wood finishing on the aisles, lounges and steps. The façade is covered with bronze tinted glass and the lobby has sheer chocolate brown curtains with back-lit curtains adding to the luster. No space lies unutilised in this design as even the Food & Beverage counters; made entirely of onyx and washrooms have been tucked below the raking slabs.

Screens

Spanning a total area of 40, 000 square feet, Escape includes 8 cinema screens and a private dining lounge in each screen. The cinema space from screens 1 through 4, Blush, Streak, Spot and Weave and the lobby has been designed by Giovanni Castor of Castor Designs, USA while screens 5 through 8, Plush, Frame, Carve and Kites have been designed by renowned Chennai designer Vikram Phadke.

DESIGNERS

Giovanni Castor of Castor Design and Associates in California brings more than 22 years of hospitality and interior design experience to Escape. Giovanni was Project Designer at the top hospitality firm, WATG- Winberley Allison Tong and GOO Newport Beach Office. Castor was the lead designer for the Palm Casino- Las Vegas, L’Ermitage- Beverly Hills, Grand Hyatt- Mumbai and also collaborated with noted architect I M Pei on the Four Seasons in New York.

Standing proof of his immense global exposure is Escape.

BLUSH
The cinema is inspired by women and many of the things they love and identify with. The design of the space features plush velvet padded walls, crystal buttoned velvet wall panels and themed corset chandelier lighting in a grand dome ceiling. The side walls also features corset wall sconces.

WEAVE
The woven wall 3 form is a purpose built design fixture that features framed convex shaped panels that create a woven pattern. This fixture is used on both the side walls and ceiling and is back lit with a glow to accentuate the patterns of the fixture. The ceiling gives the feeling that it is floating. The design is contemporary and elegant with the emphasis being on the 3 form fixture, with subtle fabric wall paneling interspersed between the fixtures to soften the space.

SPOT
The buttons theme has been inspired by the iconic lighting feature from the Planet Hollywood Hotel in Las Vegas. The design features a circular ‘button’ that is lit from the rear creating a wash of light behind it. The buttons are laid out to create a wave of lights that work together to give an effect of a floating sea of buttons.

STREAK
This theme is inspired by the symmetry and balance of light strips that is carried throughout all surfaces of the cinema. The light runs continuously from wall to ceiling and floor back the point where it began. The theme demonstrates the simplicity and elegance of modern design. The lighting feature uses simple light fixtures set at different intervals to create a strong visual statement.
When entering the cinema guests will be mesmerised by the repetitive lighting effect creating an impressive visual stimuli.

Vikram Phadke

PLUSH
This theme imbibes the over the top elegance of eras gone by; a time of ornate chandeliers, velvet wall coverings, intricate jacquard patterns and beautiful stone flooring. This theme integrates contemporary function into these elements to create a space that is rich and luxurious while still being hip and cool. The design is grounded in royal red crushed velvet diamond shaped panels interspersed with panels with embroidered gold jacquard patterns. This is reflective of luxury interiors that would have been found in the 1800’s. With the addition of 5 large chandeliers, the effect is that of classic opulence.

FRAME
This theme features photographic art from legendary landscape photographer and artist Peter Lik. Lik is currently rated as one of the top 10 artists in the world selling more than $150 million dollars in photographic art. This theme has majestic large scale landscapes on the wall of the cinema, creating an art gallery inside the auditorium. When the house lights are on, the images will radiate light with their imagery and each piece of art becomes a talking point for cinemagoers.

CARVE
This theme is inspired by some of the Indian woodwork carvings that are found in classic Hindu architecture. Ornate doors and intricate carved panels bring a rich and decorative element to this design. The majesty of these carved pieces has been carefully compiled to create a truly traditional feel throughout the cinema. Each of the pieces have been hand picked and treated with a white ash treatment to bring out the incredible detail that has been painstakingly created by some of the masters of their craft. This theme takes you through a journey of the mystical memories of Indian culture and tradition.

KITES
Rajesh Pratap Singh, one of India’s foremost fashion designers was commissioned to design a theme for a cinema at Escape. RPS is renowned for his use of colors and patterns on his garments and he has adapted these elements into his thematic design called “battle of the kites”. The design involves a large number of kites made of fabric of different colors and sizes radiating outward in concentric circles. Each kite is lit from behind creating a fabulous mix of form, colour and light.

There are six small halls with a capacity of a little over 100 and two large halls with a seating capacity of over 300, with ultra modern seats. In an attempt to transport you away from the ordinary, each of the 8 screens tells a story. Blush, Weave, Spot, Streak, Plush, Frame, Carve and Kites are the names of the cinemas. Keeping in tune with revolutionising movie viewing, Escape is the first cinema in India to do away with projector rooms in addition to the floating screens in each hall.

Technology

RDX
The cinema comes replete with Series 2 upgradeable digital projectors with 2K resolution (2048 x 1080). They support the JPEG 2 format and are known for their technical competency in preventing piracy. At Escape, RDX stands for the Real Digital Experience. Watching movies in digital format means enhanced clarity, color, contrast and brightness. So the movie looks and sounds exactly the way the filmmaker intended it, every time it is projected.

RDX 3D
All the cinemas are equipped with 3D. 3D movies in RDX use cutting edge 3D technology, adding a new dimension in 3D movie viewing while providing an immersive experience that engages the audience in to the situation of the movie with realistic colour and sharp images. The system interfaces with the Digital Cinema Servers and are capable of playing 3D content that comply with the Hollywood Studio approved DCI specifications.

Sound
The screens are equipped with 4-way surround speakers to give high precision in all frequency ranges. These high quality equipment are tuned with standards of SMPTE to give maximum voice clarity and are guaranteed to give an audio experience that is unparalleled.