Dune Cinema - Best Home Cinema, Level 3 finalist, APAC 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a passionate film enthusiast sought to bring his vision of the perfect home cinema to life. Despite the restrictions, this dream was realised through the innovative efforts of Wavetrain Cinemas, a company renowned for their turnkey cinema solutions. The project, known as Dune Cinema, is a testament to Wavetrain's expertise and the client's trust in their capabilities.

The client, an avid movie lover, initially engaged with Wavetrain through virtual meetings due to lockdown restrictions. The journey began with an impressive demonstration at a nearby client’s home, which left him in awe. This led to his decision to proceed with Wavetrain, even though they were located in a different state. The client entrusted Wavetrain with complete creative freedom, with the only brief being: “Surprise me.” This challenge allowed Wavetrain to delve into their creative reserves and conceive the Dune theme, inspired by a promotional poster seen long before the film’s release.

The design process was complex, given the room's dimensions of approximately 4.5m by 5.2m, with irregular angles and low ceilings. David Moseley, the cinema designer, aimed to soften the room's harsh lines with organic curves and circles. Drawing inspiration from the Dune motif, he sought to create a calming environment that resonated with the client's tech-centric and science fiction interests. The design choice struck a chord with the client, who enthusiastically approved after an extensive online presentation. The collaboration's success was further highlighted by a commissioned Dune mural by a street artist, enhancing the project’s exterior and demonstrating the client's satisfaction.

Audio quality was a paramount concern. Wavetrain integrated Elementi Audio ‘Air’ active speaker solutions, featuring Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeters. These speakers provided a wide horizontal dispersion and a relaxed, immersive sound environment. The meticulous engineering, with 3,048 points of Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters per speaker, ensured a sound experience that was both accurate and enveloping. The 9.4.4 speaker configuration and strategic placement overcame the room’s limitations, achieving flat frequency responses down to 20Hz.

Addressing the architectural challenges required innovative solutions. Compliance with national building codes necessitated fresh air intake, which Wavetrain achieved by creating an insulated vertical riser behind a bookcase. This system balanced air pressure and mitigated sound escape using insulation and inline fans. Additionally, a bass trap was integrated into the rear left corner to enhance acoustic performance. The projector ventilation and pressure release system were designed to maintain functionality without compromising the cinema’s atmosphere.

Lighting was pivotal in actualising the Dune theme. The ‘Eclipse’ on the ceiling, a central feature, employed addressable RGB LED strips to create dynamic lighting scenes. Primarily red and orange, the lighting setup included various selectable colours, controlled independently of the wall and fibre optic lighting. This meticulous attention to detail, akin to yacht building, ensured that every panel and finish was executed to perfection.

The Dune Cinema exemplifies the seamless integration of technology and design. Wavetrain’s ability to navigate spatial and technical challenges, combined with the client’s faith in their vision, resulted in a cinematic experience that surpasses expectations.