Building steps

 

The arrival of summer and warm, balmy nights gives us the perfect opportunity to enjoy an outdoor cinema.  With the right design and technology, we can address these challenges.
But outdoor design is a completely different ball game compared to an indoor application as more factors are involved, although the same set of design rules of course remain in play for outdoor spaces as well.
Outdoor installations however also need to contend with ambient light, temperature, humidity and weather. These all provide a unique set of physical challenges that need to be overcome. It is not a problem as long as you design the outdoor space with these design elements in mind.

Design the outdoor space

The above image show and outdoor space. How did we think when that space was designed?
The first question is always, when are you using the space: day, afternoon, evening or night? Or possibly all of the above. Afternoon, evening and night are easy, as you don’t have to calculate for the sun, not even the brightest projector can compete with direct sun light on the screen surface.

Finding a spot where the sun will not hit the screen directly is always preferred. Alternatively, use the projector in the afternoon and evening. For a big screen like this, during day, the only good alternative is an LED screen, but that will open the door for some alternative challenges, like the screen will be permanently installed, meaning when not used, it will look like a big black wall. 

For this installation we had a ceiling over the screen placement which helps a lot, it solves the sun and rain challenge + reduces the potentially wind issue. But close to the ocean you also have the moist challenge. That challenge here was solved with a moveable screen. The Solo Pro from screen innovation is an amazing screen and can easily be moved inside for days where the moist are an issue, like the rain season. The alternative is of course the build the screen into the ceiling, but the client really like the design and the color of the screen case.

The best projector for that job would be a 16:9 Balder projector, It has enough lumens to give a bright and colorful image, and is small enough to easily be hidden inside the ceiling. The reason why the customer wanted to hide the projector inside the ceiling was two simple reasons, not obstruct with the design of the outdoor space, moist would not be a problem as the projector would be hidden and isolated from the open.

Products used in this installation

To be successful with architectural Integration, a successful partnership and their products are very important. Below you see three products, one of them is our projector, but the two other products are the projector mount from Display Technologies and the screen from Screen Innovation.

    

Balder

Balder, the core product for this installation Barco's small but very powerful projector. This model comes both in 16:9 and in cinemascope the core product for this installation Barco's small but very powerful projector. This model comes both in 16:9 and in cinemascope

Image of the projector & mount

The picture shows the projector installed inside the mount. In the real installation the bottom plate will not be made of glass(can if you want). The bottom plate will match the color of your ceiling to be as invisible as possible. A good carpenter will easily hide and make the mount installed flush with the ceiling. In the left part of the image is the folded mirror that will be open like this when projector is on and flush with the ceiling when off.

Talk to us

Don't hesitate to contact us with your questions. Our team will gladly point you in the right direction.