A Celestial-Inspired Cinema Takes Flight In Nanjing

2025 Best of Year Winner for Entertainment

Its concept drawn from cosmic timelines and the circular patterning of stars streaking across the predawn sky, the 24,450-square-foot movie theater Orbital Dawn in Nanjing, China, offers a truly celestial experience. Crafted by Design Action, the adventure begins in the lower-level lobby, with a layout organized into flowing curves that soar patrons through ticketing, concessions, and waiting areas. Light-colored metallic walls and glossy surfaces maximize available light while also reflecting the LED screens promoting films, cleverly merging cinema and architecture. An escalator transports moviegoers upstairs to the four theaters, which are accessed by way of a corridor lined in gradient glass—intended as a transition from the regular world into the immersive entertainment to come.

---

---