Although it closed a few years ago, the La Pagodecinema has made a name for itself in the folklore of legendary Parisian addresses. This art-house cinema was renowned for its unusual Japanese-inspired architecture: the façade, roofs and main auditorium are listed as historic monuments, and the garden is also listed. Built in 1896 by architect Alexandre Marcel, it was originally a gift from François-Émile Morin, director of Bon Marché, for his wife.
In 1931, La Pagode became a cinema open to the public, and was the only one in the 7th arrondissement. In 2015, the address closed for renovations. It was purchased 2 years later by Charles S. Cohen, a promising American real estate developer, who intends to reopen the cinema.
However, following the closure, a controversy erupted in the Paris neighborhood. On May 11, 2020, the trees in the listed garden were felled, including the weeping beech that had stood there since the beginning, the gingko biloba that had been planted in 1990, and the chestnut tree. A fact that triggered the anger of local residents and environmental protection associations alike.
Despite the scandal, the cinema's renovation project continues and its rebirth takes shape. After being postponed several times, the reopening seems to be taking shape. By the end of 2024, or the beginning of 2025, the Pagode should once again welcome cinema-goers following a major renovation project. Two theaters with a total of 380 seats will be available, with a total of 8 screenings per week.
Two agencies, Loci Anima and Pierre-Antoine Gatier, chief architect of historic monuments, are in charge of orchestrating the cinema's revival. The entrance is to be replaced by a glazed portal, giving a view of the Pagode' s listed facade, and the address will then be articulated as a genuine living space. The cinema will also feature two new auditoriums, to be installed in the basement. The first will be able to accommodate 290 spectators, while the second, smaller room will seat 90.
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