Hout Bay Hidden Cinema – Open-Plan Living Room Projection

THE BRIEF

A living room for everyday life. A full-scale cinema when the screen comes down.

Designed and built by Mirror Edge Networks, with our team responsible for the room concept, technical planning, infrastructure, equipment integration, installation and commissioning.

Completed in November 2023, this Hout Bay project shows how a substantial home cinema experience can be introduced into an open-plan living area without allowing the technology to dominate the architecture.

The room retains its natural light, garden connection, fireplace and everyday television. When a larger experience is wanted, a motorised projection screen descends in front of the glazing and the concealed front soundstage comes into play.

The Brief

The challenge was to create a convincing cinema experience in a double-height, open-plan living space rather than a dedicated room. The solution needed to preserve the room’s relaxed character and circulation while providing a much larger image and properly positioned surround sound for films, sport and shared family viewing.

A Hidden Front Soundstage

A custom-built enclosure was designed above the glazed opening to accommodate the motorised projection screen and conceal the left, centre and right M&K loudspeakers. The dark grille treatment allows the front soundstage to remain acoustically effective while reading as one restrained architectural element.

When the cinema is not in use, the screen retracts and the garden-facing glazing is restored. The existing wall-mounted television remains available for quick, casual viewing.

Projection in an Open-Plan Room

The Epson TW9400 projector is housed in a purpose-built wall-mounted enclosure on the opposite side of the room. Its position provides the required projection path while keeping the equipment contained and clear of the living area.

Anthem and M&K Surround Sound

An Anthem MRX740 surround-sound receiver provides processing, amplification and room-correction capability for the system. M&K loudspeakers form the front and surround channels, supported by an M&K subwoofer for controlled low-frequency performance.

The slim surround speakers were positioned to work with the room’s architecture and seating rather than turning the walls into an equipment display.

Designed Around the Room

Rather than rebuilding the living space around the cinema, the system was coordinated around the fireplace, staircase, large windows, furniture and normal movement through the room. The result demonstrates that a large-format projection experience does not have to require a permanently dark or technology-led interior.

The Result

With the screen retracted, the room remains a bright, open living area connected to the garden. When the cinema is activated, the screen descends, the hidden front soundstage takes over and the room gains the scale and impact of projection.

This is precisely the kind of hidden AV solution Mirror Edge Networks designs for clients who want serious performance without living with visible cinema technology throughout the day.

Considering a hidden cinema for an open-plan living room?

Mirror Edge Networks can coordinate projection, motorised screens, concealed loudspeakers, equipment placement and control as one considered system. Discuss your hidden cinema project with us.