When an architect client approached BMT Electrics about adding a cinema space to their home, there was bound to be more to the project than a traditional basement theatre space. The end result was a showcase for both the integrator and the client – and arguably provides some classic takeaways on best practices for any home cinema project.
The first takeaway surrounds the importance of aligning priorities. From the start, this project required the BMT team to work closely with the client on top priorities for the space, with holistic design in mind to ensure this space not only delivered for cinephile performance, but also provided practical function. Breaking with tradition of a cinema in the basement or another similarly isolated space, the clients wanted a cinema on their first floor. Not only that, but the room selected was directly beneath with their children’s bedrooms and boasted beautiful bi-fold glass doors that lead to the garden. For the client, this flexible floorplan was ideal for entertaining, allowing the room to be useful for football watch parties and other garden gatherings as well as movie nights. BMT recognised the potential acoustic challenges, but forged ahead undaunted.
Bryn Turk, founder of BMT Electrics, approaches projects with the mindset that aligning your work to a client’s priorities is non-negotiable. For example, if they value an impressive-looking showpiece over technical performance, adjust your recommendations and budget allocation accordingly. If your client seems unclear on their priorities for their project, Bryn has found success using examples and stories to help the client explore their priorities.
“Explain projects you’ve completed for others, or challenges you’ve overcome in the past to help the client understand what you can accomplish and what they value most,” says Bryn. In this case, the client valued creating a space that would be used daily and enjoyed by guests and residents alike, over acoustic isolation. Bryn aligned his design with the clients’ needs, ensuring this cinema would suit its primary and secondary use cases without disturbing the rest of the household.
Lesson two concerns getting real about the budget. It can sometimes be hard for new clients to understand how far their budget can really go on a project: they may not have taken into account those behind-the-scenes pieces like wiring, acoustics, calibration and labour that have to happen to create a great home cinema experience.
More detail
On this project, the BMT Team was working with a modest budget, but the expectations were high. To ensure the company could deliver the core-cinema experience the client was looking for, the team was intentional about their budget spend on equipment, prioritising those foundational pieces that would continue to impress even if other aspects of the cinema were upgraded over time.
A high-performance projector and a 7.1 immersive sound system became the backbone of the system. The projector—a Sony 4K VPL—was selected for its strong brightness and clarity, ensuring that even in high ambient light conditions, such as when the bi-fold doors to the garden were open, the visuals remained crisp and vivid. By spending on this foundational piece, the cinema could deliver stunning visuals from day one, with no compromises during critical viewing moments.
Similarly, the choice of a 7.1 surround sound system emphasised immersive audio in the main seating area. Beale Street Audio’s Sonic Vortex technology provided precise, directional sound that enhanced the cinematic experience. This configuration also ensured the system could adapt to more casual settings, such as when entertaining guests.
When it came to selecting content sources, the team deferred to the client. Video sources like an Amazon Fire Stick and Xbox, which, while functional for streaming and gaming, are easily replaceable. This approach offered the client immediate usability without committing budget to items that could be upgraded later without significant cost. By prioritising high-impact components and leaving room for future enhancements, the BMT team delivered a system that exceeded expectations for performance while remaining adaptable to the client’s evolving needs.
Lesson three covers collaboration driving creativity. Any integrator reading the description of this room can picture the challenge of lighting and sound isolation for that space, but BMT was undeterred. “You can create impressive immersive experiences in a wide range of spaces and constraints,” says Bryn.
Working closely with the client on the design the team selected, BMT recommended interior design details that would mitigate the worst of the acoustic challenges: heavy blackout curtains to block light and prevent harsh acoustic reflections from the glass bi-fold doors and thick carpet to provide additional sound absorption.
Sound decisions
When it came to deciding on the sound system that would bring the theatre to life, BMT enlisted the support of U.K.-based distributor Dizzyfish. The design needed to balance exceptional sound clarity for cinematic moments with ambient sound coverage for more casual settings, such as when the theatre’s bi-fold doors were opened to the garden. Additionally, the team needed to consider the best solution to offer quality sound, but not reverberate through the children’s bedrooms. Vanco’s Beale Street Audio line was chosen to deliver the full theatrical experience. “Beale Street products are incredibly versatile and provided the perfect solution for the 7.1 surround sound system, offering superior sound isolation at a price point that fell nicely in line with the client’s budget,” says Dave Wilson, Director at Dizzyfish.
To achieve the 7.1 surround sound system the team used in-wall LCR speakers and a subwoofer positioned behind the screen to maintain the room’s aesthetics and save space, with four in-ceiling speakers placed strategically to focus on the main seating area. This layout ensured clarity and immersion during movies while leveraging the directional properties of Beale Street’s Sonic Vortex technology to minimise sound bleed into those other rooms.
The Thorpe cinema balances aesthetics, practicality and performance, delivering a space that functions as both a high-end home cinema and an entertainment hub. The clients have been so thrilled with the end result that they find themselves using the space on a daily basis, a true testament to the importance of aligning priorities and budget and what a successful collaboration can look like.
