The architecture of fun!
The EntX development in central Christchurch first opened in 2018 to much fanfare. However, during the pandemic, the ground floor food and beverage outlets struggled, so the building managers, Mackersy Property, envisioned a new concept; a multi‑faceted entertainment venue designed for operator Funlab.
Dalman Architects was in charge of integrating the new concept into the existing building. The studio’s architecture, interior design and graphics teams worked together with Funlab’s Australian designers to create the exciting new “Worlds of Fun” hospitality and leisure facility that is unique in Christchurch.
The overall theme is “the best place to unleash your inner kid-ult” and features eight lanes of ten‑pin bowling, two nine‑hole mini golf courses, the very latest in electronic and virtual reality games, bars, dining, and function rooms with karaoke … essentially, a world of ‘funtainment’ for all patrons.
How did we create an environment for this variety of entertainment?
The generous volume of space of the original building has certainly provided a great base for a flexible layout enabling all of Funlab’s requirements to be incorporated. And behind the scenes, there has been much work on structure and services, including mechanical and fire design. But the success of all of this is that these more pragmatic aspects are not noticed at all in the building where the architecture of fun dominates.
We also thought about how to incorporate existing features positively into the new fit-out, and an example of this is the ten‑pin bowling area that has been positioned parallel to Colombo Street along the continuous glass wall allowing for natural light and views in and out.
A major feature of the ground floor atrium is the new glass lift that allows for ease of access up to the movie theatre level, greatly improving the connection between the floors.
Dalman Architects also designed The Diversity dining tenancy with a contemporary interior that balances a restrained palette of colours, bamboo, and plants with a full wall mural by a local street artist. The restaurant embraces diversity in culture and food with a menu showcasing a broad range of authentic Asian dishes – and having eaten there, I can attest it’s some of the best in Christchurch.
The ground floor of EntX is now not just a place to travel through up to the movies or enjoy great food with friends but also a place to have fun! And the architecture and interior design help create and support this.