Title

Author(s)

Karolina Pieniążek

Affiliation

Politecnico di Milano

DOI

https://doi.org/10.65686/DTVZ8447

Keywords

Tashkent Modernism, Modernism in Central Asia, Restoring Transparency

PP

778-785

How to Cite

PieniĘŽek, Karolina. “Restoring Transparency Adaptive Reuse of Tashkent’s Panoramic Cinema.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1, edited by Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, and Emanuele Carrai, 778–785. Firenze: STH Press, 2026.

Abstract

This paper examines the adaptive reuse of the Panoramic Cinema in Tashkent, a modernist landmark completed in 1964. It was designed by V. Berezin, S. Sutiagin, I. Khaldeev, and D. Shuvaev, with O. Legostaeva, and engineered by A. Braslavskii, D. Antman, and A. Prigozhin. Conceived as a cutting-edge cinematic venue, it became a symbol of modernity and resilience in Soviet Central Asia, notably retaining its architectural integrity after the 1966 earthquake. Its bold composition—particularly the dynamic contrast between a solid rotunda and a glazed foyer—embodied a distinctly modernist vocabulary, merging structural innovation with spatial openness. In the early 2000s, the building underwent substantial alterations that compromised its original design intent. The once-transparent foyer was rendered opaque, erasing a key feature of the building’s expressive dialogue between solidity and lightness. This transformation illustrates a broader challenge in the adaptive reuse of modernist structures: how to preserve conceptual clarity while accommodating new uses and technologies. The paper presents a conceptual proposal for the building’s adaptive reuse, aiming to reinstate its lost modernist qualities while introducing balanced, functional upgrades. A central challenge lies in the original function of the building. The cinema hall housed in the massive rotunda was designed for approximately 2,500 spectators—a scale that is no longer economically feasible today, as smaller, more flexible screening spaces have become the norm. Compounding the issue, the main cinema hall is a space of high architectural significance and cannot be structurally altered. These constraints raise critical questions about where and how to insert new functional programs without compromising the building’s heritage. Through this case study, the paper contributes to broader discussions on adaptive reuse, conservation of modernist heritage, and compromised approaches to repurposing large-scale cultural infrastructure in contemporary urban and economical contexts.

Edited by
Andrea Crudeli
Francesca Molle
Emanuele Carrai

Publisher
STH Press, Firenze

ISBN Paperback – 9791281661141
ISBN Ebook – 9791281661158
DOI – https://doi.org/10.65686/SISY7263

Year
2026

Proceedings of
International Conference on Adaptive Reuse
hosted by The University of Pisa, Italy
15-19 September 2025, at the Gispoteca di Arte Antica dell’Università di Pisa.