The former cinema in the center of the 14th arrondissement appeared in 1921 and since then - with the development of the film screening industry - has been rebuilt more than once, the last time in 2004. Nowadays, limited by the original structures and volume of the cinema, it was no longer possible to modernize to the required extent, and therefore, the owner, Gaumont-Pathé, decided to demolish it: in this way, the cinemas of this chain as a whole got rid of the image of outdated, inconvenient structures, which nevertheless occupy significant places.
Therefore, the image of the new building was especially important: attractive and original, clearly indicating its modernity and function. As with many other buildings by Manuel Gautran, the bold façade sets the building out of context, and its structure is inspired by experiments with paper. The transparency makes it possible to read the interior from the street and opens from the inside a view of the boulevard where Alésia is located. The façade is made up of single-chamber double-glazed windows 1.7 m wide and up to 4.7 m high. The vertical cuts resemble fragments of a film strip, and the horizontal breaks repeat the divisions of the atrium. The choice of scale is also due to the requirements of town planning regulations. At the bottom, the strips are bent, protruding 3 m and forming a canopy.
The main feature of "Alesia" is the LED media facade, located on special guides over the glass. Its task is to show posters and film clips, as well as any content to revive the exterior of the cinema. The screen consists of 230 thousand dots, with an increase in density towards the center, and its brightness is automatically adjusted depending on the lighting. The pixels have a wide viewing angle and not only allow you to notice the facade from afar when approaching it along the boulevard, that is, from the side, but also illuminate the interior, creating a special atmosphere inside - especially in the dark. During the day, the LED layer additionally protects the building from heating by the sun's rays.
Inside, on an area of 3600 m2, there are eight halls with a total capacity of 1380 seats. The dimensions of the building were significantly increased due to the development of the underground space. The volumes of the four halls are "stacked" on top of each other and form a composition in which the slopes of the spectator rows are read. Their continuation into the cavity of the three-light atrium-lobby forms in front of the halls tiered zones with grandstand stairs, where before and after the session, movie commercials, etc. are projected. Thus, the cinema responds to the citizens' request for an accessible public space: it is able to accommodate various events and is open to the general public. The atrium levels are connected by stairs and escalators. In the lobby at the entrance there are cash desks, an information desk, vending machines, and a cafe. In addition, a through passage between neighboring streets has been disclosed. There are four more small halls on the underground level.
The complex engineering solutions used during the construction are interesting: in particular, to provide access to the glazing from the outside, it was necessary to develop unique mechanisms for sliding the panels of the media facade, and the neighborhood of Alesia with residential buildings required special attention to sound insulation. The restructuring budget was 12 million euros.
