Capitol movie theater

From 1926 to 1985, Capitol was Vasastan’s largest (initially) and most beautiful movie theater. Now, as the movie theater opens its doors once again following a comprehensive renovation, that history is being re-created with a new concept.

With Art Deco as a base, Tengbom was tasked by E/S-A as architects to come up with an interior design concept. It had to deliver a more grown-up movie-going experience, for theater-goers who dine and drink in the auditoriums while enjoying the culture of new and classic films. The interior decor is framed with bold details, striking colors and custom-designed patterns.

Take the magic with you

The roaring 20s are easy to recognize in the preserved original details, such as arches, columns, railings and stucco, and at the same time, the overall look is brand new. Consistent with settings from this era, new and old elements are present in both the materials and the design.

The idea is to re-create the magic of the movie theater and the feeling that going to the movies is an event – but in the era of conscientiousness

Particular care has been paid to the bar at the entrance, because it is the vibrant hub of the theater. Here, the goal was to work mainly with various exclusive natural materials. This creates an environment that will stand the test of time and age beautifully with the movie-goers. Standout materials include solid wood, stone and brass.

Hand-drawn patterns and a burst of color at the Capitol theater

Inside the auditoriums, Tengbom’s interior design architect Sandra Wall designed two different rug patterns to give the otherwise dark theater a strong identity. One auditorium features a rug framed by a prism pattern, reminiscent of projector lights. The other showcases a majestic blue floral pattern that echoes the design of the arch in the auditorium.

“The rugs are showstoppers in the auditoriums”

The colors also have a distinctively Capitol quality. The auditorium walls feature turquoise and Bordeaux tones. Green and blue velvet fabrics enhance the space. Together, they bring out a surprising and more striking palette from the 1920s.

“With a modern twist on the palette, we’re stepping away from classic movie theater red. Instead, we’re bringing history into the present. Since opening, many pictures of the theater have been shared on social media. The carefully chosen colors have truly strengthened the theater’s identity. It should be clear that this is Capitol and only Capitol, not any other theater,” says Filip Svensson, who developed the interior design concept with Sandra Wall and Kjerstin Björck at Tengbom.