Szivárvány Kultúrpalota

Szivárvány Kultúrpalota (Rainbow Cultural Palace) is a landmark cultural centre and cinema located in Kaposvár, Hungary. The building was constructed between 1927 and 1928 to designs by the Kaposvár architect József Lamping, blending Modernist and Art Deco styles with decorative motifs that draw on Hungarian and foreign influences, notably Egyptian art. Its original auditorium seated 821 people. The building is a protected heritage monument and has been a focal point for the city's cultural life for nearly a century. For decades the palace housed a cinema under successive names: City Cinema, then Red Star after the Second World War, and from 1991 Rainbow Cinema (Szivárvány Mozi). It was here that Kaposvár audiences first saw a colour film, and from 1931 sound films were introduced, requiring interior modifications to improve acoustics. Beyond film screenings, the venue hosted songwriters, opera singers, political gatherings, Soviet Film Days from 1948, and in 1955 a district-level political meeting addressed by Mátyás Rákosi. After renovations in the 1990s, the cinema ceased regular operation in 2001 and the building was repurposed for other classical arts. A full reconstruction began after the cinema was declared a monument of national significance in 2009 and was completed in autumn 2010. A bronze scale model (1:50) of the palace as it appeared before renovation was installed in front of the building. Since then the venue has hosted musical and stage performances, conferences, and the Rainbow Film Club, and each August it hosts most events of the Kaposvár International Chamber Music Festival. The main hall features HD projection and a 9 m × 6 m screen, internet connectivity, a full sound system, and a lighting rig of 96 adjustable and 24 direct spotlights. A four-language simultaneous interpretation room supports international events. The stage measures 12 m × 8 m with an 8 m usable height, and the auditorium seats 347 (207 on the ground floor, 51 in the basement, 89 on the first floor), with room for up to 50 additional chairs. The building is fully wheelchair accessible with an adapted restroom. Today the Szivárvány Mozi continues to operate as a cinema and cultural venue, showing a mix of Hungarian and international films, family animations, and independent cinema, as reflected on its official website.

The Szivárvány Kultúrpalota was built between 1927 and 1928 in Kaposvár, Hungary, to designs by the local architect József Lamping. The building combines Modernist and Art Deco styles, with decorative elements that mix Hungarian and foreign motifs, most notably Egyptian art — winged sun discs on the interior ceiling and column capitals on the exterior facade that evoke Egyptian style. The curved canopy over the entrance, due to its shape, is often called the 'Napoleon hat'. Another building in the city, the transformer house on Zrínyi Street, shares the same form and decoration. The original auditorium had 821 seats. After construction, the building housed a cinema for many decades. It was first called City Cinema, renamed Red Star after the Second World War, and from 1991 became Rainbow Cinema (Szivárvány Mozi). It was here that Kaposvár audiences first saw a colour film, and from 1931 sound films were shown, requiring interior modifications to improve acoustics. Film screenings were not the only cultural events: songwriters and opera singers performed, and political events were also held. From 1948, Soviet Film Days took place here. In 1955, during a district-level political assembly, Mátyás Rákosi himself spoke in the building. In 2003, a memorial plaque to architect József Lamping was unveiled on the building's wall. In the 1990s the cinema was renovated and rebuilt, but in 2001 it ceased operation and the building was handed over to practitioners of other classical arts. In 2009 the cinema was declared a monument of national significance. It was in this period that its full reconstruction began, completed in autumn 2010. By then a bronze scale model (1:50) had been made and installed in front of the building, showing the palace's condition before the renovation. After the 2010 renovation, the venue began hosting various musical and other stage performances and conferences. The Rainbow Film Club operates there. Each year in August, most events of the Kaposvár International Chamber Music Festival take place here. The main hall of the palace has HD-quality projection and a screen (9 m × 6 m), connection to the internet, and a full sound system. The lighting equipment set consists of 96 adjustable and 24 direct spotlights. In the simultaneous interpreter's room for 4 languages, equipment is installed to help conduct international events. The stage measures 12 metres by 8 metres, covered with parquet or a ballet carpet, with a usable height of 8 metres. The auditorium has 347 seats, of which 207 are on the ground floor, 51 in the basement, and 89 on the second floor, but up to 50 additional chairs can be placed if needed. The building is accessible for people with disabilities, with wheelchair access everywhere and a specially equipped restroom. Today the Szivárvány Mozi continues to operate as a cinema and cultural centre, presenting a programme that includes Hungarian and international films, family animations, and independent cinema, as shown on its official website.

• 2010

  Full reconstruction completed in autumn; bronze scale model installed in front of the building.

• 2009

  Cinema declared a monument of national significance; full reconstruction begins.

• 2003

  Memorial plaque to architect József Lamping unveiled on the building's wall.

• 2001

  Cinema ceases regular operation; building repurposed for other classical arts.

• 1991

  Cinema renamed Rainbow Cinema (Szivárvány Mozi).

• 1955

  Mátyás Rákosi speaks at a district-level political assembly in the building.

• 1948

  Soviet Film Days begin at the venue.

• 1931

  Sound films introduced; interior modified for better acoustics.

• 1928

  Building completed; original auditorium seats 821.

• 1927

  Construction of the cultural palace begins in Kaposvár, designed by József Lamping.

A historic Art Deco cultural palace and cinema serving as a central venue for film, music, and community events in Kaposvár.

• Szivárvány Mozi cinema screenings

• Rainbow Film Club

• Stage performances and conferences

• Kaposvár International Chamber Music Festival events

1. 1Címlap - Szivárvány Moziszivarvanymozi.hu
2. 2Szivárvány Kultúrpalota - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Радужный Дворец культуры - Wikipediaru.wikipedia.org