The Treelithon project, developed by Not a Number Architects, consists of reinterpreting the archetype of the rural stone house found in Calcídica. This residence was conceived to be placed on a long and narrow plot of land.
The Treelithon project, developed by Not a Number Architects, consists of reinterpreting the archetype of the rural stone house found in Calcídica. This residence was conceived to be placed on a long and narrow plot of land.
The chosen location features a gentle slope, situated under the cover of mature pine trees and very old olive trees.
The description of the project was provided by the responsible team.
Among movie lovers, especially in South Africa, there is a question about the advisability of paying extra to watch films in IMAX format, given the popularity of movies like 'Odyssey' and 'Spider-Man'.
Despite the growing popularity of streaming services among South African residents, people continue to visit cinemas if it concerns a long-awaited or particularly desired film. However, the main obstacle to going to the cinema remains high prices: standard tickets for 2D films cost between 100 and 150 rand, while tickets in IMAX or VIP halls can cost up to 220 rand, not including snacks.
For many viewers, the decision comes down to whether the larger screen and improved sound justify the increased ticket price. Although both formats offer a worthy cinematic experience, IMAX is designed to create a more complete immersion thanks to large screens, specialized projection systems, and powerful acoustics.
The main difference between IMAX and a standard cinema lies in the screen size. Screens in standard cinemas usually have a width of 10 to 16 meters, and their sizes vary depending on the specific hall. IMAX screens are significantly larger, typically measuring between 18 and 24 meters wide, with some of the world's largest IMAX theaters exceeding 30 meters in width and over 20 meters in height.
Unlike a standard widescreen cinema, IMAX screens are also taller, allowing them to occupy a larger portion of the viewer's field of vision. This contributes to a more immersive experience, especially when watching dynamic or visually stunning films.
IMAX theaters use special projection systems designed to create brighter, sharper, and more detailed images compared to standard digital cinemas. Many IMAX venues employ dual digital projectors or IMAX laser projection, which provides higher resolution, greater brightness, improved contrast, deeper blacks, more accurate hues, and better image consistency across the entire screen.
While standard cinemas also display high-quality digital images, the overall quality depends on the projector installed in that cinema. Another advantage of IMAX is that some films are specifically formatted for its higher aspect ratio. This means viewers can see up to 26% more of the image during certain scenes compared to a standard showing, which crops the top and bottom parts of those scenes.
The audio experience is another strong argument in favor of IMAX. Every IMAX hall is equipped with a custom-designed and calibrated sound system specifically for that hall. Compared to a standard cinema, IMAX generally provides clearer dialogue, deeper bass, a wider dynamic range, more precise surround sound, and higher volume without distortion.
Standard cinemas usually use surround sound systems such as Dolby 5.1 or 7.1, which still provide a pleasant audio experience, but they are typically less powerful and less immersive than in IMAX.
As for immersion, IMAX is designed to make viewers feel more involved in the film. The combination of a large screen, enhanced image quality, and powerful sound creates a more captivating viewing experience, especially for blockbusters. Standard cinemas provide a comfortable viewing, but they do not envelop the audience with the same scale and intensity.
IMAX has many impressive features, but not every film necessarily benefits from them. IMAX offers the greatest advantages in films that emphasize large-scale visuals and sound, including action, science fiction, superhero films, nature documentaries, space films, and films shot on IMAX cameras or specially formatted for IMAX.
If you plan to watch dramas, romantic comedies, independent films, or dialogue-driven stories, the viewing experience in a standard cinema will be just as good.
Whether IMAX is worth the higher ticket price depends on the film and the viewer's priorities. If you are watching a visually spectacular blockbuster, the larger screen, improved image quality, and more immersive sound can make the experience more cinematic. Many viewers consider the premium class justified for films that heavily rely on visual effects, vast landscapes, or action sequences.
However, for films focused on dialogue or narrative rather than spectacle, a standard cinema often offers a very similar viewing experience at a lower cost.
The UK government has granted approval for Paramount to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. This decision was made on Thursday (the 6th) following a thorough analysis of the potential impact of the deal on the competitive landscape and the media sector. The total value of the operation is estimated at $111 billion USD, equivalent to approximately 569 billion Brazilian reais.
The decision came after the British Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, decided not to intervene in the deal, and the country's antitrust body stated that it would not conduct an in-depth investigation into the transaction.
Having received the green light from the UK, Paramount will now focus its efforts on the regulatory stage in the United States, where the agreement is still awaiting antitrust review scheduled for 2027.
To secure approval in the UK, Paramount accepted a series of commitments to the country's Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Among the established measures is maintaining the separation between traditional channels and streaming platforms, which precludes the immediate merger of services such as HBO Max and Paramount+.
The agreement also stipulates the protection of editorial independence for news divisions and children's audience channels. Thus, after the purchase, Channel 5 News must remain separate from CBS News and CNN International. These obligations will be valid for five years from the completion of the deal, and Channel 5 is also obliged to maintain its status as a public service broadcaster in the UK.
Paramount stated that the regulatory approvals open up opportunities for increased investment in content production and expanded choice for viewers. The company believes that merging these corporations will enhance its capabilities in creating and distributing international content.
David Ellison, a representative associated with Paramount, informed the UK government that the new company could achieve increased efficiency after the deal closes. He specified that possible optimization might affect internal areas such as administrative, technological, legal, and financial departments, as well as operational structures. However, the company emphasized that such changes should not affect editorial decisions or the diversity of content offered to the British public.
An analysis conducted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) showed no significant concerns regarding film distribution in UK cinemas. Although the new conglomerate will become the largest distributor in the country, the body concluded that competition from major studios and smaller companies will persist.
Lisa Nandy also declined to promote a proposal that would expand the powers of Ofcom, the UK regulator, to assess the potential consequences of the deal for streaming platforms. The UK approval came amid protests against the merger. Artists, including Alan Cumming and Benedict Cumberbatch, appealed to the authorities to block the deal, according to information obtained by Deadline. Despite the criticism, the UK government decided not to obstruct the operation, leaving the regulatory dispute primarily in the United States.
