REX ARC ottomans add appeal to the front row of the BioRex Rovaniemi REX auditorium

Located in the Sampokeskus shopping centre in Rovaniemi, the BioRex Rovaniemi REX auditorium gained new appeal in its front row thanks to an insightful Palad furniture solution.

The lead designers of the Palad brand modified the multifunctional, wedge-shaped REX ARC seat into the REX ARC auditorium ottoman.

“We wanted to make the front row a genuinely comfortable place to watch a film. The movie-going experience improves when you can rest your feet on an ottoman. The sitting position becomes more relaxed, the body settles into an ergonomic posture, and the viewer can fully immerse themselves in the world of the film,” say Palad designers Jaana Partanen and Heikki Lamusuo.

Graphite-grey faux leather was selected for the upholstery of the REX ARC ottomans. Thanks to their dark tone and intriguing wedge-shaped design, the furniture complements the aesthetics of the space while remaining stylishly durable over time and use. During the film, the graphite-grey ottomans blend discreetly into the environment and do not cause reflections that might disturb the viewing experience.

REX ARC seats follow the curved lines of the space

The multipurpose REX ARC seats were selected as loose furniture for the lobby areas of BioRex Rovaniemi. Originally designed for the interior of BioRex Porvoo, the seats are part of the recognizable visual identity of BioRex cinemas.

The lobby spaces feature corridor-like curved architecture, and thanks to their wedge-shaped design, the REX ARC seats align naturally with the curved wall lines. In addition to following curved lines, the modular REX ARC seats can also be arranged into straight lines or conversation circles in the center of the space.

The silvery tones of the REX ARC seats at BioRex Rovaniemi are echoed in the finishes of the doors as well as in the color palette of the confectionery shop and the floors and walls of the lobby areas. As a result, the spaces form a cohesive and carefully designed whole, where materials and shades engage in a subtle dialogue with one another.

Palad is part of the BioRex story

The holistic, immersive experience of BioRex cinemas is created by combining comfort, immersive movie-going, and visual aesthetics with glamour and top-tier acoustic quality. Alongside individual, cinema-specific solutions, the theatres share a recognizable aesthetic based on a visual identity developed through collaboration between Partanen & Lamusuo and BioRex.

Palad furniture is an essential part of the spatial identity and customer experience of BioRex cinemas. Its carefully designed formal language brings coherence and visual recognizability to the spaces, supporting the BioRex brand identity.

In BioRex cinemas, shades of bronze, silver, and midnight blue recur both in the furniture and in the surface materials of the spaces. In the resulting whole, aesthetics, comfort, and brand merge seamlessly.

Some BioRex cinemas are new spaces, while others have been given new life through renovation, combining history with immersive experience. Each BioRex cinema offers customers a wow experience in its own unique way.

“We wanted to make the front row a truly comfortable place to watch a film, so we equipped each front-row seat in the REX auditorium with its own Palad REX ARC ottoman, designed specifically to meet the needs of BioRex Rovaniemi,” say Jaana and Heikki.

The lobby areas of BioRex Rovaniemi were furnished with multifunctional Palad REX ARC seats. Photo © Pa-La.

Palad furniture is designed with a purpose

In the design of Palad’s furniture for public spaces, durability, closeness to nature, and timeless aesthetics are emphasized—values that support BioRex’s principles and customer experience. The aim is to create spaces where viewers can relax and enjoy the film with all their senses.

“Our design philosophy always starts from real needs: spaces, people, and intended use. We design furniture to adapt to different spaces and users, taking into account both physical proportions and the multifunctional nature of spaces,” say Palad brand lead designers Jaana Partanen and Heikki Lamusuo.

Aesthetically appealing and engaging, Palad furniture is designed to solve functional challenges within a space. Palad integrates user-centered design as a core principle: every piece of furniture supports everyday use, invites people in, and feels welcoming to everyone. Accessibility, adaptability, and longevity are key priorities in the design process.

“Empathetic design is our core idea. We want the furniture we design to leave an empathetic footprint in the world. This is reflected in ecological choices such as local production, the use of renewable materials, and ease of maintenance,” explain Palad designers Jaana and Heikki.

Social responsibility is expressed through inclusive design that does not exclude anyone. Locality is part of the Palad brand identity—the furniture is manufactured in Finland in collaboration with local producers, supporting both regional vitality and sustainable development.