The only surviving Art Deco cinema in Northern Ireland is undergoing a major refurbishment to mark its 90th anniversary.
Opened in December 1935, in its heyday the Strand Cinema in east Belfast was one huge auditorium that could seat almost 1,200 people.
It was designed to look like the interior of a luxury cruise liner, complete with porthole window style lights, a nod to its proximity to Belfast's Harland and Wolff shipyard.
Now behind the striking Art Deco exterior is a building site.
A £6.5m refurbishment is under way to transform it into a cinema, theatre and community arts hub, while restoring some of its original splendour.
"Our role here will be in effect to turn the clock back somewhat," conservation architect Bill McAllister explained.
"The building was subdivided into four smaller cinemas in the 1980s to make it a multiplex and we will be retaining those smaller areas while at the same time trying to reinstate some of the original aesthetic.
"The exterior of this building is very striking so the aim is to make the interior just as striking. We're seeking to capture the spirit and after that really it'll be the comfort, the ambience of the place that will speak for itself."
Built during the golden age of cinema, at one point the Strand was just one of more than 40 cinemas in Belfast and more than 100 across Northern Ireland.
It ceased trading in 2013 and a not-for-profit charity was set up to ensure the short-term survival of the building.
The iconic facade, entrance and foyer are among the architectural features that will be retained, while some features removed over the decades will be reinstated, including some of the original Art Deco interior colour scheme.
Soundproofing and insulation are also being added to improve the comfort and audio quality.
The new-look building will have three cinema screens as well as areas for live performances, art workshops and a licensed cafe.
There will also be a history hub telling the story of the history of cinema in Northern Ireland.
The main funders for the project are Belfast City Council, the UK National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British government.
"The Strand is almost 90 years old so trying to restore a building of that age with all of its unique features will not be straightforward but will certainly be worthwhile," Chief Executive of the Strand Arts Centre Mimi Turtle said.
"We will restore many of the original features and recreate the grandeur as well as having the very latest state-of-the-art technology and equipment that audiences today want.
"It was always a place for everybody, for all ages, all socio-demographics so it's very much part of the vision that it becomes a really important shared space where everybody's welcome, but also a place for a bit of escapism, a bit of fun," she said.
The aim is for the Strand to reopen its doors early next year, more than 90 years after its projectors started to roll.
The charity said it hopes the refurbishment will secure its future for generations to come.
