Cologne, Germany - In the 1950s, people met to watch television in so-called TV parlours. Now, a young Cologne man says he has founded the first cinema living room.

The Ivory Tower living room cinema fills the void between the cinema and a DVD at home, said founder Markus Altmeyer. The room, which seats up to 30 people, is decorated like a cinema with film posters on the walls, but guests sit on sofas and living room chairs as opposed to cinema seats.

The movies are projected onto a wall and are either DVDs or broadcast television. In addition to the obligatory showing of a popular German television crime drama every Sunday evening, there are films from every genre - from tear jerkers to action and art house films. Altmeyer also regularly offers his facility as a venue for artists, designers, authors, poets and cabaret performers.

Internet: www. elfenbeintuermchen. de (dpa)