| Architect |
Tate Hindle +
Caruso St John (Interiors) + BDP
(Landscaping) |
| Date
Built |
2012 - 2015 |
| Location |
20 Grosvenor
Hill, Mayfair |
| Description |
|
This
building is infact a restructuring of an
existing 1960 brutalist office
building. Caruso St John says that, "...
What the project did was to demolish the
structure of the office building back to
the perimeter columns and some of the
original roof beams, took out the floor,
stiffened the structure to make this
space." The end result is
an 18,000 square foot art gallery in the
podium above which rises a residential
tower. Beneath the building is an
underground car park. An article on the RIBA website explains that, "... The external form is simple and sets up a clear contrast to the surrounding buildings. The building’s envelope is brought to life with a carefully textured skin of handmade Roman bricks. The bricks are elongated and flatter than standard stock, which gives a textured look and feel to the facade. Dependent on the level of daylight, the brickwork has a unique ephemeral appearance through the play of light, shadow and texture. This and a composition of oversized windows and doors reinvigorates the streets. ... Internally the gallery detailing reduces the spaces to a very rare pure environment of white walls, the only detail being a very clever and complex lighting system. The space is brought to life with a beautiful fumed, end-grain oak block floor."    In nearby Bourdon
Place a group of sculptures by Neal
French reflects on the fact that the
photographer Terence Donovan once lived
nearby. The figure with the camera
is Donovan and the woman posing is
Twiggy. The third figure at the
end of the street, with the Gogosian
Galley as the backdrop, is a shopper who
accidently came across the shoot and
paused to watch.
 |
|
|
Gagosian
Gallery, London
 |
