Designing an art gallery with a studio above on the northern end, with the art gallery below on the southern side, with the garage and storage at the back directly below the studio apartment, with a courtyard in the middle...was no piece of cake! there was allot of discussion, allot of brainstorming, allot of precedent studies, allot of research...and inspiration.
So what is the narrative? so its a man, middle aged, kids moved out from home, divorced...hes arty, he creates his own art, he is influenced by his favorite painter Freda Khalo, a self portrait expressionist Mexican painter...so self expression is involved. The man wants to draw the people in the street to come into his place of art. Its a strong statement, the exterior is made of two materials, panel and stone blocks...why the combination..its symbolism of bringing an old town of Newtown with the new trendy generation which presently occupy the area...its eclecticism.
The interior walls would be concrete and white plasterboard. Inside the paintings make the bold statement. The double height in the gallery is expressed with a series of height ceilings and skylights which are strategically placed to control the light in the room, either to filter it, to bounce off walls and for spot lighting, creating a rhythm of shade and light that dance before you and move throughout the day.
The two columns are placed to hold the structure up but also for the circulation. The viewers and entering the gallery "L'ARTE", they will automatically be drawn to the painting of choice the colums allows them to circulate and weave through, a guide to the gallery.
The "shields", to me they are placed also strategically to filter the light in the space and protecting any direct sunlight from damaging the paintings, it also allows the rotating, artificial lights to be placed according to where the paintings would be situated.
The courtyard, a place of peace, is placed to the very end of the gallery, it has two entries that allow the owner "man" of the gallery to enter separately in his own time out of business hours for a place of retreat and reflection. The customers are allowed to enter this place of tranquility and there also having a place to rest and view the man sculpture of the gallery which is designed by the owner himself the "man".
The studio above is entered from a stairway below where the front door (for the apartment) is situated, next to the car park and the garage as well as storage, easy access, private, sheltered from the streets of Newtown and the characters that colour the streets. Inside the studio there is a kitchen and dining, with lounge area, a bedroom and a bathroom.
The storage is directly below it and is connected to the garage as an open plan, the height of the garage door caters for the residents vehicle including the truck that will drop the art off into the storage area.
The owners "man office is located on the top story of the building on the south side, directly above the secretaries office which is placed for the purpose of privacy for the people entering but also allows the secretary to view who is coming in and out. The office face above protrudes forward, it allows the man to connect with the city, the people passing by, its almost like a viewing tower. The entry which is below although to the right of the secretaries office has a bold design of blacks that come out like 3d, engaging the audience of the street, it also creates a space for shelter from rain of sunlight, a protector for human kind..and at the same time drawing people in to see the gallery. The building on the outside is very artistis, its a peace of art it self and I believe is decorum to the building as it is an art gallery.
Cettina Mangano. Sketch up model (a working progress) below..
These are ideas I have played with in the program of sketch up.
The finals are similar although design has been changed. This is the bottom storey.
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