London studio SIRS Architects has transformed a Nineteenth-century brewery right into a public gallery for artist duo Gilbert & George in London.
Situated on a slim road in Spitalfields, the Gilbert & George Centre is designed to pay homage to the realm’s architectural heritage whereas celebrating the work of artists Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore, who collaborated with SIRS Architects on the venture.
“Our goal was to invigorate the realm’s historic cloth, paying homage to each Gilbert & George’s pioneering spirit and profound reverence for London’s wealthy and numerous architectural heritage,” studio co-founder Manuel Irsara instructed Dezeen.
“The idea that underpins the artwork of Gilbert & George is ‘Artwork for All’, and the Gilbert & George Centre is an extension of this ethos.”
Developed from a uncared for former brewery constructed within the early Nineteenth century, the gallery includes three exhibition areas of differing sizes organized throughout three uniquely designed ranges.
Two new volumes are made partially from reclaimed bricks. On one facade, the studio organized darker bricks in a diamond-shaped sample that’s meant to resemble the letters XOXO.
“The brickwork sample on the facade options XOXO as a tribute to Gilbert & George’s iconic salutation ‘love, at all times and all methods’,” mentioned Irsara.
A inexperienced iron gate designed by Gilbert & George invitations guests right into a cobbled courtyard. A movie room has been added to at least one facet of the courtyard, the place a video introducing guests to the paintings is proven.
“The historically crafted wrought iron gate is discretely divided into two leaves and has been painted with a hue often known as ‘invisible inexperienced’,” mentioned Irsara.
Extending from the courtyard is a reception and library space designed to replicate the artist duo’s close by Georgian dwelling and studio on Fournier Road.
Enclosed by timber-panelled partitions, the reception options handcrafted furnishings and cast-iron parts together with most of the constructing’s authentic options, which have been preserved all through the gallery to nod to its industrial previous.
“By combining historic, restored and up to date parts, the venture honours the constructing’s industrial previous with a brand new lease of life and aligns with the artists’ imaginative and prescient of artwork and structure,” mentioned Irsara.
A ground-floor exhibition room is situated subsequent to the reception, with further gallery areas and a gathering room situated on the opposite ranges, together with a basement that has been added to the unique constructing.
The galleries are dimly lit by a bespoke lighting system that’s designed particularly for the duo’s bigger artworks however may be tailored to go well with completely different exhibitions sooner or later.
“The leading edge lighting system was tailored for Gilbert & George’s giant scale photos, however can equally be reconfigured, giving the artists flexibility to create everchanging exhibitions in several lighting atmospheres,” mentioned the studio.
Primarily based in London and Vienna, SIRS Architects was based in 2010 by Irsara and Sebastian Soukup.
The gallery will open to the general public on 1 April with its inaugural exhibition entitled The Paradisical Footage.Different artwork galleries just lately featured on Dezeen embody a group centre designed to replicate a Thirties fuel station and a bubblegum-pink inside in Paris by native studio Golem.
The pictures is by Prudence Cuming.
