Hackney Central, London
The client was seeking to combine two adjacent apartments into one large
open plan gallery space in which to showcase his collection of designer
modernist furniture and fittings. The display items were in constant rotation as
he continued to buy and sell pieces via auctions and private dealers – the
solution was to create a versatile continuous gallery space that could
accommodate different arrangements / sizes of furniture.
The showroom space formed the core of the layout, formed as a series of
smaller spaces that could be sectioned off with freestanding units to create
more intimate display zones. Private rooms would be served off this open space,
and could be closed off whenever potential buyers visited, or completely opened
up with sliding / folding doors for when used as a residence.
In keeping with the modernist style of his collection, a pared back approach was taken aesthetically – surfaces were kept plain and understated, all personal possessions apart from collectible pieces would be hidden in discrete storage / tucked away from view.
The material palette was similarly pared back; muted wood tones were combined with off-whites and satin steel, to create a ‘neutral shell’ gallery environment in which the display items can take precedence.
Design Architect: Marco Curtaz
Collaborations: Karbassi Engineering, Puzzle, Vitrocsa