The spaces on site of a former silk ribbon factory, that we were given to revamp for the Hauser & Wirth Gallery, had been renovated several times over the years. As a result, the original industrial ambience was fading being overlaid by various interventions. The aim of our intervention was to create a coherent whole that would bring back the simplicity and elegance of the original construction. Therefor the floor area of the existing spaces was formally retained and supplemented by an additional showroom.
At the same time, it was important to preserve the “timbre” of the components and materials worth preserving, such as the wood- and metalwork or the wood-cement floors. The new interventions adapt to this “timbre” or do not appear at all. The contemporary and purpose driven infrastructure for lighting, ventilation and security is either hidden or used cautiously and as a matter of course.
Direct commission
Gallery
Hauser & Wirth
Culture
Basel Switzerland
Only the shelves made of high-quality wood, such as the catalog shelf, which simultaneously moderates access and is put together in a playful way, as well as the display shelf that presents special artwork in the showroom, stand out from the existing inventory and thus mark the presence of Hauser & Wirth in the authentic rooms.
Ultimately, the walls were treated with a special render technology to retain the patina of the other materials from the start. This creates warm, welcoming rooms that are reserved in their simplicity and give art an ideal presence.
