Formation Association transforms series of buildings for Phillips Los Angeles
Formation Association preserved many of the existing architectural elements of the eclectic collection of buildings, ensuring that each section retained its identity.
“We started with idiosyncratic conditions and buildings layered with history,” said studio co-founder John K Chan, who led the project. “We wanted to keep that sensibility. The building is a varied palimpsest, with traces of the past appearing within the new facade.”
The entrance to the 3,182-square-foot (296-square-metre) showroom is on an acute street corner, beneath a curved canopy clad in grey stucco.
“This rounded marquee, punctuated by an overhead oculus, evokes the automobile-oriented Streamline Moderne era,” said Formation Association.
The textured stucco is contrasted by smooth trowelled plaster that covers adjacent surfaces, intended to add a Southern California identity to the building.
On the east elevation, the team retained the sheet metal siding and an old doorway of a historic facade.
This side of the building also includes a tall, narrow window through which Phillips can move large artworks in and out.
Furthermore, Along the south facade, the architects added recessed windows cut at angles into the thickened perimeter wall, which allow more light into the galleries.
Inside, the three gallery spaces are in sequence. Also, Upon entry is Showroom A, which features a soffit ceiling and wide baseboards to evoke a residential space.
A second oculus punctures the ceiling, exposing wooden beams painted silver as a nod to the work of Californian architect Richard Neutra.
The smallest gallery, Showroom B, is through an open portal, and Showroom C is reached through a similar threshold.
With a ceiling over 15 feet (4.5 metres) tall, this gallery is for displaying larger artworks and sculptures.
Furthermore, All three spaces feature oak floors that match those found in all of Phillips’ international locations.
“With the interplay of light and oak wood floors across the three subsequent showrooms. We were thinking about the cadence of an irregular enfilade,” said Chan. “Each of the three galleries has a distinct proportion that we wanted to leverage.”
From Showroom C, a couple of steps and a ramp lead up to a small office used for client meetings.
Moreover, At the back of the building is the covered patio, enclosed by walls from plywood in grey to match the exterior stucco.
Lastly, The opening of Phillips Los Angeles follows over a decade of continual growth for the city’s arts scene. It has seen galleries like Hauser & Wirth and The Future Perfect set up shop. And an annual edition of the Frieze Art Fair introduced.
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