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Raven Row exhibition centre modernized by London architects |
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| on 4/27/2009 |
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Architects 6a modernized contemporary art exhibition centre in East London called Raven Row. The art centre joins two former mercers’ houses and a concrete framed office building built in 1972. It consists of gallery spaces, offices, two residential apartments and studio space. Raven Row, a non-profit art exhibition centre was opened for public on 28 February 2009.
The project was implemented to create two new galleries connected to older buildings by a cantilevered staircase. It provides contemporary art galleries within a new semi-basement at the rear and a series of eighteenth century Rococo rooms over three floors at the front. The building is embedded in Pevsner described as two of the finest surviving eighteenth century silk mercers’ houses in Spitalfields and a 1972 concrete framed office building. The two residential flats, offices and studio occupy the third and fourth floor. The architects used charred timber for skylights to remind the year 1972 when the building was destroyed by fire.
The new galleries at rear are two distinct rooms showing domestic character of 18 century neighbors. They were excavated one and a half meters below ground level. The courtyard gallery in middle is calm and meditative and the adjacent gallery is lit by side from Frying Pan Alley by a window making a continuous view from entrance through full depth of block. All furniture articles carry the sense of lightness and provisional occupation. The articles are free-standing and can be used in any space of the building.
Tom Emerson of 6a Architects says, “Raven Row was first constructed in 1754 and subsequently added to, converted, neglected, damaged and repaired over two and a half centuries. The latest layer weaves itself through the buildings, informed by their history and in turn transforming them.”
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