Designer: Neu Architects
Project: Japanese Print Gallery
This hypothetical gallery to house a frequently changing collection of Japanese art, supported by a cafe, meeting area and shop, would occupy a vacant lot in Chelsea, New York City, which is currently derelict.
This design for the building’s facade, inspired by Japanese paper stencils known as katagami, is made from perforated, prefabricated concrete panels whose design would be visible both from the street and the building’s interior.
Coloured glazing would allow light to dapple the interior floors in a way reminiscent of Japanese spring gardens and traditional Japanese dyed fabrics. At night the facade would be illuminated internally, presenting the same vibrant pattern to the street.
The building is designed to present a completely open public staircase to the street, with the gallery entrance set back on the first floor. This space would become what the designers call a ‘mixing valve’ between street and gallery, allowing people to gather and interact with each other and the building.
Neu Architects Biography
Architect Ben Paul and interior designer Silka Gebhardt founded Neu Architects in London in 2003. Neu Architects offers a range of creative skills and experiences, from architecture to high-end interior design, and is proud of its hands-on approach to delivering high-quality projects. Paul and Gebhardt enjoy bringing design to the most unlikely places, as reflected in Neu Architects’ diverse client base.
