Designs for MART Digital Art Gallery - designed by Karen Bell

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Fire Engine Red: The colour of danger, energy and passion is the gelling agent at MART, a place where the democratization of art takes place. Each of the public spaces has the ability to morph from gallery to screening area, to workshop to event venue. The backdrop is unadorned brick, plain white walls, red steels and glass. Simple materials perform multiple functions. Inspired by wooden shipping containers and tea chests, I designed a crate box that frames and houses installation exhibits, t.v. screens and sculptures. it opens out like a suitcase or a book - vertically and horizontally - and can transform an open area into a separate more intimate viewing space. Wall mounted it is easily removed and reassembled elsewhere in a different configuration.

Retail Area: Glass Display cabinets accompany the visitor upwards and allow light to filter into the space. At the back of the retail area a large smart glass panel provides privacy or overview of the front gallery when required. The glass panel also functions as a large HD screen for video screenings. The aluminium boxes, reminiscent of tea chests are on casters, and function as display plinths and/or cash desk. They can be rolled away under the stairs when not required. The shelving unit (a variation on the crate) also on casters turns to face inwards when the space is used for ‘live’ events.

Office:  The office desk folds up into the wall allowing greater flexibility to use the space together with the rear gallery. The rear of the office opens out onto the rear gallery with bi-fold doors to provide a larger staging area.

The Rear Gallery: A multifunctional space for screenings, live music, community based events, as well as art exhibitions, installations and workshops. The art crate again offers flexible housing for various materials and can be stored away when not in use.The protruding stage retracts into a wall cavitywhen not required and the bi-fold doors between the stage and office retract into a wall niche so the office can function as an enlarged stage area.

The Rear Extension: adds a third to the gallery space and provides access to a south-facing outside terrace at first floor level. Entry is via a through-way on the first floor of the existing building, and for the mobility challenged from a lift at the back of the rear gallery. The side entrance to the gallery located in the adjoining laneway has been doubled in size to enable trasfer of larger installation pieces. Rows of glass bricks at ceiling level - similiar to those original to the building have been added to let in natural light from the laneway.

Design for a Couture Retail Space: Yohji Yamamoto - designed by Karen Bell

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Having researched the work of several designers, I found myself particularly attracted to the work of the Yohji Yamamoto for his edgy architectural forms and strongly defined tailoring with asymmetric constructions. Successive seasons of Yamamoto collections include sharp geometric planes, contrasted with transparent fabric and fishnet patterns. Drawn to the “Dark Side of the Light”, he uses predominantly black as a base with occasional accents in a strong contrasting colour, and these are the elements I eventually chose to incorporate into my design. I chose a layout for the space loosely based on Yamamoto’s asymmetric wooden dress. The clothing rail pods positioned on the left wall were also inspired by the dress.

Lightboxes became an important theme with 3D grids with black foreground and protruding upturned elements exposing a canary yellow background. These were located externally at the entrance, and internally on the pyramid wall opposite the entrance and on the right and interior front walls. Other lightbox features include recessed shelving with fishnet patterning. On either side of the logo wall 2 shoji screens are a nod to Yamamoto’s Japanese roots but more importantly they effectively frame the pyramid and draw attention to the brand. To provide contrast to the high tech reflective corian surfaces of the clothing pods and lightboxes, I chose an oak parquet floor which I think warms the space.  In order to add some interest above the eyeline, I split the ceiling into two separate spaces – one half with a giant lightbox positioned above cantilevered rippling struts, emitting a fractured stripped lighting pattern; the other half flat with recessed lighting units and two large graffiti pendants situated above the sales counter and seating area respectively. Apart from the modernist occasional furniture (Chairs & Sofas) I designed a bespoke triangular sales counter and two large low rise display tables which were sunk into the floor with an additional strip to add impact. Overall I think the space contains a mix of zen and funky elements, which brought together still allow the clothes to shine.