Galleria P420
The particularity of the place is its division into two large exhibition spaces, high ceilings, with different proportions and characteristics, separated by a corridor of offices, reception areas and library, originally a complex set of rooms. To assert a subtle but radical distinction between office space and exhibitions space, we worked differently on light and ventilation in each room.
The exhibition spaces are lit in a neutral and homogeneous way (800 lux on average) with T5 fluorescent tubes, for the sake of modularity, cost and aesthetics. The office and reception areas, crossed by the public, use a very different lighting system, 4000k LED panels to create powerful point sources of light (unlike the very homogeneous T5 tubes). While the powerful ventilation system is designed to be as discreet as possible in the exhibition spaces (thin gaps between walls for air renewal), we chose to expose all the necessary equipments and ducts in the office space. The LED panels participate in this display, hanging from the ceiling like objects. They become strangely at the same time very present and very discreet in the place. Other elements of the projects, such as new stairs, joineries or furniture are designed to be as basic and discreet as possible. The gray paint for shelves and desks is Pantone 420, chosen from the name of the gallery – P420 – as being an iconic reference for art display neutrality.
