Selected Project
Fisher Gallery
The new building for Fisher Galleries is an alteration and addition to an existing building originally used by Merrit Beazley Homes and recently by a Car Rental company. Most of the original structure has been retained but reclad to suit its new purpose and mask the rather tired looking older building fabric. There are two distinct gallery areas differentiated by how they are clad. Firstly, The Backspace Gallery - a more contemporary art focused space to the north – is clad in perforated Corten steel. Secondly, the main Gallery space to the south is clad in profiled Zincalume and framed by a new portal structure along Victoria Street. This large glazed portal frame facing the street intersects the reclad older building. Transparency has been maximised here to create a space whereby the art inside is clearly visible from the public realm. Most public and dealer galleries place art inside within hermetically sealed spaces whereas this gallery takes the opposite approach opening it up to make the art accessible and appear almost part of the streetscape outside. The portal works like a picture frame using the largest sheets of toughened glass available in New Zealand with any obstructions kept to an absolute minimum it frames and focuses the view into and through the interior space and sculpture court beyond. At the back is the smaller back space gallery which is intended for more experimental contemporary art. Not visible from the street it has a more introverted feel with its main face clad in perforated corten steel. In between the two galleries is a small wine and coffee bar serving patrons, allowing them to relax in the space and contemplate the environment and the art.
- Category
- Exhibition
- Location
