Project 3 - Artists & precedent study

The art of Laurence Yang, Chris Trueman, and Matt Johnson were explored as examples of 'new' art which would be made and sold at the gallery. The work of Laurence Yang was of particular interest to me, and I would use his art as the inspiration for the gallery, and the gallery will sell his unique style of street art.



Key characteristics of the paintings to inspire architecture:

-Black marker is used with watercolour, creating a great contrast within the artworks.
-Many of the paintings are strongly grounded, in contrast with an open sky.
-The paintings depict fantasy realms, and evoke a mysterious atmosphere.
-An idea of branching, and creating order out of chaos.


Stephen Taylor Architects' work at Charlotte Road, Hoxton, was a useful precedent study of an urban infill, retail, office, and living unit.

The precendent helped me to decide on, and execute a gradual separation of the private apartment with the public galleries, with a semi-public workshop, store-room and office mediating the public and private.

Project 3: Art Gallery, Shop/House - Site

Site: 256 King St, Newtown, Sydney

The site is located 2 blocks north of Newtown Train Station, opposite Church St. It is a busy area of King St, with many cafes and 'designer' shops nearby selling unique goods. It also faces an intersection, making it more visible to vehicular traffic. As such, the site was chosen as being suitable for a small contemporary art gallery.

The site is located adjacent St George Bank and Eat Me Sushi (left image). The facade of the existing building was influential in my design, as it fit in well with its surroundings whilst suggesting a sense of being 'new'. Inspiration was also taken from opposite the street, the Holy Sheet! store (right image) and Pleasure Chest, which had bold, black facades which stood out from the streetscape and announces the building loudly to the street.

Collages of the facades of the nearby buildings (top-existing, bottom-new). The lower image is with the proposed gallery inserted. The form and dimensions of the new building is similar to the existing building, with the main difference being it black, to stand out, and only one small display window to the street, to give the gallery a mysterious character.