Green Gallery

The Green Gallery is a multi-purpose space for a sculptor, part Gallery, part Library, part Study and part Living Room, made within an eighteenth century building.

Edinburgh

Full Description

Despite appearances, the room is highly irregular, with a more than 150mm drop in levels, requiring great skill in design and manufacture.  The apparent simplicity hides a complex evolution of spaces, and makes the space much appear larger than it is.

The walls are without paintings, but instead with shelves.  The walls are arranged as ‘panels’ reflecting the historic house, but with contemporary material and detailing.  Some of the panels hinge to reveal bookcases or cupboards, with ventilation behind.

The floor is made of ‘panels’ too, with expressed fixings.  The walls and floor are painted the same sage green, reflecting the bronze of the work.  The work is lit with specially designed low voltage lighting.

Incorporated into the walls is a desk for the sculptor, which is hidden when it is shut.  The desk is counter-balanced with a mechanism of balancing moments and weights.  Within the desk, drawers made of local burr elm are fitted with bronze botanical handles made by the sculptor, based on the plants found on Arthur’s Seat.

The Gallery works as a calm, simple, pure space, giving beauty and clarity to the sculptures, in a rich and unique manner.  The room sums up many of the architectural philosophies of the practice.