London Design Festival: Roca Gallery London architectural biking tour

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During the London Design Festival, I had the pleasure to visit Roca's gallery, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, in west London. Roca is a leading global bathroom brand, and for the 2012 London Design Festival, it organised an architectural biking tour that linked Earl's Court to the gallery.



Throughout the tour, the guide made a few stops and talked about the past and the close future of some of London's renowned architecture. Among them: Lots Road power station and Brompton cemetery. The tour was informative and the guide was very kind and helpful.



Once we reached the destination, we had the chance to walk around the gallery and ask questions about its design. Before entering, the facade introduced us to the organic theme of the design and walking in, I felt like a drop of water in its natural environment. The space represents perfectly the meaning of the brand in an innovative and modern way. The architecture takes inspiration by the movement of water, creating an organic space where Roca's designs are exhibited. The gallery also includes a meeting area.



A guide showed us around and told us the “behind the scenes” of the design. Constructing the space was tricky, as each piece that make up the ceiling and the walls is unique. They all have a specific spot allocated, creating a big 3D jigsaw and a striking effect. The floor is made out of resin and cement, and the ceramic tiles that cover some parts of the gallery, also have unique shapes that contribute at making the effect stronger. The different areas of the gallery are connected by big black and white water drops on the ceiling and on the walls.


Everything in the space aims at creating a stream, in such way that the lack of indication and labelling, is filled by the natural sense of orientation given by the flow of the curves. The final intent of the design was to give Roca's products an environment that would explain the visitors its visual meaning, without the use of words. This was achieved beautifully as the products merge with the architecture, and this allows them to expand their design through the whole gallery.  

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