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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