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Grant Pirrie Gallery
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In their 1999 book Lofts, Marcus Field and Mark lrving explored the history and evolution of living spaces within industrial buildings. Whether it was artists searching for large, inexpensive spaces in which to create their art, or political activists making use of abandoned urban buildings, there was always an idea of difference associated with living and/or working in a warehouse space. Given their relative proximity to the city, industrial warehouse buildings offered a connection to city life, but also a configuration of space that was different from the suburban 'norm'. Different spatial configurations had parallels to differing social values - and, so it is today. Those who are able to find a warehouse space, desire to create a spatial configuration that reflects their own values, Stephen Grant and Bridget Pirrie inherited an approved Development Application for a building in Redfern, Sydney. Their desire was to create a new art gallery - the best gallery their combined knowledge and experience could achieve. Having worked previously with former RAJA national president Graham Jahn on the RAJA award-winning Grant Residence in nearby Surry Hills, there was no question about the architect for the job. A mutual understanding and respect had been established - no need to neither finds a common ground nor spends time building a working relationship.
The building itself is a two-storey warehouse originally built as an ironmongery and most recently used as an architectural model-making studio. The deteriorated interior was removed and an entirely new construction slipped inside the external walls. Philosophically, the building was then treated in a semi -archaeological manner with many walls and elements of the original structure retained and exposed, while others covered or replaced. The gallery is located on the ground floor, with direct public access from the street through a combination of three separate glass doors and panels. It is a simple, yet elegant rectangular box, with a beautifully detailed and constructed concrete floor. The space contains one clever moveable storage wall to increase the potential of the exhibiting space. The entire gallery was designed through a meticulous briefing process. Grant and Pirrie quizzed each other on the potential exhibitions they would mount, to the point where they were conceiving major museum shows in their tiny space, and now they believe there is nothing they couldn't do with it.
See http://www.grantpirrie.com
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