Casper Mueller Kneer Ltd

White Cube Bermondsey

White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle

WHITE CUBE BERMONDSEY

Casper Mueller Kneer Architects

MANUFACTURERS
Barrisol, Kingspan Insulated Panels, Peneder, Bolichwerke, Stewart Fraser, Eutrac, The Expanded Metal Company

PHOTOGRAPHS
Paul Riddle

AREA
5440.0 sqm

YEAR
2011

LOCATION
Bermondsey, London Borough of Southwark, London SE16, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Gallery

Conversion and extension of an existing 1970 warehouse into a contemporary art gallery complex.

More than 5440 m2 of existing warehouse space were transformed to provide several exhibition spaces each with their own character, a suite of private viewing rooms, a 60 seater auditorium, a bookshop, an archive and offices as well as facilities for art storage, assembly and documentation.

White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle
White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle
White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle

Materially, the industrial character of the building was maintained and enhanced by new additions and modifications. The structure was generally retained, but opened up and substantially modified.

A new entrance yard, brought a previously closed off space into the public realm and draws new audiences to the area. Internally the public spaces are arranged along a 60m long street-like long corridor.

There are three principle exhibition areas which differ in dimensions, proportions and light condition: The ‘South Galleries’ provide 780m2 of column free space and act as the main display area. The ‘North Galleries’ are smaller, more experimental in character.

White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle
White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle

‘9x9x9’ is a centrally located cubic space of shape – the only space penetrating the existing building envelope and flooded with natural light. An auditorium allows the presentation of films and lectures.

The new gallery spaces were inserted as free standing volumes at the heart of the building – shells within a shell – and surrounded by ancillary spaces and service voids.

This allows the galleries to be serviced from all sides and be structurally and enviromentally self-contained, independent from the existing building.

White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle
White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle

The lighting design provides a completely even light. Some galleries combine natural and artificial light. All viewing rooms and gallery ceilings allow for varying sub divisions by temporary walls.

Industrial materials were set against the white gallery interiors. These are often untreated or self-coloured. The floors are power floated natural grey concrete.

White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle
White Cube Bermondsey
© Paul Riddle

Steel meshes are used for the public corridor and entrance areas. Doors are made from untreated mild steel or stainless steel and glass. Concrete, grey granite and steel dominate the external landscaping.


White Cube Bermondsey
Plan
White Cube Bermondsey
Plan
White Cube Bermondsey
Plan

Casper Mueller Kneer Ltd
T +44 20 73742682
Casper Mueller Kneer Ltd
Podium Level, Shakespeare Tower, Barbican, London EC2Y 8ND, United Kingdom