The newest outpost for Carpenters Workshop Gallery, an applied arts gallery based in Paris, is located at the east end of West Hollywood along busy Santa Monica Boulevard. The gallery occupies a 5,750 sf bowstring truss warehouse typical for Los Angeles. Polished concrete floors, exposed white painted bowstring trusses, white brick walls, and ample daylight filtering through skylights, inform the interior gallery space. New drywall partitions are designed to create layered spaces. The existing exterior brick building is painted charcoal and set back from the street, separated by a new narrow, hedged gravel courtyard.

Following the 17ft rhythm of the warehouse’s existing trusses supporting the roof, a sequence of varied spaces has been created. These layered spaces are organized from back to front, starting at the alley and ending at Santa Monica Boulevard. Entering off the alley is creating an element of discovery, derived from the concept of a Speakeasy bar. Visitors pass by the existing loading dock, walk up a new concrete and metal staircase, and enter the building through the art storage. 

Drywall partitions create a narrow passage separating the two-bay deep storage area from the main gallery spanning four bays. While passing the threshold the public enters the expansive 50ft by 85ft exhibit space. Shear dimensions and soft filtered daylight surround the displayed objects. A third layer, a narrow one-bay deep gallery along the storefront glazing, was created in the front. Here the full length of the interior is connected to the courtyard outside. A tall Ficus hedge is separating the garden and gallery from the street.

Standard’s approach brought clarity to the existing building and site and created an empty vessel for the display pieces.