Last summer, Snøhetta collaborated with Cuban-American artist and painter José Parlá to re-envision a Gowanus, Brooklyn warehouse as a working studio. Parlá, who is famed for his large-scale murals that appear on walls of buildings such as One World Trade Center and Barclays Center, has worked with Snøhetta on a series of projects including the integrated artwork for Far Rockaway Public Library in Queens, N.Y., and a 2014 mural, Nature of Language, which lives in the Snøhetta-designed James B. Hunt Jr. Library at North Carolina State University.
A pair of U-shaped, interlocking spaces, dubbed the Arena and the Nest, separate the working and exhibition area from a cozy, lofted mezzanine, designed for relaxing and to provide Parlá varied perspectives of his work. Pivoting walls allow for flexible display and handling of large pieces.
The industrial aesthetic of the building’s former life is retained through concrete floors and neutral, gray-toned walls.The monochromatic setting is a stark contrast to Parlá’s strikingly vibrant paintings.
A small gallery and kitchen at the entrance, plus reconfigurable walls, will allow José Parlá Studio to quickly adjust the space to accommodate future events and transform into a clean, curated gallery of Parlá’s work.
For more work by Snøhetta, please visit ARCHITECT Magazine’s Project Gallery.
