GALLERIA RS 55
Palermo, 2011
Located on
the ground floor of a 5 storey 1950’s residential block, La Galleria used to be
a small yet vibrant covered commercial thoroughfare in the heart of the city.
When two international retailers bought all the available units, the historic
entrances to the shops were closed off and the showcases facing the inside of
the space were no longer put to use.Imposing gates were raised, La Galleria
ceased to be a public space and the passageway, which also serves as the
entrance to homes and offices above, fell into almost complete darkness. Owners
and tenants became concerned for their safety. This project aimed to reopen the
inside space, visually at least if not physically, while protecting it from the
practical problem of wind and dust and also limiting the number of people going
in and out. New two-tone basalt flooring with its pseudo-random pattern gives
fluidity to the space. Two glass sliding doors at each end control the flow of
air and people.The daylight filters through a double-height bright amber glass
panel placed above the glass sliding door, bathing the atrium with a warm tone.
Glasses panels of the same amber colour wrap a purpose-built porter’s lodge.
Finally, a cluster of fluore- scent tubes provides artificial light at night.
ebrations.
DESIGN TEAMFrancesco Librizzi
Massimo Tepedino
COLLABORATOR
C. Martinelli