Schemata Architects embraces rough material finishes for gallery in Seoul
CategoriesArchitecture

Schemata Architects embraces rough material finishes for gallery in Seoul

The rough finishes of an existing concrete and brick structure are contrasted by white exhibition spaces at Arario Gallery in Seoul, completed by Japanese studio Schemata Architects.

The gallery is located at the rear of the Space Group Building, a modernist icon in South Korea that houses the Arario Museum.

Designed by architect Kim Swoo-geun, the grey-brick, heritage-listed building was completed in the 1970s and converted into the museum in 2014.

Exterior of the Arario Gallery in Seoul by Schemata ArchitectsExterior of the Arario Gallery in Seoul by Schemata Architects
Arario Gallery sits alongside the grey-brick Space Group Building

Alongside this building is a glazed extension from the 1990s by architect Jang Se-yang, a student of Swoo-geun, as well as a traditional South Korean home, or hanok, which was relocated to the site when it reopened in 2014.

Amid this architectural backdrop is a brick and concrete structure added to the site in the 1980s, which Schemata Architects was tasked with converting into the Arario Gallery.

“It was a great challenge for me, a Japanese architect, to work on the third building – excluding the hanok – especially after seeing the perfect contrast between the two buildings already created by the master and the disciple,” said Schemata Architects Principal Jo Nagasaka.

Interior of the Arario Gallery in Seoul by Schemata ArchitectsInterior of the Arario Gallery in Seoul by Schemata Architects
The gallery spaces are contained in white rooms

Looking to create a space that “looks unchanged on the outside”, the studio retained the building’s structural frame and dark brickwork, originally chosen to complement the Space Group Building.

“In this context, we thought that inserting another unique feature into the landscape would not be appropriate,” explained Nagasaka.

White gallery interior with grey brick floorsWhite gallery interior with grey brick floors
Brickwork extends across the floor of the basement

Organised across four floors and a basement level, the white-walled gallery spaces sit alongside the existing staircase, lift, service and storage areas, where the structure’s rough material finishes have been left exposed.

In these more industrial-feeling spaces, walls have been made using plywood on metal frames. Teamed with metal doors and white metal balustrades, they deliberately stand out against the “skeleton” of the existing building.

In the basement, the dark grey brickwork of the adjacent museum is mirrored in a brick floor that extends throughout the space.

On the third floor, sections of the exterior wall were removed to create a full-height glass wall in the VIP area. This looks out towards the nearby Changdeokgung Palace and a surrounding park, also visible through windows in the stairwell.

Concrete stairwell with white stairsConcrete stairwell with white stairs
White metal accents highlight new additions to the Arario Gallery

“In this way, we established repetitive patterns where visitors would emerge from the white cube into a skeleton space and see the palace beyond as they ascend to the upper floors,” said Nagasaka.

Lounge area in Seoul by Schemata ArchitectsLounge area in Seoul by Schemata Architects
Large windows in the Arario Gallery overlook Changdeokgung Palace

Schemata Architects is a Tokyo-based studio, Founded in 1998 by Nagasaka after he graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts.

Its previous projects include a public bathhouse in Tokyo finished with turquoise tiles and a hillside guesthouse and bar for a home on the coast of an island in the Seto Inland Sea.

The photography is by Yongjoon Choi.



Reference

Ten calm interiors with natural clay wall finishes that don’t need painting
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten calm interiors with natural clay wall finishes that don’t need painting

In this special lookbook sponsored by natural finishes brand Clayworks, we’ve selected 10 interiors from our archives that feature walls finished with the brand’s clay plaster.


Clay finishes are a healthy, breathable alternative to paints or wallpaper on internal walls and ceilings. Naturally pigmented and free of toxic ingredients, they are made of natural materials, do not require painting and are compostable.

Clayworks‘ plaster finishes are manufactured in Cornwall, England. Here are 10 homes, restaurants and offices that showcase their products.


Porteous’ Studio, Edinburgh, by Izat Arundell

Design studio Izat Arundell converted this former blacksmith’s workshop in Edinburgh into a compact apartment with a muted material palette.

Clay-based plaster was applied to the walls to create a calm tone, with a simple palette of stone and wood used to create an overall natural feel.

Find out more about Porteous’ Studio ›


Birch and Clay Refugio, London, by Rise Design Studio

As its name suggests, this renovated and extended London flat called Birch and Clay Refugio makes extensive use of clay finishes.

The kitchen features light grey plaster walls, while a calming light grey-green shade was used for the master bedroom and a light pastel pink in the children’s bedroom.

Find out more about Birch and Clay Refugio ›


Sticks n Sushi, London, by Norm Architects

This London sushi restaurant by Danish studio Norm Architects was designed to have a series of spaces each with its own atmosphere.

Light clay finishes were used in the larger, more open restaurant spaces, with darker tones applied to create a more intimate feel in the private dining areas.

Find out more about Sticks n Sushi ›


Clay walls in Devon Passivhaus

Devon Passivhaus, Devon, McLean Quinlan

This low-rise Passivhaus home by McLean Quinlan is set behind a red-brick wall that obscures the textured interiors and art-filled hidden courtyard.

The studio aimed to create a “serene” environment inside the home by pairing rough sawn oak flooring with clay plaster walls and charred wood cabinetry.

Find out more about Devon Passivhaus ›


Dulong store, Copenhagen, by Norm Architects

Norm Architects combined natural materials to create a calm finish for this jewellery showroom in Copenhagen, which was informed by modernist artists’ studios.

The studio used a light clay plaster with a smooth finish as the backdrop for the store that has oak flooring and travertine furniture.

Find out more about Dulong store ›


Barbican apartment, London, by Takero Shimazaki Architects

Takero Shimazaki Architects was informed by a client with strong ties with Japan for the interiors of this apartment in central London’s Barbican estate.

Throughout the flat, the studio aimed to balance Japanese architectural language with the concrete structure of the brutalist Barbican complex. Walls finished with clay were combined with tatami mats and numerous timber finishes.

Find out more about Barbican apartment ›


Hoof cafe, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, by Bone

Design studio Bone used rustic clay plaster for the walls of this cafe in the United Arab Emirates as part of its design that aims to recall horse stalls.

Named Hoof, the spartan cafe was furnished with blocky hand-brushed steel counters to contrast the naturally finished walls.

Find out more about Hoof cafe ›


Clay wall in bathroom

Highgate home, London, by House of Grey

Interiors studio House of Grey chose the furnishings and finishes of this London home with the health of its occupants and the health of the planet in mind.

Along with custom-designed timber furniture and a bed upholstered using coconut husk fibres, the home’s walls are finished with natural clay.

Find out more about Highgate house ›


Leaf House, London, by Szczepaniak Astridge

Designed to be a peaceful retreat in south London, this loft extension contains a master bedroom focused on a wooden bath with views across London.

Japanese interior design, as well as sustainability, was important for the choice of materials used in the loft, which has clay covering its roof and walls.

Find out more about Leaf House ›


Clay House, London, by Simon Astridge 

Architect Simon Astridge uses layers of coarse clay to line the walls of this one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of a Victorian mid-terraced property in London.

Appropriately named Clay House, the material was used to give an unfinished appearance to the walls and ceilings of the open plan living space and create a calm atmosphere in the bedroom.

Find out more about Clay House ›


This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing green kitchen interiors, peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

This lookbook was produced by Dezeen for Clayworks as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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