Duke Street St James’s exterior

Thomas Dane Gallery

Refurbishment of Grade 2 listed Mayfair showroom for one of London’s leading contemporary art galleries.

Opened in 2004 on Duke Street St James’s, the gallery commissioned David Kohn Architects to create a new space further down the street for staging artists’ projects and more informal exhibitions.

The design involved stripping back layers of linings throughout the ground and basement interiors to reveal highly idiosyncratic ceiling structures. Free-standing white gallery walls were then inserted to create spaces with more provisional and theatrical characters than usual for the area. In order to make the interior nonetheless consistent with the St James’s vernacular of vitrines and refined finishes, a herringbone oak floor and black entrance display cabinet were incorporated.

David Kohn Architects was shortlisted for ‘Refurbishment Architect of the Year’ 2012 on the basis of Thomas Dane Gallery and the White Building.

Project

Art Gallery

Location

St James's, London, United Kingdom

Client

Thomas Dane Associates

Size

280 m2

Status

Completed 2011

Construction Value

£300,000

Design Team

David Kohn, Tom McGlynn

Collaborators
Jackson Coles
Alan Baxter & Associates
Mendick Waring
London Bespoke Joinery
WORK Ltd.

Photography
Ioana Marinescu
Thierry Bal

Entrance vitrine designed to display catalogues and provide a flip-up reception desk
Gallery interior
Gallery interior with view back towards entrance vitrine
Gallery offices
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