Originally designed in 2010 for renowned Paris art dealer Emmanuel Perrotin, this warehouse conversion and addition provides exhibition space, offices, and an apartment for artists-in-residence right in the heart of Miami’s Wynwood district.

Starting with a character 1950s warehouse, we stripped away all unnecessary modifications and additions to reveal the simplicity and logic of the original structure. The most sacred and expressive elements were the undulating precast roof and terrazzo floor. In refurbishing the old clerestory windows, we have highlighted the subtle, curving geometry of the T-beams and let indirect natural light into the double-height spaces.

We consulted curators and artists throughout the design process to ensure we met the strictest international gallery standards for painting and sculpture exhibition. The main challenge architecturally was integrating new services with the existing structure for optimal environmental conditions. To protect the fabric of the heritage building, we decided to expose new lighting, ducts, and cables, so they read separately and kept the 1950s industrial architecture intact.

Stage two of the project was to include additional gallery and office space, an apartment, and a public garden on the warehouse parking lot. Although never realized, the three-story building is sympathetic to the warehouse in scale and form, with cantilevers to create sheltered terraces and a free-span interior. As floors move from public to private up through the building, they provide a variety of display and administration spaces to extend the program of the main gallery.