ICA LA
Exposed and Always Under Construction Formerly the Santa Monica Museum of Art, wHY collaborated with…
White box gallery meets distinctive LA warehouse
For a London gallerist’s inaugural LA outpost, wHY created a museum-quality art space within an existing brick and timber warehouse building, all while respecting the structure’s integrity and history. Throughout, design interventions celebrate the warehouse’s idiosyncrasies without taking away from the art-viewing experience. Walls are offset from existing structural features, framing the building and the art, while skylights flood the space with natural light. The result is an approachable, laid-back atmosphere where old-master pieces can be displayed alongside emerging talent; where architectural detail is at once present and self-effacing.