AD
INTERIEURS - 'LA GALERIE ITALIENNE'
PHOTOGRAPHY: GIULIO GHIRARDI
La Galerie Italienne
'Antique busts and vintage furniture
infuse an Italian tone into this décor. Based in Milan,
architect Hannes Peer designs spaces where dynamic energy
emerges from bold stylistic contrasts. Functioning successively
as an exhibition gallery, an antechamber, and a salon, his
hybrid space exudes architectural strength.'
Cedric Saint Andrè Perrin for Architectural
Digest France
The Metaphysical Room: An Ontological Prelude
The journey begins with The Metaphysical Room, an antechamber of striking verticality and almost Gothic proportions. Here, the visitor is enveloped in a dramatic atmosphere where elements of antiquity and modernity coexist. A Roman torso from the 2nd century BC stands sentinel, its presence magnified by full-height concrete columns. The space is bathed in a palette of deep purple and red-brown, intensified by a ceiling and floor clad in glazed terracotta. A monumental lamp designed by Max Ingrand for FontanaArte enhances the room's sculptural intensity, juxtaposed against Erosion, a piece by Ursula Huber, which converses with a Roman Corinthian capital. Architectural cladding typically found on exteriors has been subversively reimagined within the interior, setting the tone for a narrative of transformation that unfolds across the subsequent spaces.
The Venetian Room: A Chamber of Exchange
Stepping into The Venetian Room, the scale contracts, evoking an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s compressed spatial philosophy. This room references Venice’s historic role as a cultural and commercial bridge between East and West. Two late 19th-century Chinese chairs and a striking red resin console, Butterfly, anchor the space, complemented by Petali, lampshades designed by Hannes Peer for SEM Milan. Ursula Huber’s Ego Murano glass sculptures in gray and amber offer a contemporary counterpoint, while an Art Deco rug by Nichols, adorned with celestial motifs, draws connections to the trade routes of the Serenissima. Mirrors, inspired by Richard Neutra, create an illusion of endless repetition, magnifying the impact of the opal glass chandelier designed by Peer and crafted by Ermes in Murano. The layering of emerald green accents, Gabriella Crespi vases, ceramics, and carefully selected books transforms the space into a living narrative of Venetian grandeur.
The Eclectic Room: A Confluence of Eras
The culmination of this journey is The Eclectic Room, a sculptural and architectural manifesto of Italian design’s international influences. This space recalls the golden era of Italian modernism and its engagement with the International Style, as epitomized by the BBPR studio and the Torre Velasca. A curved architectural wall defines the space, hosting a golden-hued work by Arturo Vermi, an artist who explored the spatial concept alongside Lucio Fontana. The interplay of materials—gold leaf-covered wood, raw concrete boiserie, and rich velvets—creates a sensorial dialectic of contrast and harmony.
At the heart of the room, a deep wine-colored sofa by Vladimir Kagan embodies organic fluidity, flanked by two wooden totems by Jean Touret. The Nuvola armchair for SEM, a homage to Brazilian modernist masters, features an exposed wooden shell encased in a lacquered iron frame, with deep green leather upholstery that embraces its form. The narrative comes full circle with a bas-relief from the Parthenon, a final gesture that rewinds the spatial storytelling back to its origins.
The Poetics of Light
The lighting throughout the installation evolves with each room, reinforcing its distinct ambiance. The Metaphysical Room employs focused, museum-style lighting to highlight sculptural elements. In contrast, The Venetian Room is enveloped in a golden, diffused glow, accentuating its opulent atmosphere. The Eclectic Room reintroduces a more architectural, zenithal lighting scheme, reinforcing its structural dynamism. The collaboration with iGuzzini ensures that each lighting intervention enhances the spatial drama, seamlessly integrating into the exhibition’s overarching narrative.
A Manifesto of Italian Design
La Galerie Italienne is not just an installation—it is a meticulous study in evocation and reminiscence, emblematic of Hannes Peer's architectural and design philosophy. Each room unfolds as a layered dialogue, an ode to Italy’s multifaceted cultural legacy, bridging epochs, materials, and artistic movements into a singular, cohesive vision. This installation at AD Intérieurs 2019 reaffirms Peer's commitment to creating spaces that are not only visually compelling but intellectually profound.