A GAME OF CONTRASTS: THE NEW GEMEG SPACES
Dec 23, 2022
Marble is one of the most precious materials used in both architecture and art. Specifically, the Carrara Marble is renown all over the word and during all time eras.
GEMEG, a company based in the Apuan Alps working with this magic stone since 1993, in 2019 invited Architect Victor Vasilev to renovate its premises – offices, showroom and outdoor area. Metis Lighting was asked to bring it into light.
Gemeg’s new premises have a very clear axis around which we decided to elaborate our lighting scheme: the contrast between white Carrara marble and black finishing of the interior design by Vasilev. Light of warm colour temperature is used in both outdoor and indoor areas, while extensively cool light is implemented on the showcased marble volumes. Applying this principle and stressing it enough, creates a unique user’s experience, where marble becomes a majestic protagonist.
The Showroom area is where the black-white and warm-cool contrasts become most evocative: the white hues of the marble juxtaposed on a black context becomes already poetic. Luminous lines hidden in the black ceiling of the space, shed cool and homogeneous light on the showcased marble without any shadow; at the same time, the visitor’s eye wanders in the warmly and more dramatic lit office interiors. Lighting ignites this game between marble and its context, cool and warm, showroom and private.
As our usual practice, all the lighting fixtures are extremely shielded, whimsically providing ”almost invisible light”. Every light source is concealed, avoiding users’ glare although illuminating and enhancing architectural lines and marbles with a great amount of light.
The possibility to independently dim the lighting fixtures allows the creation of unique lighting scenarios that respond to every specific need of the users who can change function, mood and setups from time to time.
Light not only embraces but elevates the initial concept to in fact re-create an alternative exhibition space. Artworks are not paintings or sculptures, but similarly precious pieces of stone extracted from the nearby mountains illuminated at their best.
Pietro Savorelli
