Built over the course of a decade (1722-1732), the Scuderie Quirinale, together with the Palazzo Quirinale and the Palazzo della Consulta, forms the boundary of the extraordinary urban space at the centre of which is the fountain with the statues of the Dioscuri and the obelisk found in the 19th century near the Mausoleum of Augustus. The Scuderie del Quirinale building retained its original function as a coach house and horse stables until 1938, when it was converted into a garage. In 1998, following a public competition, Gae Aulenti was commissioned to renovate this 18th century building, which was opened to the public in 1999 as a new space for major art exhibitions. “The Scuderie del Quirinale expressed itself through spatiality, and this had to be preserved” Gae Aulenti
So as not to damage the original structures, the two large galleries on the first and second floors have been fitted with a series of plasterboard counter walls on which the works are displayed and which conceal the sophisticated network of air conditioning, security and lighting design systems. 270 lighting baskets designed by Gae Aulenti with lighting designer Piero Castiglioni, a fixture created for the Palazzo Grassi project in Venice. A system of curtains controls daylight. A single system of luminaires with a metal structure to house several halogen sources, adjustable, positioned on the architectural chains, on the wall, unifies the exhibition spaces, ensures flexibility in setting up temporary exhibitions, and becomes an integral part of the exhibition design.
Collaborations:
Gae Aulenti Associated
Photo Courtesy:
iGuzzini
Year:
2000
Other Projects
Orsay Museum where architecture became a big lighting device, the reflections of light bulbs with walls and ceilings create a uniform light without shadows. Groups of projectors in Grassi Palace recall a small football field. Here was born a new type of lighting device. Reflector lamps and articulated support gives life at the "Cestello". Spasa na Krovi is a perfection of Mantova project. Light beams aggregation allow the device size reduction and the dispersion light control.
