Designed by architect David Adjaye OBE RA, it won a RIBA award in 2008. This new and iconic cultural landmark is home to the art galleries of Autograph, for the profiling of international perspectives in contemporary visual arts and the diversity of visual culture. David Adjaye is one of Britain’s leading contemporary architects, whose designs emphasise the experience as well as the function of architecture.
The 1,445 square metre building contains two project spaces for the presentation of exhibitions, film screenings and talks. It also houses meeting rooms; photography archive; leased offices for creative businesses and the offices of Autograph.
The unusual lattice pattern of Rivington Place was influenced by a Sowei mask from Sierra Leone. This affects the internal space by creating windows at different heights; the lower ones giving views to the street, the upper ones giving views of the sky. In larger spaces, the windows produce an ambiguous sense of scale as their position and size contradict the effects of perspective.
The two public façades are distinguished by a chequerboard grid of black pre-cast concrete panels. The eight rows of windows relate to five storeys of accommodation with the effect that the building appears taller than it actually is. Towards the top of the building the openings grow shorter, while along the length of the Rivington Place façade they widen.
The volume of the new building has similar proportion s to some of the warehouses in the area and the materials and colours update the architectural language of the older buildings whilst responding to the use and purpose of the building.
Contact us now to enquire about leasing offices from 650 sq. ft, up to 3000 sq. ft.
E: gm@rivingtonplace.org
T: 020 7749 124
Images, from the top: 1) Entrance to Rivington Place. Photograph by Zoe Maxwell. 2) Rivington Place 3) Office for lease at Rivington Place
Autograph is a place to see things differently. Since 1988, we have championed photography that explores issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.