Kyle—Kath Gallery

New York, NY, USA

Photo © Alan Tansey

Drawing © Archi-Tectonics

Museums + Galleries

Architectural Designers: Archi-Tectonics

Location: New York, NY, USA
Year: 2021

Archi-Tectonics transformed Kyle—Kath Gallery’s Chelsea showroom into a contemporary display space that highlights their collection of richly colored and intricately patterned carpets. With a series of considered interventions to the existing space, the new design reshapes the visitor experience and enhances how guests encounter the art on display.

A new storefront facade—made of ultra-thin black-steel frames, floor-to-ceiling glass plates, and a full-length glazed pivot door—opens the gallery to the street and allows passersby to glimpse the art inside. A projection visible through this facade shows how the carpets are hand-woven and knotted by talented craftsmen in Nepal.

Entering the gallery, visitors are greeted by a new custom-designed reception desk and a bright red cube emblazoned with the Kyle—Kath logo. The desk—composed of intersecting white lacquer and glass volumes—adds a sculptural element to the space and integrates built-in tables where guests can relax and browse the catalogs.

The redesign also enhances the connection between the two floors, introducing a concrete stair with a finely detailed banister made of blackened steel plates. At the top and bottom of the stairs, the steel plates bend 180 degrees, creating a continuous plane that guides visitors around the corners in one fluid motion. The ends of these plates are laser cut, leaving a reveal that showcases the construction of the handrail.