BGY ID – Apparatus, London

Text provided by BGY ID

Apparatus London is an elegant new showroom and gallery space inspired by 1930s architecture and Persian hospitality. BGY ID was approached to design a new European base for the established American lighting design brand, and the concept was a collaboration between Gabriel Hendifar, Director of Apparatus Artistic Director, and Timothy Shepherd and Jane Maciver from BGY ID. The ground floor is a dreamlike, chalky space where materiality displays a gentle patina and bespoke net drapery diffuses sunlight, with nods to classical architecture present in non-structural columns and geometric motifs. The balance of movement within the plaster was delivered with artistic precision and hand selected Italian Calacatta Classico marble was meticulously laid.

The new Apparatus gallery and showroom in London has been designed for maximum longevity, carrying both contemporary references and generational significance. A stone portal sits atop the dramatic staircase leading visitors to the lower level where the palette reflects shades of taupe and chocolate, featuring a velvet ceiling, deep plush carpet and bronzed mirror panelling as the backdrop. BGY and Apparatus also added social value by designing a space for artistic expression and social connection. The project is a therefore place that supports a spectrum of activities across art, design, production and hospitality – it is an adaptable resource that provides visual, spatial, and acoustic comfort for all visitors.