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Situated within the heart of San Lorenzo, a vibrant scene of young creatives, a new photography gallery offers Rome its first dedicated space for photographic processing and display. Salt, a lost means of historic negative development, becomes a construction material, manifesting as blocks, slurry and loose grain throughout the gallery to create novel viewing experiences.
The picturesque city of Rome was once the photography capital of the world. Inspired by vernacular Roman roofs and the lost art of photo development using salt, the site provides a space for photographers and visitors to co-exist. A space where artists can develop their art and visitors are encouraged to gather and admire the art.
The building consists of a number of strategically pitched roofs which direct the flow of water throughout the main gallery, encouraging the salt to crystallise and dissolve.
The salt’s surface controls the qualities of light in each space and offers varying viewing effects through the use of reflection, refraction and back projection.
The building consists of a number of strategically pitched roofs which direct the flow of water throughout the main gallery, encouraging the salt to slowly crystallise and dissolve.
The historic Roman aqueduct on the site is retained and embedded in the new building. The aqueduct acts not only as a backbone anchored to the main structure but also brings the water that flows into the salt pools within the new central courtyard.
The building will have its own impluvium, filled with salt water. During the summer months, the water evaporates leaving salt behind for visitors to redeposit at the top of the aqueduct. Through this ritualistic cycle, the building regenerates.