Augeo Art Space by Yasmine Mahmoudieh

For the first time, the augeo project divided the old Palazzo Bancaleoni (now Palazzo Spina) into two spaces. One for art gallery and another one for spa area. It will be replicated in other cities around the world.

Mahmoudieh has been chosen for the first project. The piece suggests, built in HI-MACS® Alpine White, she thought from the outset as an additional element of Palazzo space that does not remove the leading role of art in the exhibition room.

The reason behind this choice is explained directly by project designer Mahmoudieh: “The space for the art gallery is dedicated to the imagination and to creativity and as a result it appears oneiric and abstract. The space for the spa, on the other hand, is real, physical, designed for the body and where the mind in particular can be allowed to wander freely, to relax after the concentration and tension of inspiration in the first room.”

Continuity, plasticity and light make the entrance arch to the art gallery opens on to an abstract, soft, creative world. The guests go into an inspiring atmosphere which appears as though imprisoned in a state of fluid dynamism. The “functional sculpture” begins on the right-hand side of the entrance to hide the old imperfections in the original structure. It then transforms into a seating area which “slides” along the perimeter of the rooms and then dives yet again to finally transform itself into a reception area and bar. A journey which accompanies the visitors, but which, above all, prepares them to interact with the international works of art on display.

The white surfaces, like the counter behind, will be used as screens for digital art projects. The first will be by Zuth, who was asked to give a personal, artistic interpretation of the idea of contemplation, desire, meditation and freedom lying behind Augeo.

The floor has been deliberated “dirtied” by the shades in the cement which recall the colours of a typical, Italian, outside courtyard.  Tiny specks of light, specifically placed to pinpoint the works on display, spangle the strategic white walls to make the rooms appear wider and lighter. Mahmoudieh carefully studied the lighting for this project, and opted for a mainly indirect light, which does not tire guests’ eyes and “gently” accompanies them through the different rooms. Strip lighting at the foot of the walls lightens the structure and makes the walls appear to “float”, giving a fascinating, scenic effect.

The Italian company DForm fabricated this "sculpture" of HI-MACS® ("one of my favourite materials", as Mahmoudieh remarks), which moulded it skilfully and very precisely to give the “sculpture” its spontaneous sinuous aspect, a distinctive feature of the project designer, who has exploited curved lines in many of her installations.

Behind the reception area, a staircase leads to the rooms on the lower floor, divided between the massage and treatment area, the fitness area and the magnificent spa. Large slabs of black stone, contemporary urban finishings and precious mosaics replace the completely uncontaminated white of the upper floor, to give a luxurious, contemporary look to the massage area, as well as to the shower, sauna and Turkish bath area. The clean, often angular lines of the walls and dividers break the embrace of the curved shapes and define the spaces, separating the changing rooms almost into a rich, dynamic labyrinth, harmoniously integrated with the rough, historic structure.

To highlight still further the contrast between the spa and art gallery, Mahmoudieh has used soft and indirect lighting, which generate darker shades which envelop the guests and invite them to relax both mind and body and meditate without tiring their eyes.

On the lower floor, a fitness room equipped with the latest generation machines is a surprise of simple, coloured lights which give the room depth and movement.

On the other hand, the uneven spaces of the entire wellbeing area crisscross to create numerous corners which give the impression of a labyrinth and of a sumptuous, unusual space which is in no way monotonous. Mahmoudieh has combined her vision for an irregular-shaped space with the functional requirements of a wellbeing environment, by exploiting the corners to create tiny solutions for bathrooms and changing rooms. Thus, no one space is the same as another.

Despite its basic dualism, Augeo is a unique “creature” which moves in harmony and unites dreams, inspiration and reality. Augeo is a single path, a reality combining two aspects which are in some ways incompatible, yet become, nevertheless, possible and complementary, and “melts” them into a sophisticated, carefully designed environment.

CREDITS. TECHNICAL DATA.-

Project Design.- Yasmine Mahmoudieh, Studio Mahmoudieh.
Team.- Irina Gibert, Tomaso Boano.
Commissioned by.- Sergio Antolini and Matteo Sormani.
Technical consultancy.- Studio Cumo Mori Roversi.
Transformer of HI-MACS®.- Dform Srl.
HI-MACS® Distributor for Italy.- Bonomi Surfaces.
Installation.- Dornbracht.
Photographic credits.- Riccardo Gallini.