ARCIMBOLDO gallery
In Malá Strana, just a few steps from Maltézské náměstí, a gallery focused on antiques and collectibles was created. The brief wasn't to design a neutral exhibition space. We needed to create an interior that would work as a unified whole with the objects on display. The gallery is housed in a historic building with high vaulted ceilings and a strong atmosphere — and that atmosphere became the foundation of the entire design. Antiques are often small in scale, while the space itself was generous. Our goal, therefore, wasn't to fill the rooms, but to adjust their scale, light, and atmosphere so that even smaller exhibits wouldn't get lost in the space.
History without replicas
The striking gold ceilings weren't created as decoration. They helped optically lower the high vaults and create a more intimate setting for the displayed objects. We didn't want to copy or reconstruct the historic character of the building. We were looking for a contemporary interpretation that would respect the original architecture without pretending to be a replica of it. That's why we worked with simple materials, a restrained color palette, and large surfaces that allow the exhibits themselves to take center stage.
Wire instead of crystal
The central motif of the interior became light fixtures inspired by historic chandeliers. We weren't interested in their decorativeness, but in their geometry. We translated the original forms into subtle wire structures that appear almost like drawings in the air. The fixtures give the gallery a clear identity without competing with the works on display. The historic archetype was preserved — but in a contemporary form.
A logo scratched into plaster
The reception is the first space visitors encounter, but we didn't want to fill it with graphics or signage. Instead of a standard logo made from raised letters, we carefully scratched the gallery's name directly into the plaster. This revealed older historic layers of the wall beneath, which we left exposed. It's a small detail, but it captures the approach to the entire interior well. We weren't trying to recreate a historic space or cover it with new layers. New interventions are contemporary, the original structure remains visible, and both coexist without unnecessary stylization.
One interesting footnote: the gallery ultimately changed its focus. Originally designed for antiques and collectibles, it later shifted toward contemporary emerging art — for which the space no longer felt right. The gallery eventually relocated to new premises in Holešovice. That space later became what is now Bold Gallery.
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Petr - 16. 6. 2026