Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover,the directors of the Frieze Art Fair have announced the appointment of the London-based architectural studio Carmody Groarke as the new architects for the Deutsche Bank sponsored, Frieze Art Fair 2011. The firm designed the Surreal House Exhibition at the Barbican one of the most successful events last year. It was A series of archetypal “house” forms are clustered together in the Barbican Art Gallery to create a bespoke backdrop for presentation of surrealist art, sculpture, film and architecture. The labyrinth of rooms created by the installation draws on familiar as well as abstract associations of domestic space, and challenges the visitor’s preconceived expectations of the existing gallery. In previous years the fair has employed a series of internationally recognised architectural firms: Caruso St John (2008-2010), Jamie Fobert (2006–2007) and David Adjaye (2003-2005). The firm was established in 2006, Kevin Carmody and Andrew Groarke have become known for their diverse portfolio of work, quickly building a reputation for forward-thinking design, winning two RIBA awards in 2010. Carmody Groarke were proud recipients of the prestigious Building Design UK Young Architect of the Year (YAYA) in 2007 and have recently been named as winners of the International Emerging Architecture Award by The Architectural Review. Carmody Groarke’s completed projects include: Studio East Dining, a temporary restaurant pavilion in East London; the 7 July Memorial in Hyde Park; the new headquarters for The Architecture Foundation; and recent exhibitions, ‘Drawing Fashion’ at the Design Museum and ‘The Surreal House’ at the Barbican Art Gallery. Upcoming projects include ‘Postmodernism: Style & Subversion’ at the V&A and a permanent memorial to the victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami located at the Natural History Museum. They have frequently collaborated with contemporary artists, including Antony Gormley, on his Blind Light pavilion at the Hayward Gallery, and Carsten Holler, on The Double Club for Fondazione Prada.
Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover commented ‘The architectural design of Frieze Art Fair has been important to us from the beginning. Working with some of the most innovative architectural practices has brought a freshness to the fair experience each year for galleries and visitors alike. Frieze Art Fair is unique in presenting some of the world’s most exciting contemporary art in one of London’s most beautiful parks, we are delighted to be collaborating with Carmody Groarke whom we are sure will reflect and honour this position.’
Kevin Carmody and Andrew Groarke added: ‘We are delighted to be chosen by Frieze Art Fair to work with them on the design of this year’s show. It is a privilege to work on a project which has such a strong legacy of creative collaboration between client and architect.’ Carmody Groarke is a London-based architectural studio established by Kevin Carmody and Andrew Groarke in 2006. A strong emphasis is given to a critical design process within the studio, we resist predetermining architectural solutions to a client’s brief prior to a thorough investigation of each project’s unique situation.
Our process creates buildings and spaces that maintain a close synthesis between the context of the project and the client’s requirements. As a result of this process-lead work and our abilities to undertake projects of highly varied typologies, the studio is pursuing a diverse range of projects in the UK and abroad for private, commercial and public sector clients.