Millan Art Gallery by Undiú + Clara Werneck

Located in the vibrant city of São Paulo, Brazil, the newly expanded Millan Art Gallery by architects Undiú and Clara Werneck exemplifies the delicate balance between functionality, lightness, and architectural clarity. Completed in 2023, the 190 m² addition integrates an exhibition hall and office space into a narrow urban plot, physically and visually linking the new wing to the gallery's existing building.

Site Integration and Circulation Strategy

The design responds to the limitations of the compact site by maximizing vertical space and optimizing circulation. A shared esplanade and interior passage unify the new structure with the pre-existing gallery, encouraging seamless flow between the two buildings. This spatial continuity establishes a cohesive institutional identity while allowing for expanded curatorial opportunities.

Spatial Composition and Light Strategy

The exhibition hall is situated on the ground level, where the spatial clarity is enhanced by a central double-height volume. Hovering above is a mezzanine that houses office functions. Ingeniously, the mezzanine is designed as a suspended steel platform that avoids contact with the sidewalls, thus preserving the volumetric purity of the space and allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the gallery.

Two longitudinal skylights integrated into the roof structure introduce diffused natural light, creating an optimal ambiance for art display while reducing reliance on artificial lighting. The façade-side exhibition wall, engineered as a detachable panel, offers flexibility for open-air exhibitions and encourages dialogue between the gallery's interior and the vibrant street life outside.

Material System and Prefabrication

Material selection and construction methods were guided by efficiency and responsiveness to the urban context. The perimeter walls and the building's core were constructed in traditional masonry and concrete, offering structural stability and acoustic performance. In contrast, the façade, roof, and mezzanine adopt a lightweight steel system. These components were largely preassembled off-site, accelerating the construction timeline and minimizing disruption in the dense urban neighborhood.

The juxtaposition of heavy and light materials reflects a thoughtful architectural strategy that responds to both programmatic and contextual demands. It enables the building to maintain a minimal footprint while offering functional flexibility and architectural expressiveness.

All the photographs are works of Pedro Kok