The Art and Furniture Gallery (Ave Gallery) is a cultural space in Tehran, designed by Reza Daneshmir of Fluid Motion Architects and completed in 2000. An innovative adaptive reuse, a 200-square-metre abandoned swimming pool (10×20m) in the garden of painter and designer Fereydoun Ave was transformed into an art gallery in just three months (August–October). A lightweight roof supported on a sloped truss covers the former pool, while suspended interior stairs descend to the gallery floor, fully utilizing the pool's depth.
The project tied for 3rd place (score 21/35, ranked 4th) at the 1st Memar Award in 2001. The jury cited its "success in converting a disused swimming pool, with minimal intervention, a modest budget, and short timeframe, into a gallery" and its "sense of proportion."
Mohsen Mirheydar praised the conversion: "Taking a disused place and giving it spatial value is no small feat. A very good ceiling has been built for it. The fact that the designer made quick decisions in a very short time demonstrates his experience and skill." Kamran Afshar Naderi contrasted it with larger projects: "This was just an abandoned swimming pool — a defined four-walled enclosure with a very modest budget. The designer was able to give a non-box idea to a completely defined box. There is no excess in it. Something has been created from nothing, which is commendable."
Tehran, Iran(35.722, 51.405)
Memar Award
2001
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Semifinalists — Renovation
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