Lighting In Museum Spaces

Designing an art gallery, lighting is a very crucial aspect to consider. I conducted research on the different types of lighting  that can be used to highlight different elements. Based on the secondary types of research, I found various information on how lighting enhances displays, and I also conducted light tests on a few models for the effects obtained.

Secondary research - 

THE FLEXIBLE SPOTLIGHTING

I found this type of lighting to be the most common among the art galleries, where rails are placed on the ceiling along which spotlights are located and can be dragged according to where the respective displays are placed.

A more flexible type of lighting which caters to any type of display!

SOURCE : http://blog.1000bulbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/istanbul-168774_1280.jpg

SOURCE : http://www.conservators-converse.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/lighting_leds.jpg

SOURCE : http://www.wholesaleledlights.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/museumlighting1.jpg

INDIRECT NATURAL LIGHTING

This is a common sunlighting found in many galleries. Art that is displayed on the walls may get reflected or glared at, due to direct lighting that falls on it. So dispersed or indirect lighting is the best method of natural lighting in most galleries.

SOURCE : http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/05/dezeen_Lenbachhaus-museum-by-Foster-Partners_8.jpg

The gallery was designed by Foster and Partners. Here the indirect lighting is created by a continuous strip of lighting along one direction of the room making the room seem wider due to the direction. As a result, the space looks vast with lighting falling only along certain areas in the centre of the room, thereby avoiding the sensitive paintings on the walls. 

  SOURCE : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Kimbell_Art_Museum_Fort_Worth_galleries_1.jpg

This gallery by Louis Khan, makes the lighting system have an ethereal quality to it, due to the sliver of natural light that curves along from the ceiling.The curved vaults seem to be floating in the as a result ! 

LIGHTING THAT OVERPOWERS THE ART

SOURCE : http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/dezeen_Staedel-Museum-extension-by-SchneiderSchumacher_11.jpg

The lighting here seems to overpower the displays, due to its large shape and pattern throughout. 

SOURCE : http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/louvre_abu_dhabi_renderings.jpg

This is the Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by  Jean Nouvel and  is currently under construction, As a building, I think this museum looks beautiful, but as an art museum and the function, the lighting seems very distracting , and takes the eye of the viewer away from the actual art and towards the light.The patterns created on the floor and wall itself seems like the highlight artpiece ! 

Primary Research - 

I conducted experiments to see the way light falls for different types......

This is an example of indirect lighting, where the edges of the ceiling seem to be highlighted, making the room seem like the roof is floating.

In this instance, direct lighting falls on the floor, highlighting the path of the visitor to view the art along the wall.But it is always more ideal for indirect lighting, compared to direct.

Here the lighting, falls on only the two spots of the openings, thereby creating a pattern on the floor.

This is the lighting I wanted to use for my design, for a dark gallery, where only a sliver of indirect lighting is brought down through a solar chimney, and highlighting the path of the floor. Ideal to enhance paths of circulation and create a dramatic effect ! 

I think, lighting is very crucial for a good design and natural light is the most beautiful and ideal method of lighting. From my studies, it is deciphered that, indirect lighting is the best method of lighting, as direct light may tend to damage the art.

Nottingham Contemporary Vs. Wakefield Hepworth - A First Hand Experience

Researching art galleries for my project II, I went through many many galleries to see which galleries ticked with the people? How circulation worked ? The relationship between the people and the displays? the relationship between the people? The various display spaces, the exterior and the interior spaces,.....etc.
   
Nothing tells us more about spaces than actually visiting them and experiencing the Nottingham Contemporary Gallery and the Wakefield Hepworth Gallery  was an eye opener into the world of art and their spaces.


The Nottingham Contemporary sits on a corner of a completely Victorian setting architecture, with restaurants, a smallish plaza and a tram line on the side of it. Looking from the back side of the gallery, we see it sitting on a high pedestal along the skyline of the buildings as the site slopes downwards behind.

SOURCE : me

On the other hand ,the Hepworth Gallery sits on a quiet site that belongs solely for the purpose of  a building that would act as a landmark for the city of Wakefield. As you approach the gallery, it looks like a angular sculptural monument that is framed by water and landscaped on the other side. It was like a beautiful piano composition with the right balance of harmonies!

SOURCE : me

Entering into Nottingham Contemporary, the entrance is emphasized by a projecting canopy, which leads into a lobby with the reception and a whole lot of books and other sale-able items....and leading to the galleries.

   The first thing I noticed about the arrangement of the galleries was that the lobby leads to three gallery spaces named Gallery 1,2 and 3. I feel the problem with choice in a gallery is that, you tend to miss out or may avoid one of the galleries if you are bored and galleries are places where you come to see art and thereby visit all the displays. One more unavoidable fact was that , I had to keep coming back to the lobby space to enter into the other galleries.

                                                                                         SOURCE : me

 The Hepworth Gallery has a clear circulation within.There is a main axis from the entryway to the stairs leading to the galleries above.It was simple and clear ,for me to know where to go from the entrance.The reception led to the other rooms like the shop and the workrooms,the toilets and the cafe etc which were all across from each other ,thereby giving clear sight lines between the spaces.I felt that the Hepworth was way easier to navigate.

 SOURCE : me

The galleries in the Nottingham Contemporary had a main breakoff space (lobby) which connected to each of them individually. Some of the spaces were connected to each other while others could be accessible only by coming back to the lobby.The display spaces were huge rooms with white bland walls where, the only source of light was from the skylights above.There was no connection to the outside from the galleries except for one of them which had a glass wall looking through to the entryway and into the entrance outside.

                                                                         SOURCE : me

While , in the Hepworth, there is a processional pattern of movement between galleries. There is only one entry and exit point, so you do not tend to walk into the same spaces again , hence, making sure you visit all the rooms. I really liked this passage , because there was a natural flow from one gallery into the other and I did not even realize that I had reached the end! There was also a variation in height of the rooms,giving me a feel of different quality of spaces from intimate to public.

There were also beautiful picture windows that framed the outside views at strategic points. The architect made sure that the magnificient surroundings were not wasted from the inside.

Looking at the fascade of the Nottingham Contemporary , I got the feeling that the architect was trying too hard to make the building stand out. The green concrete texture and the gold glossy , shine metal created an odd combination that was further enhanced by the convex form of the surface. It looked like a last minute attempt to connect the gallery with the surrounding history. The lace pattern was barely visible unless standing very close.

The Hepworth , meanwhile, was a monolithic block of sculpture made of grey concrete stone.

Overall,I felt that the Hepworth Gallery was a more ideal design for a gallery compared to the Nottingham Gallery , due to its easy circulation , its setting and the maximum use that the architect made of the surrounding context,therefore not overpowering the building with respect to its surrounding , but finding that right balance between the two.

Project I - Origami Study Lamp (Design)

All the research and study helped me summarise what I wanted in my design......

INITIAL SKETCHES

I made origami models to decide which form is the most ideal for the design. The light had to be contained in order to produce the most directed light for the study task. For this purpose the origami had to be closed.

Finally I came up with a form that was easily makeable and closed at the same time. My deesign involved designing a light with a personal touch to it.

The lamp evolved as a functional product that connected to me personally in the form of providing confidence and reassurance to me in my times of struggle by reminding me of my mom who was my guiding light since my youth!

My main material was metal due to the fact that it could be bent and still be stable. Metal also allowed me to create an embellishment on its surface which could be reflected on it thereby creating a pattern on the light. 

FINAL SHEETS

Project I- Origami Study Lamp (Research)

ORIGAMI STUDY LAMP

The aim of this project was to design a product that characterized me!


I love Origami and lighting, so I thought -why not? Make a design that could incorporate  both at the same time.
I wanted to design a light that is compact, portable, and sustainable.

A design that allows me to study and work in any environment .

Step 1, was to  conduct studies on origami to design a suitable form for the light that could be made simple without any complicated folds, in order to complete the making of the light quickly. 

What is Origami? the  art of paper folding, which is often associated with Japanese culture-to transform a flat sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques.

(SOURCE: http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/00219)

Types Of Origami :

ACTION ORIGAMI

SOURCE: http://craftaastic.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/paper-craft-origami.html

technique which involves object moving.The simplest method of origami. Easy and Fast.

MODULAR ORIGAMI

SOURCE: http://alhydgaggdis.blog.com/2014/11/12/modular-origami/

several modules of same origami object used to create a larger object. No scope for flexibility in this type of method. Creates a repetition pattern.

WET-FOLDING ORIGAMI

SOURCE: http://www.giladorigami.com/Articles_Wetfolding.html

used for creating objects with curved edges rather than sharp angles and geometric shapes. Requires water and dampness for it to work.

TESSELATIONS ORIGAMI

SOURCE: http://www.pleatfarm.com/2009/11/08/paper-foldings-by-andrea-russo/

A combination of pleats and folds to create an object along a plane.Seems more linear.Complicated and time consuming.

CASE STUDIES

NAME : Lumio

DESIGNER : Max Gunawan

SOURCE : http://www.designboom.com/design/pop-up-paper-book-lamp-lumio-sf-by-max-gunawan-now-in-production/

SOURCE: http://www.en.ozartsetc.com/2013/02/20/lumio-by-max-gunawan/

    

 A lamp that can be carried anywhere, used for multiple purposes and is considered eco-friendly.

NAME : Folded Origami Table Lamp

DESIGNER : Mirco Kirsch

SOURCE : http://www.designboom.com/design/folded-origami-table-lamp/

 

A light that is pre-maufactured to fold based on origami into a design that is fixed. Similar to origami, a flat metal sheet is used as the base, along which edges are inscribed to fold along.The metal helps the light for stability and the entire process can be completed in few minutes . A fun way for origami lovers!

           

          

                                                            

NAME : Paper LED Torch Light

DESIGNER : Kazuhiro Yamanaka

SOURCE :  http://www.designboom.com/design/paper-led-torch-light-by-kazuhiro-yamanaka/

One of the most neatest and simplest designs I've seen that works so well. I guess true to what Mies Van Der Rohe said "Less Is More".

A small Diode that looks almost negligible is used for the illumination. Based on a mechanism , the light gets turned on and off when you roll and unroll the paper.