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Lighting of a museum: what to consider

23 Aug 2021

The lighting of the museum is an aspect that often goes unnoticed but plays a crucial role in the experience of every visitor.

Creating an atmosphere of discovery, a unique and immersive experience, accompanying history, and helping to preserve everything a museum contains is something that could not be accomplished without proper lighting.

 

 

Here you will find all the information you need to take into account in lighting a museum to fulfill these functions and lead to a unique and engaging experience for the people who visit it.

 

iluminacion de un museo

Lighting function in a museum


Lighting in a museum is one of the most important factors in achieving various goals such as:

  • Complete the museum function, its artistic part, and knowledge
  • Create an immersive experience for visitors
  • Contribute to the preservation of works and objects in exhibitions
  • Create an environment that encourages discovery, curiosity, and learning
  • Highlight the most important details and objects
  • Guide visitors

While at first glance it may seem that the lighting in a museum only serves the function of providing visibility and creating an engaging atmosphere, it is also responsible for much of the overall experience. that people experience when visiting. In addition, it is a crucial element in the preservation of the works and it is important to take into account various parameters so that it is not uncomfortable or harmful to the objects in each exhibition.

 

The peculiarity of lighting in a museum is that visitors do not notice that the paintings are illuminated. When lit softly, they improve texture and colors.

Lighting levels

 

It is important to keep in mind that there are some factors in the lighting of a museum that needs to be carefully controlled and planned, such as lighting levels.

And it is that the exposure of the works to certain levels of lighting can suppose wear and an irreversible deterioration, by what is of vital importance which does not exceed certain luxuries nor a determined time of exposure.

In this sense, the main issues that must be taken into account when planning the lighting of a museum are:

 

The sensitivity of the works


The way they will be perceived by visitors

iluminacion de un museo 1

 

Color temperature


Color temperature is a characteristic of light that largely determines how we perceive works and even space in general, so it is important when planning the lighting of a museum. This is a factor measured in degrees Kelvin that distinguishes light into three types:

  • Warm: less than 3300K, with orange and red tones.
  • Neutral: about 4000K.
  • Cold: between 5,000 and 6,500 K, with shades of blue.


When lighting a painting or a sculpture, the color temperature should be ideal for each work. Normally, we use values ​​between 3000K and 4500K, with a very high CRI, between 95 and 97. It is the CRI that has the ability of lighting to reproduce colors well, so you have to pay attention to its correction.

 

Types of luminaires


When talking about types of luminaires to use in museum lighting, the most common is to use:

Recessed with downlights. These types of luminaires are used for general, fixed and passage lighting, as well as for room lighting. It is important to create good uniformity so as not to create shadows.

  • Projectors. They are used to illuminate works of art because the works are traveling and their orientation is likely to have to move.
  • Swimwear. A wall-mounted swimsuit is a type of spotlight for abundantly illuminating the wall and is used for very large works, like the Guernica.
  • Suspended lights. These types of fixtures are used only to decorate specific spaces, common areas, or workspaces.

In this way, it is possible to achieve lighting centered on the works, guiding museum visitors and creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.


Style


The way the light is distributed and the fixtures used for it are two key factors in the style of lighting. In the case of museum lighting, certain types of lighting are recommended to create the perfect atmosphere:

  • Occasional or accent lighting to highlight works or certain details.
  • Basic general lighting to provide brightness.
  • Uniform and enveloping lighting.


To avoid glare, it is advisable to use luminaires with a fairly sunken light source or to use accessories such as a beehive.

With these types of lighting, the objective is to obtain maximum visual comfort and an attractive atmosphere consistent with the exhibitions.

 

iluminacion de un museo 2

 

Scene creation


With the combination of different types of lighting in a museum, it is possible to create scenes suitable for each specific area and job.

In this way, works of art and sculptures are illuminated, highlighting above all around them, shining among the crowd, and focusing all their attention with focused light.

 

IRC required


If there is one place where the IRC of luminaires is gaining importance, it is in museums. The lighting of a museum has, among all its functions, the purpose of presenting the works of art so that people can perceive the emotions that are transmitted with them.

This is why it is essential that the luminaires used in the exhibitions have a high CRI, and can be a little lower in the rest of the general lighting of the museum. This will be crucial for people to perceive each of the colors of the works as accurately as possible.

At Faro Barcelona, ​​we know that lighting in a museum is one of the most important aspects that can completely condition the visitor experience.

That is why we are at your disposal to advise you on the best way to use lighting in a museum and with a wide range of luminaires to achieve the perfect ambiance at every point.

Do not hesitate to contact us!