Lighting Design of German Ivory Museum

IALD announced the winners of the 35th International Lighting Design Award some time ago, which recognizes 17 different projects of outstanding quality. The highest-level award, the Radiance Award, was won by the German Ivory Museum. In addition, May 18th is the International Museum Day 2018. Today, ENELETC will take a closer look at the museum's lighting design.

This stylish exhibition space is located in Erbach, Germany. The museum houses some small and delicate ivory items. Licht Kunst Licht provided lighting design for the museum. The lighting design creates an unforgettable contrast between the exhibit and its surroundings, so that people will not be distracted by the form of the exhibit.

Each showcase is a light-emitting cube. In order to maintain the effect required by the design concept, the designer designed miniature projection lamps and LED spotlights in the upper corner of the showcase. These compact projection lamps are provided to guests who come to visit. Focused, glare-free exhibit lighting, and due to clever positioning or careful accessories, the light source outside the showcase is hidden. Such a light environment design gives visitors a visual experience of the exhibits rising from the mist.

The hue is consistent with the design of the exhibition hall, and the color temperature of the light source in the showcase is 3000K. The only deviation is that one third of the wall-cleaning light under the glass pane of the showcase is fogged, and due to the edge lighting installed on the base, the glass presents a soft light environment. The LED light strip is hidden in the base of the showcase, and the 5000K light source makes it cooler than the exhibits and aisle lights. This supports the design concept and creates the impression of a misty move, in which the statuettes miraculously appeared.

Field tests to hide the cables and connectors behind the cover show that the silver anodized elements are less visible than black, so the fittings and cables are adjusted and embedded invisible into the glass beveled joints.

The attention to detail left a deep impression on the appraisers, and one appraiser commented, "Controlling light overflow and reflections has undoubtedly captured the attention of visitors."

In order to ensure safe entry and the safety of the elderly and the disabled, there is a red walkway leading the visitors, connecting different floors and showcases. The wall of the window and its lower armrests are wrapped in red leather. The hidden LED light strips are combined with the flanging on the sides to highlight the surface of the walkway in the corridor, creating a kind of suspension for visitors. Visual effects on the road that are almost invisible.

Visitors can glimpse the unprocessed elephant and mammoth ivory in the last space passing by, causing people to reflect on the exhibition. The space atmosphere created by the miniature spotlights on the ceiling enhances the dramatic effect of the exhibition.

In general, the design team created a visual contrast of different scenes in the exhibition space through hidden, glare-free light sources in the overall light environment design, and at the same time visually highlighted the treasures on display.

Another judge said, "A simple and elegant solution that shows the texture and form of the ivory statue. Amazing!" "In the German Ivory Museum, light and materials are perfectly harmonious."

The museum project has won several lighting design awards, including the 2017 AL Design Award.