Lesson 14:Designing Public Space – Cultural Facilities
Space Plan
The space plan and interior design of the museum are highly dependent on the focus of the collection. INTERIOR SPACES may be designed in keeping with the exterior architectural style or may vary to best display the items in each gallery.
WALLS: Each gallery needs an appropriate backdrop for the specific exhibits. These backgrounds must be easy to modify and adapt as possible so that gallery space is not closed longer than necessary when exhibits are changed. Wall treatments:
it should be easily changed.
It well readily hide holes due to hanging methods
and are easily cleanable.
Textured wall coverings and paint are common wall treatments
Neutral and noncolor backgrounds are traditionally used for museum displays.
Bold colors are used to attract the attention of the viewer.
Display cases:
It must be provided and correlated to the items in the collection for those exhibits
Museums usually have a shop within the facility where displays can be fabricated.
Display cases are generally constructed of metal, wood and glass with attention to the need for appropriate conservation materials and methods.
Display cases require lighting fixtures or have other power needs.
A museum lighting consultant can provide guidance on the types of fixtures needed to safely illuminate items in the collection
Display cases allow visitors a close-up view of the objects while protecting them within locked cabinets.
Flooring
A gallery with hardwood flooring and wallboard walls could be quite noisy.
Carpeting is a quieter surface than hardwood flooring.
It is more comfortable to walk
Solid or tone-on-tone carpets in a neutral color or noncolor, or medium-value or muted colors are used
Furnishings
A sturdy upholstered or non upholstered, open legged broad bench is preferred for galleries.
Leather, vinyl, and tightly woven commercial grade fabrics are preferred when upholstered benches used.
The HVAC system foSr air quality and temperature control directly affects the preservation of the collection. The most important issues in the HVAC operations of a museum is climate control: relative humidity. LIGHTING in the exhibit spaces is a major concern for the museum. More emphasis is placed on the control of natural light. Lighting highlights objects on display. The intensity of all forms of light should be controlled in a museum. SECURITY is one of the most important issues in the design of all museums. A museum security consultant will be involved during programming to evaluate. As part of security planning, non gallery spaces such as museum shop should not be accessible through exhibit space. Location, ventilation, and acoustical control are all issues that need to be addressed in order to maintain the separation between food services and exhibit spaces.
Participants