The Archäologische Staatssammlung München, near the English Garden, has undergone a transformation that combines modern lighting design with its architectural heritage. Built in 1976, the museum’s bold Corten steel façade reflected the spirit of its era. After a renovation and expansion by Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos, the museum now combines cultural and architectural significance. The lighting design plays a key role in enhancing the visitor experience, preserving artifacts, and maintaining the museum’s aesthetic integrity, creating a balance between functionality and visual comfort.
The lighting design focused on concealing light sources to preserve the museum’s architecture. Spotlights were integrated into the ceiling grid, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic, while custom lighting solutions were developed for display cases, ensuring luminaires remained hidden from all angles. This strategy minimized glare, making the museum accessible and comfortable for all visitors, including children and wheelchair users. Precise illumination was provided to ensure visitors could interact with the exhibits without distraction.
A dual lighting strategy was used to faithfully represent the natural colours of the exhibits. Cool white light highlighted fine details and textures, while warm white light complemented organic materials like wood and stone. By adjusting the intensity of the light sources, the design achieved an accurate color balance, enhancing the exhibits’ visual appeal while preserving their authenticity.
Shadows played an important role in shaping the museum’s spatial experience. The lighting design addressed shadows in three ways: those cast by objects onto surfaces beneath, those between objects, and the shadows of display case edges. Where possible, shadows were minimized, but where unavoidable, they were intentionally used to create dynamic visual patterns on surrounding surfaces. This added to the immersive experience and made shadows an intentional part of the storytelling.
The lighting was carefully targeted to eliminate light spill onto non-essential areas, maintaining focus on the exhibits. This strategy enhanced clarity, reduced energy consumption, and improved the visual experience without distracting from the displays.
A visual hierarchy was created to guide visitors through the space. Key objects were brightly lit to emphasize their significance, while secondary elements were dimmed to create depth, helping visitors intuitively navigate the museum.
The lighting system was designed to protect sensitive artifacts from UV and infrared damage. High-efficiency LEDs, with minimal heat output, were used, and dimming capabilities were incorporated for delicate exhibits, ensuring their preservation.
Sustainability was a central focus. The lighting system used energy-efficient LEDs with a long lifespan, minimizing maintenance and reducing the museum’s carbon footprint. The system also prioritized inclusivity, ensuring the museum was accessible to all visitors.
In conclusion, the lighting design for the Archäologische Staatssammlung München integrates concealed lighting, precise color rendering, shadow management, and sustainability. This approach enhances the exhibits and the museum’s architecture, providing an engaging, functional, and sustainable environment for all visitors.
