Illuminating museums

Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum, Nagasaki

Neues Museum,
Berlin

Shenzhen Museum of History, Shenzhen

Neues Museum,
Berlin

Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, London

Punta della Dogana, Venice

Punta della Dogana,
Venice

Aomori Museum of Art, Aomori City
The art of illuminating artStaging artwork in exhibitions effectively in the best possible light depends on many factors - the cultural environment as much as the zeitgeist. The approach of exhibition organisers and curators varies here between two poles: as neutral a presentation of the exhibits as possible or their dramatically accentuated exaggeration. To help stage art appropriately and flexibly, ERCO has developed a wide range of tools which, for decades now, have been conducive to creating the optimal perception of art using precise and efficient lighting technology.
Need help planning?ERCO lighting experts are available for you all around the world. Benefit from competent advice on how to professionally illuminate your museum project:
www.erco.com/contact
You can also access this page via the following URL:
www.erco.com/museum/en
Museums alter cities and regions The design and construction of museums has developed into a showcase discipline of architecture. Projects such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao alter the perception of whole regions and, as a result, also their economic reality. Light not only makes art visible, it adds impressive scenography.
Presenting and preserving artCollections with enormous material and ideal values need to be placed in the best possible light. The lighting technology has to successfully integrate the often contradictory demands of visitors and art conservationists regarding the protection of the exhibits.
Creating light signals for urban spacesHolistic lighting concepts that also consider the external effect will transform museum buildings into nocturnal symbols of their respective locations. Glazed buildings that shine from the inside out attract attention in and to their environment.
Illuminating walls with artworkSpecial lighting tools are required for illuminating vertical surfaces absolutely evenly. Especially in the area of wallwashers, ERCO offers an unparalleled wide selection of differentiated lighting instruments.
For further information go to: Vertical Illuminance Tutorial film
Accentuating points of interest with spotlightsHigh quality spotlights provide accent lighting in museums.
The criteria needed to ensure the quality of a scenic lighting installation are: the availability of different light intensity distribution characteristics, an extensive range of accessories and details such as lockable positioning.
Learn how to illuminate works of art in the Guide, e.g. under: Combining light from different directions
LED technology for quality lighting and energy savingsThe advantages of LED technology include excellent luminous efficacy, long life and a light spectrum without IR and UV radiation. Brilliant light and excellent colour rendition are further bonuses of efficient LED lighting.
Want to know more?
LED Lighting
Exhibitions in the context of scenography
New additions to collections, new media and new forms of presentation all make intensive use of scenographic strategies and methods. They require appropriate, flexibly controllable lighting systems.
For more information on lighting control go to Light System DALI

Light Board
Introduction
Product overview

Logotec
Introduction
Product overview

Quintessence
Introduction
Product overview

Quintessence round
Introduction
Product overview

Quintessence square
Introduction
Product overview

Floor washlights
Introduction
Product overview

Nadir IP67
Introduction
Product overview

Powercast
Introduction
Product overview

Grasshopper
Introduction
Product overview

Axis Walklight
Introduction
Product overview

Focalflood
Introduction
Product overview

Lightcast
Introduction
Product overview

Cylinder
Introduction
Product overview

Midipoll
Introduction
Product overview

Tesis IP68
Introduction
Product overview

LED orientation luminaires IP68
Introduction
Product overview

Light System DALI
Introduction
Product overview
Bonnefanten MuseumThe Bonnefanten Museum displays items such as magnificent Flemish religious art. Whether small figurines in the well-directed beam of an Optec LED "spot" or large format paintings discreetly accentuated with "flood" characteristic: the new light emphasises the freshness of the presentation.
Grimm Brothers' House MuseumOptec LED spotlights in daylight white and warm white enable designs with colour temperature contrasts, prevent damage to the exhibits, and reduce the operating costs.
National GalleryThe National Gallery in London is one of the world's most important art galleries. Its decision to go for ERCO's LED lighting makes it an even greater leading light in more ways than one.
National Portrait GalleryFamous British faces - since 1856 this has been the subject matter of the traditional gallery in London. The change to LED lighting makes the museum very "avant-garde".
Neues Museum, BerlinDavid Chipperfield sets new standards for the treatment of the historical substance of a building in Berlin's "Neues Museum". The lighting optimally brings out the effect of both architecture and exhibits - including the world-famous Nefertiti bust.
L'Almoina Archaeological CentreRecently redesigned, the L'Almoina Archaeological Centre is now fitted with ERCO lighting tools to provide appropriate effects on the tour through various eras of the past.
The National Art CenterThe N.A.C is the leading museum of contemporary art in Japan. On 48,000m², Eclipse spotlights accentuate the artwork, while the building area is illuminated by the diffuse light of a luminous ceiling.
The UffiziThe Uffizi accommodate one of the finest art collections in the world. The museum's exhibition architects and technicians have continuously worked with lighting equipment from ERCO for many years now.
- Museum projects in the Light Scout
- Places with museums illuminated by ERCO
ERCO illuminates over 7000 museums and galleries worldwide. Curators and gallery owners opt for ERCO's lighting tools and expertise to ensure professional lighting for their exhibits.

Lighting technology in museums reconciles contrary requirements: visitors expect good visibility and attractively designed lighting for the exhibits, whereas curators require optimal protection.

Light directs our view and focuses the attention on details. The direction of light, illuminance and the light distribution all determine the effect of an object in its surroundings.
Published in April 2012
Museum im Palais, Graz
Published in November 2011
Vertical illuminance for exterior lighting: Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha
Published in April 2011
Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht
Published in April 2010
Monumentally consistent: the Neues Museum, Berlin
Published in December 2008
Central Garage car museum, Bad Homburg
Published in September 2008
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum
Published in April 2008
The Suzhou Historic Museum
Published in December 2006
Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum
Published in September 2006
Max Ernst Museum, Brühl
Published in April 2006
Figge Art Museum, Davenport (Iowa)
Published in August 2005
Stuttgart Art Museum
Published in April 2005
Rock'n'Pop Museum, Gronau
Published in December 2004
California African-American Museum,
Published in December 2003
Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin
Published in April 2002
Norwegian Museum of Aviation, Bodø
Published in September 2001
Georg Schäfer Museum: A Collector's Museum in Schweinfurt
Published in April 2001
Queen Elizabeth II Court, British Museum, London
Published in April 2000
Technology Museum, Vienna
Published in August 1999
Museum for modern art, Straßburg
Published in December 1998
Antiquities Collection in the Altes Museum, Berlin








Bonnefanten Museum
Grimm Brothers' House Museum
National Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
Neues Museum, Berlin
L'Almoina Archaeological Centre
The National Art Center
The Uffizi
























