exhibition spaces
CI/Sfb:75
Geoffrey Matthews UDC: 727.7
Uniclass: F754 & F755
monolithic institution:
technology
international collections
state museum of
industrial archaelogy national museum
national culture
special national/
social history
international collections
31.1 A museum typology based on: museological approach/interpretive discipline; collection characterization; and institution
characterization
31-1
31-2 Museums, art galleries and temporary exhibition spaces
2.02 Some museums may have only a small proportion of the lecture/
information
permanent collections on public exhibition at any one time, the activity
room lobby store
bulk remaining in storage and accessible for research and sales
conservation purposes only. Well-serviced temporary exhibition
space may be a priority in such cases. Other museums may have
smaller collections attractive enough to the visiting public to office security staff
orientation lobby entrance
warrant the development of sophisticated exhibitions with a workroom
designed life of several years. In such cases storage space may be
needed primarily for the expansion of the collections, and studio
considerable effort may be made to develop educational exhibit areas collection
programmes. workshop storage
• back
storage marking
workshop conservation A loop where the essentially linear storyline leads naturally
open/access and
storage measuring to the beginning, 31.7c
• detailed treatmentof core
An arrangement and satellites where each theme or
of a subject leads back to a central
data
exhibition photography introductory or orientational area, 31.7a
collection
expansion
31.3 A layout concept showing a clear relationship between museum functions and an approach to zoning and expansion
Museums, art galleries and temporary exhibition spaces 31-3
library, restaurant,
theatre, associated
activities and office
space
a b
workshop, collection,
storage, security and
exhibit areas, public staff facilities
circulation and
commercial activities
c d
staff areas
public areas
31.5 Two basic massing concepts that allow public areas to be
organised on one level
e f
• areas
A labyrinthine arrangement where the relationships between
can be varied from exhibition to exhibition by managing 3
the public circulation, 31.7e .
1
4 . 0 2 In any arrangement of exhibition spaces consider the 2
problem of orientation, at the entrance to the museum and at key
decision points in the museum information and visible clues
should be provided to enable the visitor to grasp the organization
of the collections, the interpretive scheme, and the public services
offered by the museum. The aim of orientation is not only easy
understanding of the building layout but more crucially to facilitate 6 4
access to collections, information and museum services.
Many museums carefully control access to all collection storage
spaces. However, it is increasingly worth considering the provision 31.8 Method of layout in open-access storage areas
of open-access storage areas particularly for collection study. The
1 Entrance from main exhibit areas
former requires that storage areas are made secure and that visitors
2 Orientation point
are closely supervised. Open access, on the other hand, requires
3 Ranks of cases glazed on all sides
that secure forms of storage equipment and furniture are arranged
4 Full-height wall cases
in very compact layouts. 31.8 shows a typical layout for a storage
5 Fire exit
area fitted out with ranks of secure display cases. 31.9 shows a
6 Controlled access to staff areas and secure storage
secure storage area with open-floor storage for larger collection
items.
2
1
d e
6 ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION
6.01 For guidance on space requirements and design criteria for
offices, catering facilities, sanitary installations and cloakrooms,
circulation spaces, loading bays, retail areas, auditoria, educational
facilities, laboratories, and libraries reference should be made to
other chapters in this book.
2.2
18
2.0
16 1.8
14 1.6
12 1.4
10
1.2
90
1.0
80
70
0.8
60
50 0.6
relative humidity %
40
0.4
30
20 0.2
10
0
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
dry bulb temperature (°C)
31.12 Psychrometric chart (see Chapter 38) showing safety and comfort zones for museums, art galleries and archives
Passive, low-tech approaches may be considered where climate museums, while Table I gives the ranges of museum interior
and the inertia of the building allow. Full air conditioning may be temperature and relative humidity recommended in various
required to cope with climatic extremes, even in this case the climatic zones.
building envelope should provide a sufficient buffering effect to
prevent sudden changes in relative humidity during periods of 7.02 Air pollution
repair or maintenance. 31.12 shows suitable conditions in Information about local air quality should be sought and used to
decide on the appropriate approach to control. If air filtration is
necessary it should not be of the electrostatic type, as malfunction
Table I Recommended temparatures and relative humidities in various
climatic zones can result in the generation of highly damaging ozone levels.
Table II Recommended maximum light dosages 8.03 Security staffing is also considerably more effective and
economic if all exhibition and open storage areas are on one
Type of collection Dosage Notes
(kilolux-h)
level.