THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LIGHTING IN SHAPING CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Lighting design for cultural spaces has taken on a renewed significance. The application of illuminating products and exhibits in museum spaces, brand experience spaces and retail outlets has never been more pertinent than it is today. It might not be the installation of lighting products in a dark-lit alleyway, rather the functional installation of illuminating products in the infrastructure which can help in the improvement of aesthetic and functional experience of the entire space for users. To clarify, the simplest way of understanding architectural lighting is identifying that it is a combination of technology, and attention to design detail — which facilitates the improvement of functionality and aesthetics in a space.

Lighting considerations are becoming crucial to evoke moods and feelings — as part of larger spatial experiences, in addition to determining human well-being and comfort. In cultural spaces, such as museums, lighting plays the vital role of illuminating exhibits and highlighting displays precisely, and choosing the optimal light source, with the required specifications is paramount. The lighting system must also be examined for its flexibility, if and whether needed, its CRI (Colour Rendering Index), temperature, life and efficacy. 

Where each exhibit in a museum is a character brought to life through lighting design, the creativity and expertise of the lighting designer is tested to its limits. At Vizion, we collaborated with architects and lighting consultants to devise an illumination strategy for the Heritage Transport Museum in Gurugram. The design language of the building employs a stark industrial aesthetic, with exhibits displayed in a custom-made realistic setting, resonating with the context and era they famously defined.    

To highlight each exhibit in the best possible manner and engage visitors through a dramatic interplay of light and shadow; we created a comprehensive lighting solution, which encompassed on-site prototyping, supply, and installation of approximately 500 bespoke light fittings for roughly 2500 exhibits.

Featuring a black matt finish, track-mounted light systems were designed in the form of aluminum pipes; the solution makes use of a flexible unit that can be adjusted by twisting the individual parts manually.

Cultural spaces continue to push the boundaries of spatial narratives, weaving stories around each exhibit, be it a vintage car or an old canvas. How these exhibits are made to come alive and inspire awe among visitors is addressed largely by lighting designers and lighting experts.

Vishal Singh

Guest Author Founder and Managing Director, Vizion Lighting