Design of Exhibition Lighting Considering Damaging Impact of Light

An important problem of museum exhibition lighting design is finding a balance between illumination conditions providing good visibility of exhibits and preserving them from damaging light impact. The article presents the study conducted as part of design of lighting for the Leonardo da Vinci Hall in the State Hermitage Museum. It is based on analysis of the data collected during lighting audit, modelling of the existing daylighting and electric lighting and comparison of the results of these activities with requirements of the applicable museum illumination regulations. The results of the study contain the substantiated conclusions on disadvantages of the existing lighting system of the hall and the design solution for modernisation of the lighting installation with recommendations for adjustment of the amount and chromaticity of daylighting and electric lighting, with the diagram of arrangement and aiming, and with the specification of lighting equipment. The study demonstrates that meeting the requirements to standardised vertical illuminance on exhibits does not guarantee that total exposure to daylighting and electric lighting does not exceed the limit allowable for their preservation. The analysis points out this problem, which is applicable to most of museums and galleries, and the developed lighting design for the said hall demonstrates a simple and affordable solution of it.