VMFA Lighting Tour

On Thursday, September 9th, my lighting professor (Hi Rob!) arranged a tour for our class of the new wing of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts with SMBW senior architect, Andrea Quilici. SMBW partnered with London-based architect, Rick Mather, on the expansion, and Andrea's tour focused primarily on the lighting design techniques and solutions featured throughout the space.

I learned that the VMFA, originally built in 1936, is the 10th largest museum in the United States (go Richmond!). Rick Mather's entry to a design competition won him the commission - primarily due to his intentions to add a European-style plaza at the main entrance, a sculpture garden with subterranean parking garage, and a desire to create clear, directional architecture. Once inside the museum, Andrea explained how natural light plays a large role in this idea of directional architecture, as it is used as a reference point and source of (re)orientation throughout the museum. Andrea spoke at length of "art fatigue," and how one can become quite overwhelmed in a museum upon being bombarded by exhibit, after exhibit, after exhibit. SMBW and Mather made sure to include several lounges, or areas in which a visitor can rest and recharge, by re-connecting with the outside environment. Skylights, windows, and light alcoves provide these moments of re-orientation, reminding patrons that life still exists beyond the walls of the museum.

The large atrium serves as the new wing's central axis, and its two enormous windows provide a clear view straight through the belly of the museum. The floating ceiling is peppered with skylights and its architectural details are highlighted at night with colored LED lights (more on this later). 

Around 5:00 pm, sunlight pierced through the shades on the large, rear window of the atrium, creating an incredible pattern of light on the museum's floor. Despite the sharp contrast between light and shadow depicted below, the atrium was still incredibly light and airy, thanks to the large, unshaded window on the opposite end, as well as multiple skylights.

This is the bare wall situated immediately to the right of the cafe (pictured above). The shades had been raised and a pool outside casts its reflections of sunlight onto the wall. The glimmering light from the ripples is a piece of art in itself!

Expanses of glass articulate each level of the museum, breaking up space via multiple reflections of natural light. The picture below was taken from the first floor of the museum next to the glass elevator. Even in the museum's basement, one can re-orient him/herself after emerging from an enclosed/secluded gallery into the more open area with a quick glimpse of natural daylight.

From the basement, one can appreciate this cool grid beneath the stairs. While the light appears completely blue in color....

... it is really comprised of blue, red, and green LED lights!

Andrea pointed out the various ways that light is used to illuminate art throughout the museum. Below are LED lights that have been set into a built-in track both below and above framed pieces. Andrea mentioned that these were actually installed incorrectly, and should be less easily noticed by museum patrons.

Our tour began at 6 pm and lasted approximately 2 hours. By 8 pm the sun had set, allowing us to appreciate the artificial lights used throughout the atrium. Purple LEDs articulate the curved ribbon walls and floating ceiling, creating a really neat, visual effect:

We learned so much on this incredible tour. I'm excited to incorporate many of the lighting practices and solutions Andrea discussed in a studio project we're working on right now.

Kate