Floor Plan- Avg Lux Values (lx)
Whitworth Art Gallery
Key
Manchester, England
Glass Cafe
Gallery 5 125 lx
Corrdior
Luminaire direction
22 lx Art/Sculpture
325 lx 1 lx
1 lx 54 lx
Gallery 4
117 lx 23 lx
Track Lighting
23 lx
Gallery 3
32 lx C
Performance Space 50 lx
Pollux Lighting
Gallery 2
Daylight direction
7 lx 4 lx 7 lx Gallery 1
58 lx 23 lx 58 lx
General Lighting Strategy
Whitworth Art Gallery takes the environmental parameters of temperature and relative humidity for the 55,000 items in the gallery collection. Taking a sustainable approach, prorammable track lighting which delivers monitored cumulative lighting exposure for the displayed art work and sculptures. Blinds, louvres, and brise soleil help control the use of daylight. A high number of LED lighting which detect light intensity and adjusts its lux value accordinly are used to make the highest possible use of daylight or dim artificial lights where possible, reducing the overall carbon footprint. Currently, there are two lighting systems at the Whitworth – a newer one that got installed during the redevelopment in 2015 covering 4 exhibition galleries and an older system that is within 8 gallery spaces. With the older (Non-DALI) system the gallery aims to slowly migrate over from Halogen to LED as they dont create UV OR IV light which damage the art over a period of time. LED’s also have a higher rate of luminous efficacy ,emit less heat, and are more enery efficient.
Entrance
150 lx
Panel Lights (Tube) Downlight (General) (Asymmetric Distribution)
Adjustments made to adapt to natural eye
Each gallery at Whitoworth, displays different type of Art. The type of lighting used, the distance from the luminaire, depends on the type of art displayed. The intensity of the light is important to display the art piece successfully and to achieve the right CRI (90 for vibrant colours) different lights such as spot lighting, flood lit and wall washing have been used across the galleries. The sensitivity of the media on display and the consideration of mpact on the natural eye was also kept in mind.Lux values found at Whitworth :Sensitive (drawings, textiles, prints, works on paper, wood) – 50 lux. Moderate (oils, plastics, acrylics) – 250 lux . Non-sensitive (ceramics, stones, metals) up to 500 lux
Gallery 4
30 °
35 °
To prevent glare from spotlights, lights should not be aimed above approximately 35°
Track Lighting in Gallery 4 (Lightboard)
[Lighting Specification Book Page 18]
Role of Sunlight + Daylight + Artifcial Light [LG8: Lighting for museums and art galleries Page 36]
Daylight provides excellent colour rendering values, confining with the museums low carbon policy. The Glass dome activates the eye photopic vision, as the centre of entrance is lit by penetrating light, which falls on the floor and is kept away from gallery spaces. The shop and coffee bar surrounds the central reception area, which all make use of daylight with some general artifical lighting. Penetrating sunlight should not be allowed to reach the exhibit areas.
Artifical light on entrance
Lighting on building exterior
Pollux lighting is a form of spotlight used at Whitworth gallery. Due to it being a new technology, it includes contour and zoom spotlights with LED. They have sharp edged beam which is adjusted to suit the art pieces and sculptures in the gallery to create effect. 30 °
30 °
Placement of TrackLighting
Zoom Spotlights
Lighting organisation at information desk
Direct(Task)
Diffused(General)
Pollux
Panel
Gallery 3
Gallery 4 is the only gallery in Whitworth which does not have any downlights (general lighting), instead it makes use of natural light. The other four galleries all make use of artifical light, and even though they are auto dimmable, daylight would still be more effective to save energy. Hence making gallery 4 the most successful one in terms of sustainability and reducing carbon footprint.
Contour Spotlights
Defined beams of light to create visual effects to reveal highlights in exhibitions. [LG8: Lighting for museums and art galleries Page 7]
Examples of how they are used at Whitworth
Direct(Task)
Lightboard Use of Daylight
Diffused(General)
Downlight
Use of Artificial Lighting
New Glass Cafe with minimal artificial light
The DALI smart system at Whitworth, monitors the natural light levels, as a mean of sustainable approach, allowing for the adjustment of the artificial light/ natural light (through blinds) accordingly whilst maintain the light levels required. Gallery 4, has an curved roof, which allows both artfical light (Lightboard Track light) and natural light through louvres. The grey areas marked on the plan of Gallery 4, represents the cinematic gallery rooms, with 0-1(lx). Forcing the rods to completely takeover due to the low lighting levels. These rods allow the Figure 8 - LCD - Gallery 4 eye to precieve the lcd screens and watch the movies displayed clearly. The central square on the plan has a intermediate lux value and it is designed this way because darkness adaptation coming from a bright space can take significant amount of time, Lighting/ Tempertaure/ therefore it allows time for the eye to adjust beforeDayight control device entering into a space which is completely dark.found in Gallery 4
Contour spotlights use edged light beam to display crisp artwork colors and reveal fine textures.
Gallery 2
Gallery 2
Gallery 3
Luminaires between the wall and cieling, provide light to the room hence called the ‘cove’. Flouorescent tubes (diffuse light) are used to cover the distance.Cove lighting is only found in Gallery 1. Each gallery at Whitworth have different correlated colour temperatures.
Track Lighting in use
Reflections
Reflections are found,due to daylight coming from main entrance area (reflection of main entrance visible on displayed art)Hence this gallery does not display sensitive art pieces, and is the only gallery to display sculptures.
Lighting Layout of Gallery 2 Low Colour Temperature (K)
The courtyards at Whitworth which are illuminated with natural and artifical lighting surround the gallery, this imagge shows how the the gallery is connected with the courtyard spaces, This also allows some light come into the gallery and seperates the galleries and other spaces.
Track Lighting (Lightboard)
Gallery 2, has a sudden change of mood and the eye transitions coming from a bright space to a darker one. Hence, this gallery make use of Lightboard (Tracklighting) to reveal textures of art, and forces the visitors to observe the details of the paintings carefully.
Lighting Layout of Gallery 3
Change of Transitions
High Colour Temperature (K)
Gallery cinematic rooms [LG8: Lighting for museums and art galleries Page 6] Sectional drawing representing, track lighgting and lourves for natural light in Whitworths spacious gallery.
Scoptic/Night vision
Whitworth makes use of zoom spotlights as smaller art works can be accentuated effectively.
[LG8: Lighting for museums and art galleries Page 12]
A balance is kept to provide the visitors witht the right level of illuminance. The 2015 extension included a seperate and spacious cafe finished with glass. Hence making use of minimal artifical lighting. Whitworth’s circulation corridors also make minimal use of artificial lighting, and get natural light entering the building through glass facades, and windows.
Spotlight (Accentuation) Floodlights (Washlight) Lens Wallwashers Spotlights used accentu- Floodlighting used for square Wallwashing found in 4 ate art work and architec- shaped paintings and sculp- galleries, results in unitural details effecitively. tures found in Gallery 1 form vertical illuminance
Pollux - Track Lighting (Task) Lighting organisation upon entrance
Cove Lighting
Reflection
30 °
LG8: Lighting for museums and art galleries Page 20 (Diagrams)
30 °
Reflection
Variability in Lighting Conditions
At Whitworth there is a transition of mood and atmosphere at every galleries which all vary in lux values. Highglighting the change of space. The gallery spaces have different lighting systems for the specific art they represent. Varying colour temperatures, at each gallery also enhances the visitors mood as it affects the colour appearance of the space.
Types of Artifical Lighting Used Lightboard - Track Lighting (Task) CRI - 4000-3500K The lightboard track lighting is applied at Whitworth, replacing the older technology due to its benefits. Colour effects are achieved with the RGBW luminaire and white light optimises the colour temperature for the illumanated art/sculpture. These track lights are dimmable with differrent lights colours and distrubutions, they can be used to strike the art piece from various useful angles.
Lighting Layout of Gallery 1 Moderate Colour Temperature (K)
Critique
Output of Artwork
Track Lighting in use(Pollux)
Gallery 3 makes the visitor experience the transition(from gallery 2 to gallery 3) due to the change of illuminance, and this space being much brighter, would make the visitor adapt to the lighting. Downlights are used for the general brightness of the room. Whereas Pollux lighting (task based) with panels attatched, strike the paintings from a notable distance which illuminates the paintings and the floor.
Principle of accent lighting is followed, as the layout of the lighting is coordinated witht the different tasks for the specific light used in this gallery. Art - Pollux (SpotLight) Other Space - Downlights
Mezzanine Level Gallery spaces Low Colour Temperature (K) The gallery space at the Mezzanine level makes use of Backlighting being the only gallery at the Whitworth to do so.
Backlight
Backlighting illuminates the subject from the back.The dark atmosphere , and the use of Backlighting in use backlighting attracts the visi- The intensity of tor from distance to come and contrast between see the displayed art piece. bright and dark Perspective Lighting Layout Lightboard and Pollux Track light- This gallery also has a high regions dictates the ing are used here, but are not level of contrast, backlighg atmosphere within aimed towards the displayed art ting also helps to seprate the exhibition space. and are kept dim as the art is althe art and the backrgound. ready
lit
through
backlighting.
Lighting for museum and galleries Page 10