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Museums & Exhibitions

Museum of the Bavarian Kings

Hohenschwangau, Germany
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Architects
Staab Architekten GmbH, Berlin
Client
Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds, München, presented by the Schlosshotel Lisl GmbH & Ko.KG, Hohenschwangau
Occupant
Schlosshotel Lisl GmbH & Ko. KG
Project size
1,000 sqm
Photos
Marcus Ebener
Completion
2011
Lighting budget
0.7 million euros
Awards
2

Staging the History of the Wittelsbach Dynasty – The Museum of the Bavarian Kings in Hohenschwangau

After an extensive renovation the Museum of the Bavarian Kings opened its doors in September 2011. As a conservation and extension of the historical Hotel Alpenrose, the museum is located in Germany’s most romantic and picturesque Alps in authentic vicinity of the royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. The museum provides for 10,800 sft exhibition space and houses a permanent unique exhibition displaying the history of the Wittelsbach dynasty and their Bavarian Kings.

Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG

A careful handling of the listed historical building structure and the bold addition of a barrel vault with three naves have created museum spaces that take the visitor by surprise due to their very distinct characteristics. State-of-the-art lighting technologies and custom-designed LED systems have been employed to support the remarkable architecture and emphasize the precious exhibits. After several model experiments and mock-ups, a solution was found, which on the one hand preserves the diamond-shaped coffered layout of the steel construction with its design reference to the existing ceiling in the foyer and, on the other hand keeps the room-facing ceiling surface free from technical installations.

The architecture-integrated lighting solution creates an appropriate setting for the exhibition and is carried out as a luminous ceiling: A sculptural barrel roof with rhombic steel structure is clad with 866 translucent and LED back-lit ceiling panels. The soft light in a warm white hue conveys an impression of lightness, grandeur and festivity. The lighting concept does not limit itself to the building interior. The luminous ceiling with its geometrical grid of luminous dots unfold their stunning effect through the glazing of the galleries. They enrich the romantically charged landscape by a highlight.