Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Licht Kunst Licht AG
Museums & Exhibitions

National Museum of Qatar

Doha, Qatar
Architects
Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Paris
Architect of record
QDC - Qatar Design Consortium, Doha
Museography
Renaud Pierard Studio, Nantes
Client
Qatar Museums Authority
Occupant
National Museum Qatar
Project size
7,000 sqm (exhibition area, divided into 11 galleries)
Photos
Danica O. Kus
Completion
2019
Overall building budget
390 million euros
Awards
4

Blossoming Light in Expressive Room Sculptures – An Orchestration with High Contrast Lighting for the Permanent Exhibition of the National Museum of Qatar

With its ceremonious inauguration, the National Museum of Qatar opened its gates on March 27th 2019 after more than 10 years of design and construction. The breathtaking architecture of the 40,000 square meter large annex by Pritzker Prize laureate Jean Nouvel was inspired by a sand rose. For the permanent exhibition, Licht Kunst Licht developed an architecturally integrated light narrative that suspensefully accompanies the visitor through the natural and cultural history of the Gulf state.

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

The exhibition is characterized by exhibits in diversified display cases, video projections and screens. The visitor moves between very different, yet adjacent visual realms, requiring a powerful orchestration of the exhibits and spaces.

Thus emerged the concept of two light layers: The illumination provided by glare-controlled adjustable luminaires in the ceiling and the emphasis of individual exhibits in show cases with integrated and largely invisible miniature luminaires.

The flush recessed pinhole spot lights, adjustable via handheld remote control, maintain a specific distance from projections and screens as well as from show cases with integral lighting. Free standing exhibits and highly transparent displays, on the other hand, were emphasized with brilliant light from the ceiling.

Three different beam angles are used – spot, medium and flood, combined with optical accessories if and where required. The placement of the appropriate light photometries in the highly sculptural spaces occurred with the assistance of a virtual 3D-BIM model and detail sections. 

All lighting equipment inside the show cases are modular: A live profile accommodates concealed miniature spotlights and linear light inserts, that are placed and aimed accordingly.

As a whole, the orchestration of the various themes involves all senses of the visitors who are practically absorbed by the exhibition by quality of the abundance of impressions.

Each lighting solution is therefore carefully adapted to the respective show case’s location and contents. Some displays occupy an entire space, others intertwine with walls or floors, or become large magazines of shelving. 

All lighting equipment inside the show cases are modular: A live profile accommodates concealed miniature spotlights and linear light inserts, that are placed and aimed accordingly. 

As a whole, the orchestration of the various themes involves all senses of the visitors who are practically absorbed by the exhibition by quality of the abundance of impressions.

“A real challenge was the placement of the appropriate light photometries in the highly sculptural spaces. Since 2D plans were minimally helpful, each zone and exhibit had to be verified in the virtual 3D BIM model and detail sections. The goal was to maintain a sense of order in the ceiling layout and to align fittings with gridlines and special reference points.”

– Martina Weiss, Licht Kunst Licht AG