Daylight for the National Gallery of Ireland
In June the National Gallery of Ireland, located in the heart of Dublin, reopened to the public after extensive refurbishment.
A completely new concept has been developed in order to better present the permanent collection, which includes paintings by Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Goya, Monet and Picasso. The planning of the refurbishments as well as the creation of a sculpture courtyard were carried out by Heneghan Peng Architects of Dublin. Bartenbach lighting design was responsible for developing a concept for both the natural and artificial lighting.
The museum's skylights were provided with sun protection grids. The micro-grids prevent direct exposure to the sun but still allow ample amounts of daylight to enter the building. This controlled daylight illumination also meets preservation requirements. The skylights can be completely closed, should the need arise. The artificial lighting system installed in the museum is based on LED technology, making it very durable and nearly maintenance-free. The conductor rails for the wall washers and spotlights have been optimally integrated into the historic atmosphere. The colour of the light can be adjusted as needed to fit the exhibits and space used.