{"id":106697,"date":"2022-03-07T09:15:50","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T14:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/?p=106697"},"modified":"2022-03-08T11:03:46","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T16:03:46","slug":"architects-guide-museum-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/practice\/details\/architects-guide-museum-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"An Architect’s Guide To: Museum Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Emma Walshaw\u00a0is the founder of\u00a0First In Architecture\u00a0and\u00a0Detail Library, and has written a number of books aiming to facilitate a better understanding of construction and detailing.\u00a0<\/i>First In Architecture<\/i><\/a>\u00a0is a website providing resources and guides for architects and students.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

A museum is a building that houses collections of art, history, or other objects. Museums are often designed to be beautiful and inviting spaces for visitors. They can also serve as educational facilities where people can learn about the world around them. This guide will provide you with information on how to design museums and what features they should include in order to effectively communicate their message.<\/p>\n

Museum Planning<\/h2>\n

Museums can vary considerably in size, type and purpose; it is, therefore, important to narrow down the particular features and context for the project as concepts are developed. Some museums employ large amounts of staff \u2014 qualified experts who curate, manage and conserve the collections. Other museums, however, may require very few staff to oversee the exhibits.<\/p>\n

While there is no standard formula for space planning and areas for a museum, due to their variations, much of the requirements will come from the clients brief, type of collection, purpose and so on. It is important to understand the museum’s mission, and create an interesting layout for the collections. Key to this is the circulation through the spaces and how the visitors interact with the exhibits.<\/p>\n

Welcoming visitors within the first few feet of a museum should be one of its biggest priorities. It’s often helpful to have some sort of directional signage that leads people to different sections or exhibits, and provides information about current happenings in the building. Museums are typically designed with clear flow paths so that visitors can easily find their way around, while also providing plenty of places where they’re free to wander and explore at will.<\/p>\n

Design Guidelines<\/h2>\n
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Center for Architecture Sarasota<\/a> by Guy Peterson Office for Architecture<\/a>, Sarasota, FL, United States\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Accessibility<\/h3>\n

It is important that the museum is accessible to all and, to ensure that it is not an afterthought, access should be taken into consideration throughout the design process. The building must be able to accommodate people with any kind of disability.<\/p>\n

This can fall into three different areas:<\/p>\n

1. Approach and Entrance<\/h4>\n

Users must be able to approach and enter the building safely and easily. If the building is an existing historic building with restrictions to access, it could be worth considering an alteration to the main point of entry to allow for everyone to access the building in a more convenient location.<\/p>\n

2. Circulation<\/h4>\n

All visitors should be able to circulate through the building using the same routes, with or without a disability. Ideally, lifts should be near to main stair access to allow everyone to experience the same flow through the spaces. Disabled facilities should be available on every floor to allow easy access.<\/p>\n

3. Staff<\/h4>\n

All other areas not open to the public should be easily accessible for a wheelchair user, with suitable facilities on the office level.<\/p>\n

All access requirements will be noted in local building regulations; it is important to adhere to these guidelines. However, I would always aim to go above and beyond the minimum requirements to make sure access and use of the museum is enjoyed by all equally as much as possible.<\/p>\n

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Nancy and Rich Kinder Museum Building<\/a> by Steven Holl Architects<\/a>, Houston, TX, United States<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Circulation<\/h3>\n

How visitors flow and circulate through the museum is a key part of the user experience. Is it easy to navigate? Does the route tell a story?<\/em> Questions like this will help establish how visitors will experience the building and progress through the exhibits.<\/p>\n

Signage and guidance is an important part of the circulation plan of a museum, helping to guide the visitor on the suggested route through the exhibits ensure that they have the best experience of the museum. Consider foreign visitors and how this information might be communicated to them.<\/p>\n

The entrance of the museum should a provide clear indication of the layout of the building, proposed circulation and facilities available to the visitor. This will ensure the visitor is able to access the collections, and the other museum services available.<\/p>\n

Circulation through the museum may take a linear form, where there is a clear beginning, middle or end. Circulation could also be a loop, where the visitor is led through the collections and finishes back at the beginning. Other options include core and satellites, where there are more central areas with small display rooms branching off from them. In some cases there will be a combination of all of the above.<\/p>\n

Staircases, escalators and lifts will need to be designed in accordance with local building regulations. Circulation through the spaces will be one of the most important parts of the museum planning and layout and is not to be underestimated.<\/p>\n

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Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum<\/a> by Studio Zhu Pei,<\/a> Jingdezhen, China\u00a0<\/em>|\u00a0Jury Winner, Museum + Project of the Year, 2021 A+Awards<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Display and Communication<\/h3>\n

How the exhibits are displayed and communicated will play an important role in the experience of the visitors. How will the staff communicate the collections to the visitors? What do the visitors want to see? <\/em>There are a variety of mediums that can facilitate communication of the collections to the visitors and these include:<\/p>\n