Architectural Lighting Awards: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Wrightsman Galleries San Francisco, New York, Minneapolis

The Galleries hold the museums renowned collection of French furniture and decorative arts housed in extravagant 18th century rooms. Witness to Kings, Queens and Courtiers, these grand rooms were dramatically transformed from lifeless museum displays into atmospheric environments. Each rooms environment and character is slightly different. Visual hierarchy, balance, shadow, color temperature, sparkle, time of day and place are conceptually woven into the lighting. Within that context the spectacular objects on display are revealed in all their glory and lit within strict low light level conservation limits. Period historic chandeliers, torchères and sconces were sensitively rewired, internal lighting was refurbished and candlesticks were equipped with electric flames that subtly move. As no natural light penetrates any of the rooms all lighting, including simulated daylight, is achieved with electric light sources.

Accent lighting of the objects utilized a number of subtle techniques including recessed low voltage lighting in the ceilings, tiny adjustable fixtures hidden in the chandeliers and fiber optic sub miniature spotlights hidden in the people barriers at room entrances. Fluorescent sources were used in most cases to simulate daylight through windows. All sources are dimmed to allow subtle balance of the intensity of multiple light sources as well as the extension of the lamp life of incandescent sources in use. Selected presets are activated by an astronomical time clock with manual override available for special events.

Details: www.auerbachconsultants.com and www.metmuseum.org