Muses,
The following note was in response to a thread that began with a request
for advice about the design of an academic building where the architect
is suggesting a three-story glass case to be used to display scientific
instruments. Most of the replies up to this point were technical in
nature (advantages/disadvantages of glass v. wooden shelving, dust
control, lighting, that sort of thing). This reply raises a point that I
believe is both important and too often ignored by case designers. YMMV.
Happy trails, David
David Haynes [log in to unmask]
San Antonio
--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "George Huxtable" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:04:18 +0100
Subject: Re: [rete] 3-story glass display cases
Message-ID: <025f01c7b9d8$c1a52a90$993670c2@gh>
References: <[log in to unmask]>
May I add a late addendum to this question about display arrangements,
from
the viewpoint of one who is outside the museum community, but who is a
technically-interested visitor to museums with a scientific bent. It's
about
access to displayed exhibits, which hasn't been discussed so far.
Sometimes, items need to be taken out of a display for more detailed
examination. This may be for study, perhaps for improving the labelling
or
cataloguing, or for a publication, or for exhibition elsewhere. It may be
in
response to a request for close inspection by an interested member of the
public, which will usually be by prior arrangement. But not always so;
sometimes a visit discloses unanticipated riches in a collection; or some
aspect of an item, hidden in display, which calls for inspection from a
new
angle, an unpredictable requirement.
Most scientific instruments were designed, not simply to be looked at,
but
to be looked into, and in the case of optical instruments, looked
through.
Many important aspects remain hidden when placed behind glass, and are
discovered only by handling and manipulation. Of course, allowing
unrestrained access by the public is impractical, and security and safety
considerations increasingly constrain what's possible. But what I am
arguing
is that the display-case arrangement should work with, and not against,
easy
access to individual items, at reasonably short notice. However, I fear
that
the trend is in the opposite direction.
I have no idea how the suggested three-storey display is planned, in
terms
of access to the cases. But I deplore a modern tendency to architectural
extravagance, to glass, gloss, glamour, and glitter. As a museum
customer, I
ask for simple and unsensatioal display systems, well lit and viewable
from
many angles; and with good labels, that have been tested by an elderly
eye
with limited accommodation. And that in response to a reasonable request,
the cases can be opened for an exhibit to be removed, examined, or
sometimes
merely re-angled.
George Huxtable.
contact George Huxtable at [log in to unmask]
or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222)
or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.
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