HARNESSING THE USE OF DAY LIGHTING AS A MEANS FOR ENERGY SAVING TECHNIQUES IN ART MUSEUMS

Adeniji, Philip A, and Imaah Ono Napoleon

Department of Architecture

Rivers State University, Nkpolu- Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Email: gentle619@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Museums are places of natural and human creativity as well as history. The aim of museums is to provide examples of each classification available for a field of knowledge. Museums employ two main strategies for its lighting which includes: daylighting and artificial lighting. This study was able to identify and discuss the different daylighting systems, and the existing museums which used daylighting were analysed properly to see how daylighting was harnessed in their respective internal spaces. The research methodology used for this research work includes case studies and extensive literature reviews. Deductions from these case studies showed the various natural lighting techniques used which include clerestory windows, luminous ceilings and cove luminaires. All of these played a major role in harnessing daylight in the museums studied. In the course of research, Lighting is significant in museum artifact display, as it helps with the interaction between the artifact and the human in a defined space. Daylighting, as it is significant to the artifact, if not properly controlled, can cause discomfort in the eyes of the observer, at the same time be destructive to the objects on display. Other methods used for introducing daylighting into the spaces include the use of diffuse lighting throughLuminous ceilings,skylights, cove luminaires and also clerestory windows which help light reflects deeper into the exhibition halls. The design parameters and considerations indicate that buildings using these methods use less energy to lighten up their spaces, at the same time improving visibility and appreciation of artifacts.

Keywords: Museums, Artifact, Day lighting, Energy saving, Cove luminaires, Luminous.