2006
BORSALINO MUSEUM
ALESSANDRIA
Metis Lighting illuminated the famous Borsalino Hat Museum with an overall project unifying history and technology. The Museum itself is an historical institution showcasing the over 150 years history of the Borsalino brand, as well as over 2000 hats and artefacts. In this context, Metis Lighting was entrusted to curate the lighting of the exhibition space, maintaining certain lamps and existing features, together with integrating contemporary lighting system in the 1920’s stands.
The exhibition includes also pictures and historical photographs, videos and boards depicting the story of the brand since its very beginning, the particular artisanal procedures on elaborating the felt, the connection between the Borsalino company and the local community.
However, the most important exhibit is the large collection of hats inside the Chippendale style Wall showcases. For highlighting the hats, Metis Lighting introduces a design feature with integrated optic fibre fixture in a very discrete way. An important issue was the position of the light fitting for avoiding as much as possible the reflections on the glass doors.
Various tests and prototypes were elaborated for finalizing the particular ‘’lighting arm’’ in terms of dimension and material, for fitting in the general context, maintaining an equilibrium between history and innovation.
As for the ceiling lighting, adjustable projectors on recessed tracks were installed focused on the various exhibited elements. The existing lamps were maintained but got modernised with contemporary light sources.
Illuminating an artefact is an interplay of light levels and visual angles for avoiding any glare and reflection for allowing the most comfortable observation of the texture, shape and colour.
