BOURDELLE MUSEUM, PARIS

This important Parisian museum has been closed for two and a half years for important renovation works to safeguard and consolidate its oldest past in the center. Its ateliers and its permanent exhibition spaces were completely renovated with a new scenography. Major infrastructure works have been carried out but without modifying the original appereance. This 19th-century establishment includes an entrance hall, two ateliers (Bourdelle and Sculpture), four exhibition rooms, circulation and a café-terrace. I.C.O.N. was mandated for the scenographic lighting in luminous coherence with the other spaces.

The challenge of this project was to preserve the current atmosphere whereas everything was changed: the scenography, the exhibited pieces etc. Most of the lighting equipment was renewed by LEDs because those on site was obsoletes, thus replaced by those more efficient, less energy-consuming, and more compact while retaining a part of the existing. A little "juggling" between devices from different generations. Moreover the light tracks on the ceiling remained unchanged so we had to adapt to them.

Both ateliers required more specific considerations. Bourdelle’s atelier was very dull. It worth better and new lighting which also highlights the contents of the shelves etc. while the fixtures are hidden as discreetly as possible behind the beams for example. We aimed at an atmosphere that was not too “theatrical” because it was the studio of the artist himself and it has large windows, but becomes very dim after sunset. According to scenography which needs visibility, we added accentuation. In the sculpture atelier, that demonstrates different sculpture techniques in educational shelves, including a lighting test where visitors can observe how a sculpture change its perception according to different lighting thanks to three pushing buttons.

The museum is bathed in daylight so a night adjustment session was carried out so that our lighting would be adequate also for a late afternoon visit in the winter and also for the private events in the evening