Musee d’Orsay
Paris, France
PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF THE MUSEE D'ORSAY
Interior designer and museograph: WILMOTTE & ASSOCIÉS
Building services: SETEC BÂTIMENT
Lighting: MC2
Acoustics: J-P LAMOUREUX
Cost consultant: STERLING QUEST ASSOCIATES SURFACE
2,060 sqm
2011
Museography of the Impressionist gallery, the temporary exhibition room and the north and south cabinets on the 5th floor of the Musee d'Orsay.
Thirty years after the transformation of the former railway station into a cultural institution, the Musee d'Orsay has launched a competition for the redevelopment of the fifth floor, including the famous Impressionist Gallery, which presents the masterpieces of the painting movement.
In the case of the Impressionist Gallery, the architectural choice was to preserve the quality of the existing volume while establishing a balanced dialogue between natural and artificial light. The installation of partial false ceilings gives an impression of proximity to the works of art while freeing up the centre of the monumental gallery, which makes it possible to control the lighting at the level of the works and allows natural light to enter the centre. On the Seine side, the view of the outside is preserved, providing a breath of fresh air in the museographic circuit. Seats are positioned on either side of this space. The floor is now covered with a dark parquet and the walls are painted a deep and delicate slate grey.
The temporary exhibition room, the current 380 sqm column room, is transformed into a single large temporary exhibition space of 400 sqm, the entire volume being free of any partitioning.
With this new museography, the works of art have regained their central place. The rooms have been freed from their decorative overload and the original volumes have been restored. The history of art is highlighted in its technical specificities.
