NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON

After three years of extensive redevelopment and a meticulous redisplay of over 1000 artworks, the new National Portrait Gallery, aptly named 'Inspiring People,' opened to superb reviews from press and public in June 2023. Studio ZNA worked alongside long time collaborators architects and interpretation designers Nissen Richards Studio to deliver the best lighting design throughout these Grade 1 listed galleries.  

We designed, specified, programmed and focussed all the lighting within the gallery spaces at high level and at low level in bespoke showcases and setworks.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the 'Inspiring People' project was the ambition to mix the more traditional oil painting collection with light-sensitive works on paper, including an extensive collection of photography dating from 1840 to the present day as well as sculpture historical and contemporary. With a carefully designed choreography of luminance were we ensured each work and particular medium would shine and retain focus even when displayed at very low light levels to limit exposure.

The new entrance way is bright and expansive with a display of busts both historical and contemporary of inspiring people which are highlighted with strong accent light.

The visitor journey is chronological, starting on the second floor the Tudor Galleries are of a more intimate scale and here amongst the dark finishes the works are lit to glow in the space and evoke a richness and power to complement the content. The rooms then open up into 17th -19th centuries grand roof lit galleries. Working with the M&E designers Max Fordham to define acceptable daylight levels for the works we maximised the use of daylight within the galleries using louvres on the roof control the sunlight penetration. The full colour spectrum of daylight  combined with the highest gallery quality spotlights renders these significant work to their best effect. On the first floor the previously blocked windows have been revealed and after a series of onsite testing we specified a combination of light stopping films and light reducing scrim blinds to achieve deliver a soft diffused daylight into the space and also crucially allow views out into central London. The dialogue of the works and their location brings a vibrancy throughout the spaces and we were able to achieve conservation levels for even the most light sensitive daguerreotypes collection. The lighting carefully modulates the journey from close view sensitive displays to dramatic sweeping vistas and punctuated throughout with lit accents highlighting sculptural works. New Galleries to the first and ground floor see a more contemporary gallery approach with washes of light connecting the eclectic works. The most sensitive works are protected within showcases, in the form of bespoke wall cases, freestanding desk cases and plinthed displays.

We prototyped each typology to ensure appropriate light sources were concealed and the best colour rendering product specified for rendering each object to the best possible effect. With the designers we considered accessibility and where required designed subtly back lit labels to allow full accessibility for close viewing  to all visitors without casting shadow on text or works.

In the Temporary Exhibition Galleries we specified and commissioned a Bluetooth, app controlled lighting system to offer best flexibility to the gallery team and meet the demands of  changing displays in their busy exhibitions programme. We then designed the exhibition specific lighting for the first two opening shows Yevonde: Life and Colour Exhibition and Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm" 

Client:  National Portrait Gallery, Inspiring People
Studio ZNA’s Role: Lighting Design for Permanent Exhibition Galleries and Temporary Exhibition Galleries
Project Architect: Jamie Fobert
Retail Design: Alex Cochrane
Interpretation and Permanent Exhibition Design: Nissen Richards Studio
Heritage Consultants: Purcell
Photography: Gareth Gardner