MUSEUM OF POLISH HISTORY - REALISATION
ARCHITECTURE: WXCA
2024 WARSAW
The monumental building of the new Polish History Museum in Warsaw stands on the site of the former Warsaw Citadel, a Russian fortress and prison from the time of the Partitions (19th century). The building is one of the largest national investments in recent years. This magnificent museum facility incorporates state-of-the-art technology in the presentation of more than 1000 years of Polish history.
The lighting design is a very important part of the investment. The austere architecture of the building provides enormous scope for lighting, with the color and intensity of light in individual areas becoming part of the story.
The main principle in the lighting design is the consistent use of extreme color temperatures of light, ranging from 2200 to 6500 K. The rule of thumb is to use a warm color of light wherever we are dealing with an "inside" space and a cold color of light for "outside" spaces. This principle is already in place in the plaza in front of the building's entrance - the cold daylight that fills the "outside" space is contrasted with the warmly lit large window recesses that invite visitors into the "inside".
The building has been honored with a number of prestigious architecture and public space awards.
