Lighting in museums, visitors’ experience and satisfaction in a heritage context. Study cases in northwest Argentina

Abstract

The environmental control over the conditions of preservation of the objects exhibited in museums and comfort in order to satisfy visitors´ needs with their influence in their satisfaction with the visit are two inseparable aspects of evaluation nowadays. The objective of the present work is to analyze the relationship between photometric magnitudes measured in exhibitions, the subjective evaluation of its illumination and the overall satisfaction of the visitors. Objective and subjective measurements were made in two museums of S.M. of Tucumán. Luminance levels were measured on exposed objects and surroundings, as well as vertical illuminance on objects. Simultaneously, a subjective evaluation instrument (questionnaire) was developed and implemented with volunteer visitors. The relationships of luminances and illuminance levels in each museum were analyzed and contrasted with the data obtained from the surveys. In the first museum the highest levels of luminance were found on the environment and not on the objects and the range of illuminances were between 20 and 250 lx; In the second museum, the opposite was presented regarding the luminance relationships and the range of illuminance was between 50 to 400lx. Visitors perceived a level of illumination from medium to low in the first museum and 61% perceived poorly lit areas, while in the second they perceived a high level of lighting and only 14% perceived poorly lit areas. Overall satisfaction with the visit to both museums presented similar values. Taking into account the regulations and recommendations on maximum levels of illuminance allowed for preservation and conservation, it would be possible to make lighting designs for museums that offer comfort and visual quality using other variables, for example, luminance distribution and figure to background relationships.