For MoMA’s flagship design store, we coordinated lighting to create drama, with areas of high contrast and a suite of
focal points to attract customers. Cutting-edge lighting systems are seamlessly incorporated into the clean-lined surfaces and furnishings of the
space, in keeping with the institution’s modernist aesthetic and philosophy.
The store is divided into three zones, each of which employs a minimalist, controlled lighting approach. Marking the main circulation corridor,
a line of luminous coves forms a striking graphic element in the ceiling. Adjacent, a custom shelving system showcasing design objects integrates
both display and area lighting. In remaining areas, book and object displays are precisely lit by a uniform grid of square, recessed ceiling
luminaires.
Display lighting integrated into the store’s custom shelving system serves as a focal point of the space. Early in the design process, the
depth of the millwork was coordinated to accommodate the dimensions of sub-miniature pencil fluorescent luminaires, while the cabinet bases
house remote ballasts. The luminaires cast a warm color-temperature light on objects within and on top of the shelves, eliminating the need
for ceiling lights in this area. By completely integrating lighting within the furnishings, a clean, minimalist appearance is generated.
