Daylight openings in art museum galleries : A link between art and the outdoor environment

This thesis is investigating how the typology of daylight openings in art museum galleries is affecting the connection to the outdoor environment. Museum architecture nowadays emphasizes on the museum’s public role and interaction with the urban context, with transparency as the key to this approach. Considering the benefits and challenges of introducing natural light in art museum galleries, its controlled use enhances the experience of both the artworks and the space. The different typologies of daylighting and their design parameters have a direct impact on the connection to the outdoor environment and the shaping of views. Two case studies are analyzed in order to investigate various daylight openings designs, their integration in the exhibition space and the relationship they form with the exterior. Examining the findings, a discussion is developed on the range of factors that affect the connection to the outdoors. The thesis concludes that the design of daylight openings determines the way and the degree the galleries communicate with the exterior environment