Malcolm Bradbury, a British scholar and novelist, once described art as "a way of coping with the world by defining it in detail". Abandoned after the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1978, the Argo Museum of Contemporary Art and Cultural Center were redesigned during the pandemic to become a symbol of hope in times of extreme uncertainty.
The Argo Museum of Contemporary Art and Cultural Center is located in the heart of Tehran, Iran. It was formerly a brewery in the 1920s, which was later transformed into a contemporary art center and the seat of the Pejman Foundation.
The concrete roof illuminated from below appears to float above Iran's new Museum of Contemporary Art and Cultural Center, which welcomes a new generation of emerging artists and art lovers to the heart of Tehran.
Through restoration, lighting unifies the historic building with the new, emphasizing the romance between the old and the new through upwardly lit skylights and roof structures, perforated bricks that glow from within, flexible lighting for rotating exhibitions, and unconventional methods of artistic lighting, injecting new identity and life into the building.
The lighting design team places a strong emphasis on adopting avant-garde lighting methods that will inspire new generations, while providing functional and flexible lighting for a plethora of projects including art galleries, cafes, lounges, libraries, private office spaces, and elevators located in the original smoke shafts. The most important concept was that the new additions would appear light on top of the existing structure while blending seamlessly into the surroundings. Through carefully studied, integrated, asymmetrical daylighting under the new roof structure, the lighting successfully brings this core design concept to life.
The daylight-lit gallery on the second floor features recessed linear tracks integrated into the ceiling's original vaulted structure, providing flexibility for rotating art exhibitions. A powerful control system is programmed to adjust the lights in response to changes in daylight penetration, protecting the delicate artwork inside the gallery. Three-circuit track lights and LED spotlights are carefully placed within the sculptural roof structure to provide adaptability and accent lighting.
In stark contrast to the daylight-lit galleries on the second floor, the previously dark cellar has been transformed into a sunken gallery and illuminated with a backlit stretch fabric ceiling, providing a soft and uniform light that is combined with an element of surprise as it descends. Recessed track lighting integrated into the perimeter increases the flexibility and additional light required for the exhibition.
Considering economic restrictions and strict trade sanctions, the design team was limited to a limited selection of lighting fixture specifications, all of which were simulated by the lighting design team to ensure quality and effectiveness. In this bold adaptive reuse design and construction, we emphasized sustainability and local craftsmanship, which heralded a purposeful future that both embraces and honors the past while looking forward to the future for future generations.
Overall, despite the constraints, the design team was able to succeed in the lighting design while prioritizing sustainability and local craftsmanship, which allowed the project to serve the community for many years.
A sustainable approach
The lighting design team exemplifies the museum's commitment to environmental stewardship through the use of efficient LED lighting and intelligent control systems. By integrating this technology, the museum has achieved significant energy savings and reduced carbon footprint.
The architectural and lighting design team adopted daylight design to reduce the load requirements for electric lighting. The intelligent control system adjusts the artificial lighting to increase or decrease its output depending on the amount of available natural light. By incorporating energy-efficient lighting technology and intelligent control systems, museums can provide visitors with an extraordinary experience while prioritizing sustainability. The design and construction team also prioritized local manufacturers and materials, reducing the carbon footprint of goods transported to the project site.
The design and construction team also prioritized local manufacturers and materials, reducing the carbon footprint of transporting goods to the project site.
Project Name:
Argo Contemporary Art Museum
Argo Museum of Contemporary Art and Cultural Center
Project Location: Tehran, Iran
照明设计：The SEED
首席设计师：Golsana Heshmati
客户：Pejman Foundation
其他工作人员：AgaKhan Trust for Culture
图片来源：DEED Studio
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