Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace

A museum's new atrium transforms into a jewel of Montreal's nightscape.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' newest pavilion, the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace, is a warm space of wood and concrete with windows spanning the 43-feet of its street facade. Lighting designers, CS Design, were tasked with created a lighting scheme for the Pavilion that would be striking, and that memorably accentuated the work of architects, Atelier TAG and Jodoin Lamarre Pratte.

"The main statement of our design," said Conor Sampson, founder of CS Design, "was to turn the stunning open space with large windows that allow day light in, into a large glowing lantern, a memorable element in the nightscape of Montreal and a strong differentiator to the architecture of the neighboring buildings."

The front airy section of the pavilion serves as the main circulation area as well as a gathering space, when needed. Installed in continuous runs in the ceiling niches along both the atrium wall and staircases, CS Design chose Lumenpulse Lumenfacade Interior luminaires with narrow beam angles to graze the wood paneled wall creating a uniformly illuminated, and unique, glowing space in the nightscape.

"By choosing the Lumenfacade Interior, we knew we would obtain a powerful performance and a warm, even light to light the space indirectly, really transforming the space to become an architectural attraction at night."

"One of the project constraints," explained Sampson, "was to have no holes in the ceiling and keep the luminaires hidden from view." The Lumenpulse Lumenfacade's slim profile ensured the luminaires would be concealed yet provide sufficient lighting to graze the 22-foot walls of the atrium space and its staircase and create a stunning glowing effect.

Similarly, Lumenline Surface Ceiling Mounted luminaires were also used in the student locker room downstairs, effortlessly integrating to the ceiling and evenly lighting the space.

People visiting often comment on the unrestrained feeling of the space, the luminosity that creates a feeling of the infinite. "The design and the luminaires really helped to create a seamless progression of the architect's vision," said Sampson, "it's one of the first things people comment on upon entering."

EQUIPMENT SPECIFIED
5 x Lumenfacade Interior HO, 2ft, 3000K, 10° x 60°
6 x Lumenfacade Interior HO, 3ft, 3000K, 10° x 60°
90 x Lumenfacade Interior HO, 4ft, 3000K, 10° x 60°
1 x Lumenline HO Surface Ceiling Mount, 5ft, 3000K
1 x Lumenline HO Pendant, 8ft, 3000K
2 x Lumenline HO Recessed, 12ft, 3000K
1 x Lumenline HO, Surface Ceiling Mount, 3000K
1 x Lumenline HO Surface Ceiling Mount, 3000K
1 x Lumenline HO Surface Ceiling Mount, 3500K

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Location: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Market: Arts + Culture
Client: Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal
Lighting Design: CS Design
Architect: Atelier TAG + Jodoin Lamarre Pratte
Installation: Pomerleau
Photographer: Stéphane Brugger