Museu de Cultures del Món, Barcelona

The Museu de Cultures del Món serves as a platform for the preservation, presentation and communication of the artistic heritage and knowledge of cultures from Asia, Africa, America and Oceania. The permanent exhibition shows a quintessential selection of around 500 works, such as an “Apa’apai” club from Polynesia which was brought to Europe in the 18th century by seafarer and explorer James Cook.

The Museu de Cultures del Món is located on the Carrer de Montcada, a road renowned for historic buildings. The museum itself is housed in the Casa Nadal and Casa Marquès de Llió, buildings with histories stretching over many hundreds of years. The Nadal House was designed as a medieval palace with an inner courtyard, a gallery on the first floor and a facade with tower, and accommodated the Barbier-Mueller Pre-Columbian Art Museum for many years. The Marquès de Llió House assumes the design of a noble residence from the 8th century and also has an inner courtyard, gallery and tower as well as a prestigious staircase. The building housed the Barcelona Design Museum for several years. Extensive reconstruction and renovation was required to convert these two houses to their current use, including the restoration of coffered ceilings from the 14th century and the construction of interlinking elements between the previously separate buildings.

As often found in archaeological and ethnological museums, the Museu de Cultures del Món presents many of its exhibits in display cabinets. Here both general lighting of the room and accenting the objects with spotlights had to be ensured. Even though the cabinets are illuminated externally, no reflections from either the light or windows must occur on their panes. Due to reasons of conservation the temperatures in the cabinets must also remain constant.