OPPLYST, NATIONAL LIBRARY of norway

Opplyst, a new permanent exhibition at The National Library of Norway, Oslo. The title, meaning ‘Enlightened’, refers to the exhibition’s central concept: thirty highly significant objects from the country’s history put on display together for the first time.

We worked with architects and graphic designers Nissen Richards Studio to create a dramatic immersion into Norway’s fascinating history. We used strongly defined spotlights to give a sense of import to each object.

Graphic labels and contextual images were backlit to keep the purity of the vertical spotlighting on the objects whilst giving the best accessibility to the supporting material. We also used a dynamic white grazing light on the bespoke textured timber walls this sees the spaces enveloped in a movement of light across its perimeter moving from a dawn, warm 2200K colour temperature through to a purer midday light and onto a cooler dusk 7000K. This acted as an abstracted breath or wave a constant natural cycle and rhythm bring a sense of both being in the present and being part of the bigger cycles of time and history that is permanent to the narrative of the collection.

NRS received GOLD at the 2020 London Design Awards for Interior Design -International Public category for the project.

Exhibition Design and Graphics:  Nissen Richards Studio

Finishes Contractor: Factory Settings

Photography: Gareth Gardner