WHAT IS MUSEUM ?

A museum is an institution that cares for (conserves) a collection of artifacts

and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance and
some public museums make them available for public viewing
through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums
are located in major cities throughout the world and more local ones exist in
smaller cities, towns and even the countryside. Museums have varying aims,
ranging from serving researchers and specialists to serving the general public.
The goal of serving researchers is increasingly shifting to serving the general
public.
 TYPES OF MUSEUM

 Object-Centered

 Narrative

 Client-Centered

 Community Focused

 National

 Almost all museums are mixtures and no museum is only one type any more.
OBJECT-CENTERED
 Treasure-based / unique objects
 Concentrate on the material they own or can borrow
 Are mostly (but not only) art museums
 Generally present objects without context
 Value being the “Temple of the Contemplative”.
 Interested in aesthetics
 Difficult for the novice to understand without other aids, i.e. context,
glossaries, introductions, maps, etc.
 Mostly created for knowledgeable adults
 Audience demographics are often “upper class”
NARRATIVE
 Tells stories.
 Chooses to display only those objects that fit within story.
 Use objects as visual evidence.
 Piloted the use of environments as display.
 Extensive use of all types of multi-media
 Designers use emotions / scripted / drama
 Closest to attractions “Disneyland”
 Mostly history and social history
 Often display generic objects
 Layering
 Motive: educational
CLIENT CENTERED
 Most interested in the audience.
 Concentrates on individuals and small social groups.
 Interest in learning theory, curriculum, schools, children and families.
 Most often Children’s Museums and Science Centers
 Focused on novice/beginning learners.
 Created many interactive and role playing exhibition techniques.
 Purpose built environments that simulate experiences.
 Motive for audience: fun, educational for the children.
COMMUNITY
 Looks least like museum and is often multi-agency community center.
 Interested in the well-being of a community.
 Often includes social service.
 Usually Culturally, regionally or audience specific: Eco-Museums.
NATIONAL
 Physical display of national Aspirations.
 Motivation:
 introduction to country by tourists
 patriotic pilgrimage by citizens.
 Part of marketing tourist attraction package.
 Highly contested / by politicians.
 Often displays only good news / celebratory without reveling critical
nuances.
RECEPTION
In any reception, following facilities are required:
 Counter, suitable for writing, with a ‘bag shelf’ .
 Space for receptionist .
 Key racks , often associated with letter racks behind counter .
 Cashier and accounting equipment, computer etc. Foreign currency
service may affect storage requirements .
 House telephone, for visitors to speak to guests in their roomsCALL BOXES: if
there are phones in rooms only a few will be needed . They must be visible
to reception staff but have some privacy.
 Space for timetables, tourist leaflets, brochures .
 CCTV monitors etc.
Consideration for Physically challenged persons

 Ramps-1:20

 Corridors – at least 915mm wide

 Doors-815 mm clear opening

 Bathrooms require-1.52m central turning space and 2.75m width

SITE SELECTION
FLOW DIAGRAM
EXHIBITION ROOM CLIMATE
BASIC TYPES OF EXHIBITION
FIELD OF VISION
LIGTING
PARKING
FIRE ESCAPE
WHAT IS LIBRARY ?

A library is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made

accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides
physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical building or
room, or a virtual space, or both. A library's collection can
include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, doc
uments, microform, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, e-books
, audiobooks, databases, and other formats. Libraries range in size from a
few shelves of books to several million items.