installation view of the veolia environment wildlife photographer of the year exhibition designed by universal design studio image courtesy of universal design studio

 

 

 

for the third year in the row, london-based universal design studio has developed the presentation space for the veolia environment wildlife photographer of the year exhibition, located within the waterhouse galleries of the british capital’s natural history museum. in collaboration with bibliothèque design, universal presents the show graphically with distinctive title branding and image captions, including individual information panels which guide visitors around the space and telling stories of each category.

 

 

universal design studio: wildlife photographer of the year exhibition design - 2 each of the selected images is shown on a custom designed light panel image courtesy of universal design studio

 

 

 

the exhibition is arranged over five sub-galleries formed from a free-standing pavilion structure made of a lightweight aluminum frame and a gradient of stretched scrim fabric. the installation begins with a series of large staggered panels, producing full height entrances which open up into smaller rooms, creating a more intimate view of the photographs that are on display – each individual image is shown on a custom designed light panel. the space starts almost-white, with each subsequent room darkening in shade, subtly increasing the contrast of the architecture with the photographs. eventually it builds up to a large black monolith displaying the successful winning photographs from the competition, with an open cinema space situated within, defined by a lowered ceiling, creating an intimate and immersive environment.

 

 

universal design studio: wildlife photographer of the year exhibition design - 3 the installation consists of a lightweight aluminum frame covered by a gradient of stretched scrim fabric image courtesy of universal design studio

 

 

 

the structural framework housing the exhibition is a flexible, modular system that can be re-used and re-aligned for upcoming programs. the fabric walls shift in transparency and opacity, shadow and light, poetically reinforcing, revealing and concealing the photographic contents on show. custom light details of strongly lit end sections and chapters create beacons that guide visitors through the shadowy exhibition, contrasting with the back lit images. the overall concept of the space was to create a pavilion of transparency and shadow, a visual and physical counterpoint to both the clarity of the images and the gallery in which they are displayed.

 

 

universal design studio: wildlife photographer of the year exhibition design - 4 the exhibition features many custom light details which act as beacons, guiding visitors through the space image courtesy of universal design studio

 

 

universal design studio: wildlife photographer of the year exhibition design - 5 external view of the exhibition image courtesy of bibliothèque design

 

 

universal design studio: wildlife photographer of the year exhibition design - 6 an open cinema space is situated within, defined by a lowered ceiling, creating an intimate and immersive environment image courtesy of universal design studio

 

 

universal design studio: wildlife photographer of the year exhibition design - 7 detail of individual display screens image courtesy of universal design studio

 

 

universal design studio: wildlife photographer of the year exhibition design - 8 image courtesy of bibliothèque design

 

 

universal design studio: wildlife photographer of the year exhibition design - 9 image courtesy of bibliothèque design

 

 

universal design studio: wildlife photographer of the year exhibition design - 10 floor plan layout image courtesy of universal design studio