Displaying Hidden Treasures for the First Time

The Chester Beatty is recognised as one of Europe’s finest museums. Rare manuscripts sit alongside early Christian papyri in one of the world’s foremost collections of Western, Islamic and Asian art. Bequeathed to the nation by Chester Beatty, the collection is a result of a lifetime of his idiosyncratic connoisseurship. Yet, despite being venerated within scholarly circles, it had gone almost completely unknown to the public for decades.

When the museum opened its doors, it represented a landmark moment in the industry. The museum received critical acclaim, was named European Museum of the Year and drew the general public in in their thousands to see the extraordinary collections for the very first time.

We created a space where you can bask in the beauty of the objects. The design works in perfect harmony with the artefacts, careful not to compete. A sequence of intimate spaces use deep colours and stylised architectural expressions which evoke the cultural richness and mystery of the artefacts. Objects are displayed like treasured jewels with delicate lighting that draws you in to truly appreciate their exquisite details – from beautiful binding and majestic calligraphy to painstaking brushwork.

Beautiful though they may be, these objects come from disparate cultures, religions and traditions making them difficult for the untrained eye to connect with. Accessibility was a driving force in our interpretation and design; it was vital that the objects’ significance was not lost on visitors. We designed media installations to illustrate unfamiliar religious rites and interactives that delve into when, where and why different pieces were made.

Strict conservation requirements called for innovative solutions. Our flexible design allows for object rotation, specialist climate-controlled showcases and regulated lighting solutions keep objects in pristine condition and bespoke mounts display works as priceless as Leonardo da Vinci’s manuscript.

Since the museum’s opening, we have continued to work with the Chester Beatty to design as a series of celebrated temporary exhibitions. This includes a once-in-a-lifetime display of the Codex Leicester, a Leonardo da Vinci manuscript that gives a glimpse into the mind of a genius, and exhibitions featuring some of the world’s finest Chinese and Mughal Empire paintings.