Bundanon Art Museum

Bundanon Art Museum, located in Bundanon, Australia, serves as a dedicated institution for learning and creative expression within the arts, positioned within a vast 1,000-hectare landscape. The museum’s name, derived from the traditional Dharawal language and meaning “deep valley,” reflects its connection to the local environment and Indigenous heritage. With a focus on environmental sustainability, Bundanon’s design is intended to operate in harmony with its unique ecology. Recent climate challenges, such as severe bushfires and floods, have influenced the museum’s architectural and operational systems, including its lighting, which incorporates adaptive climate measures to ensure resilience. 

Exhibition lighting design and architectural vision 

The lighting design was expertly crafted by Sophie O’Brien and Tim Silver, who focused on creating lighting that meets both aesthetic and functional needs. Kerstin Thompson of Kerstin Thompson Architecture (KTA) led the architectural and interior design for Bundanon, with an emphasis on resilience to potential environmental threats. In alignment with the architectural goals, IMEEC Electrical oversaw the commissioning of the Casambi lighting control system, allowing flexible, efficient management of the museum’s lighting. Steensen Varming supplied and integrated the lighting and control systems, forming a cohesive and sustainable network across the museum space. 

Advanced lighting system and key fixtures 

Bundanon Art Museum’s lighting system includes several high-performance fixtures chosen for precision, adaptability, and sustainability. Stoane Lighting’s ZTA.50 Framing Projector is central to the system, designed specifically for gallery environments and featuring Casambi-enabled track adapters for wireless control. This projector is equipped with zoomable lenses and framing projectors, enabling meticulous positioning to highlight each artwork with defined contours. Complementing this fixture, the museum uses the ADO Lights LED Luc 60-1, known for energy efficiency and ideal for exhibition lighting, alongside Meteor Lighting’s DOT 3.5, a versatile LED fixture for broader lighting needs. 

Sustainable lighting design with Stoane Lighting’s modular ZTA Series 

Sustainability is a key priority within Bundanon’s lighting system, an aspect encapsulated in Stoane Lighting’s modular ZTA product line. Each fixture in this series is designed for versatility, easily adapting to applications such as fixed-focus, zoom lens, or framing projector configurations. This modularity minimizes the need for replacements, supporting a circular economy model and reducing environmental impact. Additionally, FrameLight upgraded 85 of Bundanon’s existing fixtures by integrating new control gear compatible with the Casambi system, extending their lifespan and aligning with Bundanon’s sustainability goals without discarding operational equipment. 

Climate-resilient lighting for fire-resistant design 

The lighting system also plays a crucial role in Bundanon’s climate-resilient design, constructed to endure challenging environmental conditions. With fire-resistant elements incorporated into the building’s design, the lighting is built for energy efficiency and durability. Stoane Lighting’s 25-year duty of care supports the museum’s long-term sustainability goals, and their transparency in providing environmental impact data ensures that Bundanon maintains accountability in its ecological footprint. By aligning with values of environmental stewardship, the lighting approach at Bundanon Art Museum supports both artistic presentation and resilience in the face of a changing climate.