MUDAAC d’Épinal

The Musée Départemental d’Art Ancien et Contemporain (MUDAAC) in Épinal, France, is a renowned museum housed in a historic former monastery. With a vast collection spanning ancient and contemporary art, maintaining the right environmental conditions is crucial to preserving valuable exhibits and ensuring visitor comfort.

THE CHALLENGE

The project presented several technical challenges due to the museum’s complex architectural features. The expansive glazed roof included trapezoidal sections and structural pillars, making the integration of shading systems particularly delicate. Additionally, the blinds needed to be installed internally to maintain the external aesthetics of the historic building while effectively managing solar gain and light levels.

Guthrie Douglas was tasked with developing a shading solution to improve the thermal efficiency of the museum’s large glazed roof while integrating seamlessly into the historic structure.

THE SOLUTION

Working from a 3D model of the existing structure, provided by our delivery partner, Storest, we engineered a bespoke shading strategy tailored to the museum’s unique roof design.

Our precision tensioned blind systems were customised to fit the trapezoidal areas, ensuring a perfect balance of solar control and visual integration. By optimising fabric tension and guiding mechanisms, we enabled smooth operation despite the structural pillars, delivering a shading solution that enhances thermal efficiency while preserving the museum’s architectural integrity.

CONCLUSION

This project exemplifies Guthrie Douglas’ expertise in designing shading solutions for complex architectural environments.

By integrating our advanced blind systems within MUDAAC’s challenging roof structure, we improved the building’s energy efficiency and protected valuable artwork from excessive sunlight.

The result is a sustainable and visually harmonious solution which enhances the museum experience for both visitors and staff.