Essence of 220 Years of the Library
Exhibition for Lulla Interiors
Essence is an educational exhibition created to celebrate the 220th anniversary of the founding of the National Szechenyi Library of Hungary. A visual storyline based on the history of production of books was designed to guide visitors through the rather fragmented space. Materials and techniques used to pass information to readers throughout time are invoked as design elements from vellum to digital surface, from velvet to canvas, from manuscript to printed texts. Colours and textures are related to bindings of Corvinas, of the Founding Charter and to canvas book bindings.
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Essence of 220 Years of the Library by Maria Gazdag
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Exhibition by Maria Gazdag
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Maria Gazdag Essence of 220 Years of the Library
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Maria Gazdag Exhibition
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Essence of 220 Years of the Library Exhibition Press Releases
Press releases for Essence of 220 Years of the Library are now accessible in these languages: English.
Essence of 220 Years of the Library Exhibition Translations
Excited to make Essence of 220 Years of the Library accessible in many languages through our translations: Exhibition EN, Uitstalling AF, Ekspozitë SQ, ኤግዚቢሽን AM, معرض AR, Ցուցահանդես HY, Sərgi AZ, Erakusketa EU, Выстава BE, প্রদর্শনী BN, Izložba BS, Изложба BG, ပြပွဲ MY, Exposició CA, Ang Exhibition CEB, Chiwonetsero NY, 展覽 ZY, 展览 ZH, Mostra CO, Izložba HR, Výstava CS, Udstilling DA, Tentoonstelling NL, Ekspozicio EO, Näitus ET, Näyttely FI, Exposition FR, Taisbeanadh GD, Exposición GL, გამოფენა KA, Ausstellung DE, Έκθεση EL, પ્રદર્શન GU, Egzibisyon HT, Nuni HA, Ka Hōʻikeʻike HAW, תערוכה HE, प्रदर्शनी HI, Exhibition HMN, Kiállítás HU, Sýning IS, Ngosi IG, Pameran ID, Taispeántas GA, La Mostra IT, 展示 JA, Pameran JV, ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನ KN, Көрме KK, ពិព័រណ៍ KM, Imurikagurisha RW, 전시회 KO, Pêşangeh KU, Көргөзмө KY, ງານວາງສະແດງ LO, Exhibitio LA, Izstāde LV, Paroda LT, Ausstellung LB, Изложба MK, Fampirantiana MG, Pameran MS, എക്സിബിഷൻ ML, Wirja MT, Whakaaturanga MI, प्रदर्शन MR, Үзэсгэлэн MN, प्रदर्शनी NE, Utstilling NO, ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନୀ OR, نندارتون PS, نمایشگاه FA, Wystawa PL, A Exposição PT, ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨੀ PA, Expoziţia RO, Выставка RU, Fa'aaliga SM, Изложба SR, Kuratidzwa SN, نمائش SD, ප්රදර්ශනය SI, Výstava SK, Razstava SL, Bandhig SO, Pontšo ST, La Exposición ES, Paméran SU, Maonyesho SW, Utställning SV, Eksibisyon TL, Выставка TG, கண்காட்சி TA, Күргәзмә TT, ప్రదర్శన TE, นิทรรศการ TH, Sergi TR, Sergi TK, Виставка UK, نمائش UR, كۆرگەزمە UG, Ko'rgazma UZ, Triển Lãm VI, Arddangosfa CY, Eksposysje FY, Umboniso XH, ויסשטעלונג YI, Ifihan YO, Umbukiso ZU.
Essence of 220 Years of the Library Exhibition Media Articles
Access our collection of Essence of 220 Years of the Library articles, ready for use and offered in languages: Korean, Japanese, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Turkish, English, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic (Standard), Indonesian, Italian, Dutch and Hindi.
Unique Properties
The exhibition and the new corporate identity created for the anniversary are interlocked, playing important parts in shaping the library’s new image. The common areas of the working library are used by employees and readers as well as visitors. The library building is in the castle district with lots of tourists who are interested in what is being treasured in the impressive building. Therefore, the exhibition has to communicate to visitors with very different background knowledge. Complexity of the story and the diversity of the space called for flexibility in term of designing the exhibition elements.
Tags
cultural education, exhibition in a library, interactive exhibition, books, history
Production Technology
Sustainability was an important aspect considered when planning to transform the large, empty, somewhat inhospitable marble cladded spaces. The aim was to use structural material as sparingly as possible, which also helps to keep the characteristics of the spaces. Changing high consuming light fittings and using new light fixtures with adjustable 4000K LED lights apart from reducing energy consumption helped to create a more hospitable ambiance. Reusing picture frames from the storages after giving them a new lease of life with new colours allowed to keep costs lower, and makes it easy to change content in the future.
Design Challenge
The diversified venue and content called for a design element to provide a link visually between the different contents. Nowadays libraries are working on moving their enormous content to the digital space, therefore, the old register cabinets, being distinct elements of libraries for a long time, are disappearing slowly. The catalogue tab used both in cabinets and on digital platform was implemented as a visual link, marking areas, framing content. This also reinforces the impression that these treasures are pulled out of the enormous collection hidden in the storages.
Project Duration
Designing the first stage of the project started in January 2022, the second stage was completed on site by 26. November 2022. National Szechenyi Library Budapest, Hungary
Operation Flow
The space is rather fragmented. This disadvantage was turned to advantage by allocating the themes according to the space rather than forcing and changing the natural flow. The independently interpretable exhibition sections are linked together with a visual storyline creating an integrated story. Interactive screens provide more information and the experience of turning the pages of books treasured in the storages. At the sound terminals visitors can listen to old soundtracks or to present-day guardians of the collection talking about some treasures kept in the library.
Research
To accompany the story, a visual storyline guides visitors through the exhibition. Hence is the citation of materials, techniques used to pass information to the readers throughout time. Vellum to digital surface, velvet to canvas, manuscript to printed texts etc. Lilac velvet comes from binding of Corvinas, deep red velvet from the binding of the founding charter, anthracite grey from canvas binding. Gold has been highlighting books from manuscripts to present-day editions. The new corporate identity and the interior are reflecting these historical aspects and forming a very strong new image of the institution.
Inspiration
Essence, Esszencia in Hungarian, was dedicated to celebrate the 22Oth anniversary of the founding of the National Szechenyi Library. In 18O2 Count Szechenyi transformed his private library into a Hungarika collection, thus laying the foundations of the Hungarian National Library. The story told also recalls the Corvina Library of king Matthias as it can be considered a historical predecessor. The curators of Essence targeted to present the complexity and multi layered nature of the more than ten million documents. These aspects were to be presented in an integrated educational exhibition in the common area of the building.
Image Credits
Photographer: Gyorgy Darabos
Project Overview
Essence of 220 Years of the Library Exhibition has been a Iron winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2022 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Iron Recognition
Maria Gazdag was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2023, a testament to excellence of their work Essence of 220 Years of the Library Exhibition.
Maria Gazdag Press Releases
We provide a series of press releases on Maria Gazdag that journalists and press members can freely incorporate into their narratives. Unlock 2 press releases now, directly accessible to journalists.
Essence of 220 Years of the Library Unveiled in Educational Exhibition at National Szechenyi Library
Maria Gazdag's "Essence" exhibition celebrates the 220th anniversary of the National Szechenyi Library, showcasing the rich history of Hungarian literature and culture through an integrated educational experience.
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