Iona Abbey Museum

Historic Environment Scotland, Iona

I was the lead designer for the Iona Abbey Museum project from concept through to on-site completion.

This included liaising with the client to develop the interpretive storyline and select the stones to be displayed, creating design concepts and developing them, producing sketches, detail design drawings (CAD), written specifications, developing ideas and producing detail designs for the layout of objects within display cases, liaising with the client and contractors including the specialist lighting designer and mount maker.

I was commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland to create an atmospheric new museum highlighting the most significant stones and providing interpretative graphics based on the latest academic research into the stone carvings.

My design solution was a ‘black box’ approach to allow for dramatic lighting to be used to bring out the detail of the carving to maximum effect with an evocative soundscape. Other archaeological finds were also added to the museum to further explain monastic life on the island.

Due to the nature of the period building there were environmental factors such as damp that had to be taken into consideration in the selection of materials and finishes.

All images © Historic Environment Scotland