After designing a number of highly successful lighting schemes at Durham Cathedral, including the award-winning shop, Sutton Vane Associates were commissioned to design the lighting for a new £10.9m exhibition exploring the cathedrals most historic spaces. The exhibition included many light sensitive artefacts including St Cuthbert’s coffin which had previously been displayed at a light level of only 40 lux. SVA provided solutions that ensured the exhibition was well lit without harming the priceless objects.

The Monk’s dormitory features a huge south facing window that despite the huge amounts of light that flooded into the space, made the roof gloomy and meant that the architecture was hard to appreciate. SVA designed a discreet scheme that celebrated the roofs’ impressive structure whilst also providing lighting for the exhibition below. There was a similar dilemma in the Great Kitchen where the giant chimney that was being used as a skylight was sealed in order to control the light levels in the exhibition, protecting the precious artefacts. Spotlights were angled upwards allowing light to skim off the brickwork, revealing its texture.