The director of the IVAM has proposed a new vision for the museum of the future, comparing it to underfloor heating that integrates art and daily life instead of a traditional marble staircase. This metaphor suggests a paradigm shift: museums will seek to be accessible spaces connected with people, where art feels like part of everyday life. The conclusion is clear: art wants to get closer to people, not push them away.
Technology as the foundation of the new exhibition space 🏛️
To achieve this integration, technical development points to climate control and acoustic systems that allow an immersive experience without physical barriers. Pedestals and oppressive display cases are eliminated, replaced by proximity sensors and touch screens that provide context without intermediaries. Lighting becomes dynamic, adapting to the flow of visitors, and installations are designed with porous materials that absorb city noise. The goal is for art to breathe with the visitor's rhythm, not the other way around.
Goodbye to stairs, hello to house slippers 👟
Finally, a museum that doesn't force you to climb marble stairs to feel cultured. Now, art will reach you like the heat from underfloor heating, even if it's just to remind you that you left the iron on. Of course, we'll have to see if this accessibility includes a phone charger in every room, because if not, art integrated into daily life might clash with the anxiety of a 5% battery. Good thing the IVAM isn't proposing a parquet floor, because I can already see myself slipping in new shoes.