Replacement of optical apparatus

Panoramas owe their impressive overall effect to an ingenious architectural construction made of textile components, namely the “Optical Apparatus”, consisting of a baldachin, a velum and solar sails. The baldachin is an expansive “textile canopy” visible from the platform. Above it is the velum, a fabric cylinder. Several stretched pieces of fabric, the so-called solar sails, extend vertically from the velum. While the baldachin conceals the upper edge of the picture, making it appear infinite, the velum and the solar sails reflect the light entering through the glass panes in the dome of the panorama and prevent it from shining directly onto the canvas. This ensures a balanced illumination of the entire panorama room.

The replacement of the baldachin is the most extensive part of the current refurbishment project. In total, around 1600 square metres of textile with a total weight of 200 kilograms will be replaced.

Replacement of lighting systems

The panorama thrives on light: in addition to the angle of incidence of daylight through the roof and the specific reflective architecture (see “Optical Apparatus”), an artificial lighting system also ensures the constant brilliance of the light-sensitive oil painting in the Bourbaki Panorama.

Depending on the time of year, the lighting is active for an average of 2 to 5 hours a day at different intensities. Despite the technical version and careful handling, the lighting system of the European cultural monument is not immune to age: the obsolescence of the current construction of 64 metal halide lamps of 400 watts with outdated ballasts not only challenges the quality of the viewing experience, it also puts the sustainability of the museum infrastructure to the test.

Restoration of viewing platform

The historic viewing platform is important for the authentic overall experience of the unique Bourbaki Panorama cultural monument. It offers the public space to engage with the circular painting – to look, immerse themselves, ponder, meditate, discuss ...

Both the leather-covered benches and the decorated and painted metal railings on the viewing platform date from 1889, the year the panorama was built. The original pieces are now listed buildings. Daily use since the reopening of the museum almost 30 years ago has left traces of wear and tear. As a result, they form a sometimes drastic contrast to the high quality of the artwork.

In addition to its restoration, the platform is also being partially renewed: both the central loudspeaker system integrated into the baldachin and the chandelier for illuminating the platform have already exceeded their service life. They are also technically outdated.