KOHLER CORPORATE MUSEUM, company’s museum

Kohler, 2018-2019

Thanks to the acquisition of the Lombardini brand, in 2012 Kohler created the European headquarters for the “engines” sector in Reggio Emilia. In 2015, the renovation project of the entire industrial district began on an area of ​​170,000 square meters for a total of 700 workers between workers and employees. In December 2019 the new corporate museum called “Gallery of Engines” is inaugurated. The museum project completes the renovation of “building B” and marks a significant milestone within the general renovation project.

mobility museum refurbishment working

ADI Design Index, 2020
Selection

The museum space is clean, pure, technologically advanced and with an “expansive effect” thanks to the use of glass panels that hide all the plants as well as large vertical monitors. The museum becomes a stage machine, capable of hosting always different thematic and temporary exhibitions through the additional contribution of dedicated display units. The perimeter glass partitions and the lamellar false ceiling are dark blue, the corporate blue, enhancing the sense of belonging by interpreting the codes of corporate identity.

The design of the exhibition, thanks to its extreme linearity and material / chromatic coordination with the space, deliberately leaves the artifacts and videos as protagonists. The set-up system is easily declined for the display of dimensionally different products. Everything is designed to be completely independent and mobile for future exhibitions.

The display design expresses the “duty” soul of the product. No superstructures or decorative elements but great attention to the quality of detail. The materials, metal and concrete, are in continuity with the design line of the entire corporate restyling.

The digital contents are managed by a synchronization program activated by sensors. The natural zenithal light has been maintained and is combined with an advanced lighting system integrated in the skylights which is activated via a twilight sensor.

The original space, a long and wide corridor rather low and almost 90 meters long, equipped with natural zenithal light, had on one side a continuous masonry which was attached to a bulky and obsolete setting. On the other side, there was access to the various services and offices on the ground and upper floors. Overall, a “confused” volume, without spatial delimitations. A forgotten place used as a distributive link between offices, services and production.