Welcome to the third instalment of my “Where To” series about the Royal Ontario Museum. Previously, I explored the stark contrasts between the exterior and interior of the entrances to the Royal Ontario Museum. In this post, I put the interior design of the museum’s exhibit spaces under the microscope.

 

Differences are immediately obvious as patrons move beyond the entrances into the main floor and staircases at each entrance.

 

Within the Crystal, absurd angles and plain white walls are reminiscent of a sanitarium. Moving from floor to floor on the “Stair of Wonders” is the most sterile of experiences.

 

The Westin stairs act as an exhibit space, incorporating columns, cornices, mouldings, marble, stonework and actual artifacts. It enhances the visit and doesn’t make visitors feel as though they are walking the corridors of a hospital.

 

 

 

Entering the Chin exhibit spaces, the abundance of white along with the angles and the myriad lines leading the eye in multiple directions do nothing to enhance the exhibits. Amazing artifacts, like the dinosaurs, feel haphazardly laid out and visually confusing, detracting from their overall impressiveness.

 

 

As preposterous as the exhibit areas are, the most confounding design aspect inside the Crystal is what visitors must traverse to move between exhibit areas; bridges that lead through empty white spaces.

 

 

My absolute “favourite” is this shot which was taken from one end of a bridge that leads to a wall. Sigh…

While these bridges cover beams that are structural necessities, surely the aesthetic of these areas could be more pleasing.

 

Contrast this to what you encounter when exiting the staircases in the Original Building.

 

Moving through exhibits doesn’t involve walking over bridges, but through adjacent rooms or spaces.

 

Artifacts are well laid out and the display areas in these exhibits add to, rather than detract from, what visitors are viewing.

 

 

As with the entrances, I don’t think there is any debate over which interior space provides the better experience for visitors.  There are many great exhibits to be found in the ROM – unfortunately some are displayed within the Chin galleries.

 

Next week, in my final post about the ROM,  I will share colour splash images of some of my favourite pieces – so please come back and take a look!

 

Until then, I’d appreciate hearing what you liked about about this post! As well, I’d love to see any great shots you have of the ROM!

 

COMING SOON:  The final instalment in my “How To” series on how I created my subway image, focusing on applying individual adjustments.  If you haven’t read the first second or third posts, please take a look!

 

Don’t forget to click like and recommend Jonathon C Photography to your friends or someone you know who may find it interesting.

 

Finally, please follow jonathoncphotography.com so you can always be first to hear about all the new content that I post!

 

 

 

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