Reynolda House Anniversary Memorial
Reynolda—as a museum, garden, and historic country estate—connects people with the beauty and complexity of the American story through the integration of art, learning, and nature. They strive to cultivate experiences and environments that foster belonging.
The Design Office of John Murph helped the Museum celebrate a major milestone in their history.
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The Reynolda House Museum of American Art displays a premiere collection of American art ranging from the colonial period to the present. It has been described as "the finest concentration of American art in a public collection south of Washington." Housed in the elegant estate of the R.J. Reynolds family, the museum opened its doors in 1967. In 2007, it celebrated its 40th anniversary, with a little help from The Design Office of John Murph.
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John Murph was invited to offer concepts for a retrospective exhibit that encapsulated the heritage and contributions of the museum as it celebrated its 40th anniversary. The display needed to present a comprehensive timeline that recounted key milestones in the Museum's history in a way consistent with its brand. Also, given the limited space available for the exhibit, the design needed to be minimally invasive of visitor mobility while maximizing impact.
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The Design Office of John Murph sought to create timeline concepts that eschewed the typical linear grid structure so common with such displays. This was due to a concern that such approaches were inherently dry and felt more like sifting through a textbook. We wanted the design to truly engage and captivate, while tying back to the core Reynolda House brand.
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Our solution leveraged the house itself as a vehicle for constructing the timeline of the Museum’s history. A hierarchy of engagement directed the design, with a top-level, general presentation that unfolded and deepened with further inspection.
Instead of pursuing a conventional timeline presentation, with significant dates strung along a ‘measuring ruler’ configuration, the Reynolda House – which is, after all, the literal brand – served as an organizational structure. The architectural facade became the mechanism by which individual milestones would be highlighted.
Using a monumental reproduction of the House as a backdrop, the assorted windows and french doors along the promenade that add so much distinction to the architecture were co-opted as information panels. The House was cast in a muted sepia tone that would blend with the space's neutral interior, while the 'window panels' took on a delightful color palette in order to stand out and draw in the viewer. Upon closer inspection, each window featured a composition dedicated to a particular milestone. This included retrospective imagery and notable events.
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At the Reynolda House Museum's opening gala kicking off a year of planned commemoration and celebration, the 40th Anniversary display was the focal point. Its multiple milestone "windows" acted as conversation starters and presentation points as guests mingled and shared stories about the Museum's history.
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The final 40 Year Anniversary Display was an effective exercise in information design, leveraging a striking visual presentation to deliver essential knowledge. It served as a centerpoint for ongoing events and festivities that the Museum hosted throughout the year as part of its Anniversary celebration.
Brand Strategy | Exhibition Design
Our solution leveraged the visual of the house itself as a vehicle for organizing the timeline of the museum’s history.
Instead of pursuing a conventional timeline presentation, with significant dates strung along a ‘measuring ruler’ configuration, the house itself – which is, after all, the brand – was leveraged as an organizational structure.
The assorted windows that add so much distinction to the architecture were co-opted into visual panels that highlighted key milestones in the museum’s history.
