Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam: Where art meets architecture… and light becomes poetry.

While exploring the Rijksmuseum, I stumbled upon this breathtaking room — a space where history and modern design come together beautifully.

The ornate ceiling is stunning on its own, but what truly captured my attention were the elegant pendant lights floating like glowing petals.

These aren’t just decorative — they’re part of an innovative lighting system developed during the museum’s major renovation.

Designed by a collaboration between Philips Lighting, Arup, and Beersnielsen, this system uses over 750,000 LEDs to create a soft, museum-friendly glow that enhances both art and architecture.

Philips, known for its cutting-edge lighting solutions, has also worked on iconic spaces like the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. In the Rijksmuseum, their work includes smart lighting controls, subtle integration into historical architecture, and artful installations like the kinetic chandeliers by Studio Drift, which move like blooming flowers. It’s a perfect blend of old and new — respectful of the past, yet full of modern wonder.

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