Floor is the most used surface in any gallery or museum. With this being said, the flooring materials have to look as beautiful and durable as they can be. Flooring should reflect the aesthetics of the entire space and the artwork pieces too.
The daily traffic from visitors and tours are taking toll on the finishing of the floor. These days, museums are carefully choosing modern and dependable materials when they are building new or when renovating old spaces.
Choosing between Synthetic and Organic
Prior to mid-1940s, hemp, wood, straw, jute as well as oilskin decked the areas that are receiving high-foot traffic. As 1990s enter, it started using synthetic materials.
The Promise
Back then, synthetic flooring were being advertised to be extremely durable and made of carpet, vinyl as well as engineered wood flooring.
These are the perfect options for public spaces similar to:
- Malls
- Hospitals
- Schools and;
- Museums and Galleries
Another edge of synthetic products is the fact that they are very affordable and easy to clean. However, the chemicals used in producing and installing synthetic products have asbestos, formaldehyde and several cancer-causing carcinogens. It is because of the late discoveries of these compounds, modern public spaces are now using volatile organic compound products or low-VOC.
The Switch
In an effort of quelling public safety issues, owners of galleries and museums began switching to non-toxic and sustainable flooring materials similar to epoxy resin, concrete, cork or bamboo.