Showcase Security Upgrades and Bulletproof Glass Refurbishment for the National Gallery of Victoria
The temporary Cartier exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne features about 400 historic jewels, timepieces, and jewellery objects tracing Cartier’s legacy in art, design, and craftsmanship. The arrival of these high-value international loans required high-security protective showcases to safeguard the collection spaces. Consequently, European Museum Technology (EMT) carried out showcase security upgrades, including specialised bulletproof glass refurbishment and enhanced concealed locking mechanisms, to ensure the existing showcases comply with stringent international standards for high-value overseas lending.
The Walk-Through Case: Architectural Transparency
Positioned between the map room and the study, this double-sided glass vitrine serves as both an exhibition enclosure and a physical threshold. Integrating an automated door governed by the gallery’s proprietary ‘O’ application, the five-metre installation completely conceals its mechanical closers and lock systems within the structural frame to maintain an uninterrupted, sculptural profile.
The Lounge Wall Unit Display Cases: Integrated Library Vitrines
Spanning the perimeter of the Phrontisterion lounge, this modular sequence of ten wall unit display cases integrates upper illuminated vitrines with lower interactive display drawers. Featuring fluted half-dowel timber faces and flush internal glazing, the installation protects archived assets via automated solenoid locking systems concealed entirely within the chassis to maintain clean, uninterrupted vertical lines.
The AV Unit: Acoustic Automation
Configured as a continuous, long-line joinery installation within the Phrontisterion lounge, this bespoke AV unit features a horizontally sliding stone counter and a synchronised internal turntable lift. Anchored by half-dowel timber fluting and precise brass detailing, the design fully integrates high-fidelity media infrastructure and automated kinematics while maintaining the gallery’s tranquil, flush facade.
The Custom Pivot Cellar Doors: Dynamic Transitions
Marking the boundary between the Phrontisterion’s study and lounge, these pivoting vertical case enclosures serve as both secure thresholds and illuminated exhibition spaces. Utilising fully concealed FritsJurgens pivot hinges integrated into the timber feature wall, the dual-function vitrines glide with controlled fluidity to present a flush facade, preserving the subterranean library’s visual continuity.
Digital Retrieval Units: Mechanical Interaction
Positioned alongside high-security vitrines, these semi-circular timber capsules allow interactive, full-scale exploration of fragile archives without physical handling. Featuring an angled display screen and a single weighted brass dial, the consoles ground digital navigation in a reassuringly tactile interface, while fully concealing all internal infrastructure to preserve the quietude of the library.
Shakespeare and Picasso Cabinet: High-Security Preservation
Engineered to house Shakespeare’s First Folio and rare Picasso notebooks, this high-security vitrine combines climate control with a sophisticated slatted timber exterior. Featuring high-specification security glass and internal electrical infrastructure routed through adjacent structural cavities, the installation delivers uncompromising environmental defence without disrupting the clean architectural lines of the gallery.
Free-Standing Reading Desks: Symmetrical Solitude
Placed within the general library of the Phrontisterion, these S-shaped reading desks partition the study environment into private, semi-circular alcoves for two scholars. The design contrasts a dark, vertically fluted outer shell with a warm, acoustically dampened timber interior, seamlessly routing power through the central support structure to preserve its clean architectural lines.
Freestanding Map Case: Curatorial Precision
Designed for Phrontisterion’s dedicated map room, this two-metre-long showcase combines museum-grade environmental controls with an innovative slide-out cassette system. Engineered as a fully disassemblable structure to navigate strict subterranean access limits, it delivers absolute dimensional accuracy and secure, glare-free presentation for rare, oversized folios.
Kiefer RUI Sliding Doors
Positioned as structural boundaries within MONA’s Phrontisterion library, these bespoke cellar doors pair rigid black anodised aluminium framing with a fluid matrix of hand-blown glass discs. Developed through rigorous physical prototyping to accommodate the natural tolerances of the glass, the installation successfully balances structural integrity with artisanal irregularity, diffusing a soft, textured light across the subterranean threshold.