Art Institute of Chicago

The museum & the collection

In the summer of 2025, the Art Institute of Chicago unveiled the newly re-imagined Eloise W. Martin Galleries, where more than 300 masterworks of European furniture, silver, ceramics and glass from the 17th to the 20th century spark the imagination. Arranged chronologically, the galleries trace the sweep of European design through global trade, Enlightenment ideas and the Industrial Revolution, featuring objects as diverse as an Indian‑crafted armchair, Chinese porcelain re-worked in Paris, and a neo‑Gothic sideboard from Victorian England.

The assignment & the challenges

Keen to mark the museum’s first major gallery transformation in decades, the curatorial team chose a design‑and‑build route, inviting Meyvaert to co‑create the showcases in parallel with the exhibition narrative. This hands‑on partnership with architects Barozzi Veiga allowed aesthetics and engineering to evolve together, resulting in a family of custom showcases that introduced a fresh visual language to the exhibition.

Behind the refined style of the cases lay exacting demands for conservation, maintenance and object rotation. For example, every material inside the display volume had to pass the Art Institute’s own Oddy tests. Interchangeable shelves, plinths, label holders and lighting needed to accommodate frequent rotations, and be ready for heavier future loans.

The solultions & the result

The Meyvaert team and the Barozzi Veiga designers united their complementary expertise in a creative collaboration worth repeating. Through weekly workshops, for example, we reconciled the museum’s mock-up dimensions with the wall build (by another contractor) while fine-tuning shelf positions, load limits and the minimalist base. Early mock-ups and a three-day prototype review session gave the full team crystal-clear feedback on usability, aesthetics, lighting and internals before sign-off.

The finished suite of showcases stands out for its elegant, minimalistic features and carefully chosen materials. Sand-blasted Belgian Bleu du Hainaut forms the bottom panels, table tops and platforms.

The storm-tinted serenity of the bleu du Hainaut stone on the inside of the cases is complemented with by a hand‑applied, ultra‑matte metal finish on the outside, echoing the architects’ vision. Another standout feature is the use of a concealed corner profile throughout the entire showcase scope.

The design can be enjoyed not only by the visitors in the galleries, but also by the museum team behind the scenes. A barrier of discreet joints under each case stops dust from settling for easy maintenance. Flexible shelf systems, demountable platforms, and swappable internal tabletops with variable-height legs prepare the gallery for future re‑curation and heavier loads. Multiple lighting options can be integrated into the cases and shelves, adaptable to the specific needs of each rotation.

Each showcase balances finely detailed design with future-proof flexibility. Movable shelves, adjustable tables, plug-in lighting, and modular label rails invite ready reconfiguration while never compromising precision. Throughout, the architect’s hand on every element delivers a unified visitor experience.