Sustainable Exhibition Design: A New Era at Iziko Museums

The Humanity exhibition at Iziko Museums marks a significant milestone in sustainable exhibition design. Amy Sephton, Chief Curator of Exhibition Design and Production, and Nkosingiphile Mazibuko, Exhibition Designer, presented their groundbreaking approach at the Green Museums Summit, highlighting how sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns to encompass social, economic, and cultural dimensions.

Redefining Sustainability in Museums

Sustainable exhibition design involves a comprehensive rethinking of the entire exhibition process, from conception to eventual repurposing. The Humanity exhibition embodies this holistic approach, creating spaces that are not only environmentally friendly but also socially meaningful and economically viable.

Holistic Sustainability

Nkosingiphile Mazibuko emphasized that true sustainability interconnects people, prosperity, and the planet. Drawing inspiration from Paul Anastas and Julie Zimmerman’s 12 principles of green engineering, the team considered material choices, energy consumption, and long-term environmental impacts.

Material Choices: Balancing Ideals and Practicality

The team faced the challenge of balancing sustainability goals with practical constraints. Their material choices reflect this delicate balance:

Umhlanga Reeds

• Pros: Indigenous, fast-growing, minimal environmental impact
• Cons: Difficulties in overseeing sustainable harvesting, concerns with flame-retardant coatings

Mild Steel

• Pros: Mechanical strength, cost-effectiveness, recyclability
• Cons: Not entirely without environmental impact

Bending Plywood

Pros: Flexibility, availability, relatively low cost

• Cons: Challenges with printing, splitting during CNC cutting, long-term warping

Rammed Earth

• Pros: Natural beauty, minimal embodied energy, powerful storytelling
• Cons: Weight and structural limitations in historic buildings

Acrylic

• Pros: Clarity, durability, flexibility
• Cons: Non-renewable, high embodied energy

Design Intent Themes

The team identified three core principles through a collaborative workshop:

1. People-Centered: Reflecting human connection, participation, and ritual
2. Earth-Focused: Emphasizing eco-friendly materials and respect for nature
3. Inclusive Design: Prioritizing diverse voices and perspectives

These themes guided decision-making throughout the design process, ensuring alignment with the vision of sustainable exhibition design.

Challenges and Learnings

The team encountered several obstacles:

• Limited recycling infrastructure
• High costs of eco-friendly alternatives
• Logistical barriers

However, these challenges provided valuable lessons for future projects, highlighting opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

A New Narrative for Museums

The Humanity exhibition reimagines not only material usage but also storytelling in museums. It emphasizes interconnectedness, inclusion, and the museum’s role as a space for dialogue and reflection. By combining thoughtful material choices, design intent themes, and a commitment to sustainability, the exhibition serves as both a physical space and a powerful narrative about humanity’s relationship with the earth.

Looking Forward

The Humanity exhibition at Iziko Museums exemplifies the potential of sustainable exhibition design. It demonstrates that with creativity, collaboration, and a holistic approach to sustainability, museums can create environmentally responsible, socially meaningful, and economically viable spaces.For visitors to South Africa, the Humanity exhibition offers a unique sensory and intellectual journey, inviting reflection on our shared humanity through innovative design and sustainable materials.

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Amy Sephton and Nkosingiphile Mazibuko spoke at the Green Museums Summit 2024.