sculptural exhibition design traces a glowing path through antiquity in poland

FIVE DISTINCT ROOMS ORGANIZE THE HISTORIC EXHIBITION

At Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, the exhibition Masterpieces from the Lanckoroński Collection presents ancient sculptures and objects across five interconnected rooms. Designed by NArchitekTURA, the installation introduces curved walls, continuous surfaces, subdued colors, and carefully controlled lighting into the castle’s historic interiors.

Each room has a different atmosphere, but the materials and forms create a consistent route through the exhibition. Rather than recreating an ancient setting, the design uses contemporary architecture to highlight the collection and guide visitors from one space to the next.

all images by Adam Golec

CURVED WALLS CREATE AN ENIGMATIC ENTRANCE

The entrance hall acts as a quiet introduction to the exhibition. Two curved walls conceal much of the existing room and direct visitors towards the first gallery. Clay plaster, stone, and metal were selected for their connection to materials commonly used in antiquity.

Designed by NArchitekTURA studio, a circular light installation extends across the two walls and evokes the Mediterranean sun. From most positions, the image appears blurred or incomplete, but from a specific viewpoint, its two halves align to form a complete circle.

in the first exhibition hall, the material on the floor and walls is glazed birch plywoodall

CONTINUOUS SURFACES FRAME THE SCULPTURES

In the first gallery, glazed birch plywood covers the floor and rises along the walls. At the upper level, the material becomes translucent, allowing indirect light to pass through and creating a soft glow around the room. The sculptures are displayed on wooden platforms that project from the new walls, while selected objects are protected by glass cases. The curved transition between the floor and walls makes the room appear more continuous and removes clear boundaries between its surfaces.

The next gallery follows a similar approach. A textured surface extends from the floor onto two opposite walls, creating a single curved backdrop for freestanding plaster casts. Marble pedestals of different heights position the sculptures at a consistent visual level.

two curved walls almost completely conceal the existing interior and suggest a direction of movement

PERFORATED WALLS PRESENT ABSENT OBJECTS

Another room is defined by a warm brown plywood wall punctured with circular openings. Some contain photographs of objects that could not be included in the exhibition, while four larger niches display smaller artifacts.

The arrangement resembles a contemporary stereoscope, inviting visitors to look through the openings one by one. The matching brown tones of the floor, walls, and ceiling create a neutral setting that keeps attention on the photographs and objects.

the exhibition also showcases historic stone portals from Wawel Royal Castle

BURGUNDY CARPET AND BRASS MARK THE FINAL ROOM

In the final gallery, burgundy carpet covers both the floor and a curved wall, echoing the color of the castle’s existing stone staircase. A circular display case set into the wall presents five small objects surrounded by concentric brass elements and soft, diffused light.

Across the five rooms, the intervention balances contemporary exhibition design with the historic architecture of Wawel Royal Castle. Curved surfaces, restrained materials, and controlled lighting create a clear journey through the collection while allowing each group of objects to occupy its own distinct setting.

a graphic, blurred, luminous circular form curves along the edges of both walls

the dominant materials in this entrance space refer to the artifacts on display 

the last room is finished with burgundy carpeting

project info:

name: Masterpieces from the Lanckoronski Collection – A story of Antiquity

designer: NArchitekTURA | @_narchitecture

location: Krakow, Poland

venue: Wawel Royal Castle Krakow

exhibition: A story of Antiquity

dates: May 8th – August 30th, 2026

images: Adam Golec | @adamgolecphotographs

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: iñaki laguardia | designboom

The post sculptural exhibition design traces a glowing path through antiquity in poland appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.