The Museum of Nature and Humankind Opens in Padua, Italy

The Museum of Nature and Man (Museo della Natura e dell’Uomo) opens to the public this week, covering more than 4,000 square meters in the center of Padua and becoming the largest university science museum in Europe. The museum famously houses rich collections of mineralogy, geology, paleontology, zoology, and anthropology, which have been gathered and curated over centuries by scholars from the University of Padua. The new exhibit design, entrusted to the highly experienced Guicciardini and Magni studio, maximizes the presence of these collections, and also includes innovative digital exhibit solutions.

Goppion created all the new showcases for the museum, the largest of which are 6-meter island showcases of irregular shapes – hosting large Pleistocene fossils such as Mammuthus, Hippopotamus, Elephas, and Ursus. No matter what the size of the display objects, each Goppion showcase has been designed to include optimum conservation specifications, maximum legibility of the objects and an aesthetic lightness of setting. For the most easily perishable objects, the cases have systems to control and actively regulate levels of relative humidity. The precision and care of our manufacturing process guarantees a high level of airtightness which, in some cases combined with a filtering system, ensures any harmful and particulate matter present in the exterior environment is kept out. The opening systems of the showcases are easy to use, with systems and materials that will stand the test of time.

Goppion has previous experience working with extensive natural science collections – for instance, having delivered a highly complex, innovative display system for MuSE in Trento, in 2013.

Overall, the new Museum of Nature and Man is an experience that has been carefully curated, unified, simplified and enhanced for the best visitor experience. Goppion is delighted its display cases are part of this reimagined place that connects people with the wonders of the natural world.