The Museo di Storia Naturale del Mediterraneo (the museum of the natural history of the Mediterranean) is housed in the Villa Henderson, an elegant building that dates back to the end of the 18th century. Over the years, the villa has been turned into an exhibition space, to which other spaces have been added, including the Sala del Mare (the sea room).  

This large hall was built specifically for the purpose of displaying a common whale found in Piombino in 1990, and its arched shape deliberately echoes that of the cetacean.

The hall recently underwent an extensive refurbishment that included a lighting redesign. Illuminating the huge skeleton are Bright 2.4 recessed uplights, positioned under the bones: the fixtures have 13°x52° elliptical optics and light the entire length of the suspended structure, creating a fascinating play of shadows that is projected onto the hall's wooden beams.

L&L also supplied Pivot 1.7 projectors with narrow 8° optics to light the fish reproductions mounted on the sea room walls. The projectors’ compact dimensions and cor-ten finish allow them to blend discreetly into the wooden ceiling they are attached to.