National Museum of the American Indian
LocationIndependence Ave SW, Washington D.C., USA
Type(s) of establishment
Type Permanent exhibition
Collection Leathers, feathers and beads
![Museum Display Case made in glass with American Indian artefact at the National Museum of the American Indian designed by Zone Display Cases](https://zonedisplaycases.ficelle.app/v1/?&src=https://zonedisplaycases.com/workspace/uploads/modules/nmai-frameless-edit-kb-fr-1625604369.jpg)
National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C., USA
"Americans" is an exhibition that sheds light on the nature of the American people’s and American Indians’ relationship.
![Frameless Freestanding Display Cases with American Indian artefact at the National Museum of the American Indian designed by Zone Display Cases](https://zonedisplaycases.ficelle.app/v1/?&src=https://zonedisplaycases.com/workspace/uploads/modules/national-museum-american-indian-frameless-zone-display-cases-format-web-6-fr-1598450357.jpg)
Description
Opened in January 2018, the exhibition "Americans" features nearly 300 objects, some of which are presented in these astonishing frameless display cases.
Frameless Series
![Zone Display Cases wins the Red Dot Design Awards 2018 - best of the best](https://zonedisplaycases.ficelle.app/v1/?&src=https://zonedisplaycases.com/workspace/uploads/modules/red-dot-design-2018-winner-zone-display-cases-fr-1598371431.jpg)
The Frameless Series has proudly earned us first place at the 2018 “Red Dot Design Award”, a renown international design competition hosted annually in Germany.
Challenge
The intent called for a variety of all-glass large freestanding display cases with no top structure, but with easy access for maintenance. The museum intended to use ceiling lighting.
![Museum Display Case made in glass with American Indian artefact at the National Museum of the American Indian designed by Zone Display Cases](https://zonedisplaycases.ficelle.app/v1/?&src=https://zonedisplaycases.com/workspace/uploads/modules/national-museum-american-indian-frameless-zone-display-cases-format-web-1-fr-1598450649.png)
The sensitive organic artifacts required a very specific and critical air exchange rate with a passive humidity control.
All materials used in the fabrication of the cases needed to be non-off-gassing and conservation-approved.
![Museum Display Case made in glass winner of Red Dot Design Award created by Zone Display Cases](https://zonedisplaycases.ficelle.app/v1/?&src=https://zonedisplaycases.com/workspace/uploads/modules/zf-100-1-touched-up-fr-1582060795.jpg)
Our Solutions
Our frameless freestanding display case design was the ideal solution for this project. They used full-size access doors and are completely frameless at the top.
The frameless frosted top provides a wonderful diffused lighting effect and limits unwishful cast shadows.
![Custom Frameless Freestanding Display Case made in glass with integrated sliding display surface created by Zone Display Cases](https://zonedisplaycases.ficelle.app/v1/?&src=https://zonedisplaycases.com/workspace/uploads/modules/national-museum-of-american-indian-1-fr-1598451440.jpg)
The taller unit in the project measured 9ft. tall by 4ft. wide. Longer units integrated sliding display surfaces for optimal ease-of-maintenance.
The taller unit in the project measured 9ft. tall by 4ft. wide. Longer units integrated sliding display surfaces for optimal ease-of-maintenance.
![Frameless Freestanding Display Cases with American Indian artefact at the National Museum of the American Indian designed by Zone Display Cases](https://zonedisplaycases.ficelle.app/v1/?&src=https://zonedisplaycases.com/workspace/uploads/modules/national-museum-american-indian-frameless-zone-display-cases-format-web-5-fr-1598453255.jpg)
The exchange performance on our frameless cases is amongst the best on the market. Every component has been Oddy-tested and approved by the NMAI Conservation Team. The cooperation with the museum to reach the targeted microclimate requirements was essential.