Cathedral of Milan
Interior Lighting
2019

Lighting Design:  Ferrara Palladino Lightscape  with Marco Miglioli.

Client:  Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano.     Photographs:  Dirk Vogel and Max Pintus.

MILAN | ITALY

LEGAMBIENTE Award to environmentally friendly innovation
Winner

Things change according on how they are illuminated.

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     Central nave of the Cathedral. Aerial photo of the lit capitals

The Cathedral of Milan is at the same time a place of prayer and a historical and artistic monument visited by many tourists. The lighting was therefore designed in such a way as to underline each time different functions. The lighting project, by making various light settings available, avoids providing a single and static image of the cathedral, thus stimulating the interest of visitors.

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     Example of dynamic lighting of the cathedral during a religious celebration. From dark to light

The dynamism, ensured by light variations, allows the creation of different uses of the space: for example, for specific liturgies or for musical concerts.

Light is treated as an element that changes architecture over time. Light and time are two inseparable actors in a lighting project: actors who play in a fluid, dynamic and changeable architecture.

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Counterfaçade. The capitals and statues are lit in a back and forth between background and figure

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Illuminated capitals and vaults

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Silver statues of saints Ambrose and Charles on the sides of the ciborium

The cathedral was previously lit by fixtures which had the function of illuminating just the ground, thus leaving the aisles and vaults in shadow, while the details of the statues were barely perceptible. It was dark lighting that could bring about an oppressive feeling.

The main aim of the new lighting project is to bring back to light the verticality of Gothic architecture and to show its details and construction complexity.

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     Central nave photographed from the capitals

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Study sketch. Hand Drawing by Marco Miglioli

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Sketch to evaluate the visual impact of lighting fixtures. Hand drawing by Marco Miglioli

So that the imposing dimensions of the architecture can be perceived, the light of approximately 800 projectors passes through the space from the highest points of the cathedral; it seems to acquire a material thickness, making its way inside the shadow, then touching the ground where it is evenly distributed on the marble inlays.


The light colour was chosen to enhance the chromaticity and veins of the marble.

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Outer picture of the polychrome glass windows illuminated from inside

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Detail of a glass window lit from inside

The Cathedral glass windows can be seen during the day with natural light, during the night with the new lighting and finally from the outside internally lit.

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Project sketch showing the mounting heights of the light sources. Hand drawing by Marco Miglioli

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Perspective sketch of the transept with the heights of the light sources. Hand drawing by Marco Miglioli

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All work inside the Cathedral was carried out with climbing harnesses and without scaffolding. This made it necessary to draw detailed installation tables up

The installation and fine-tuning of the lighting system were carried out without suspending liturgical activities and tourist visits. This made it necessary to draw up a detailed timetable to safely regulate the flow of people.
The position and aiming of each device were established before the beginning of construction site as any subsequent modification would have led to great inconveniences.

Video on the interior and exterior lighting of the Cathedral. Erco and Ferrara Palladino Lightscape

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