The beauties of Palazzo
Borromeo lit by Enel X
I
n the heart of Rome, one of the most beautiful
buildings of Renaissance architecture has recently
been illuminated with new light. It is Palazzo
Borromeo, the seat of the Italian Embassy to the
Holy See, now re-enhanced by a meticulous work
carried out by Enel X, the global business line
of the Enel Group dedicated to innovative products
and digital solutions.
From its marvellous entrance, up to the majestic
noble rooms embellished with precious stuccos
and frescoes, the magnificent palace, designed
in 1561 by the architect Pirro Ligorio at the behest
of Pope Pius IV, benefited from the artistic lighting
renovation carried out by Enel X, thanks to which
it is now possible to appreciate the most fascinating
glimpses and corners of the building.
The avant-garde LED technology has replaced the
traditional one, maintaining the right mix between
environmental sustainability and enhancement
of the works of art housed within the walls of the
historic complex. The ambitious artistic lighting
project has been inaugurated on the occasion of the
90th Anniversary of the Signature of the Lateran
Pacts and of the 35th Anniversary of the Concordat
Modification Agreement.
Enel X installed 180 new lighting points, including
103 lamps and 77 lighting fixtures, all equipped
with Warm White Hi-CRI LED technology, with
an average life span of 60,000 hours and a total
power of 4.1 kW. The new sustainable and efficient
system has replaced the previous 169 lighting points,
which had an average duration of 10 thousand hours,
guaranteeing for the whole structure an energy
saving of 70%.
Thanks to their extremely reduced dimensions,
the new lighting fixtures, capable of an intense
natural white light, guarantee a minimum visual
encumbrance. Moreover, always keeping in mind
sustainability and energy efficiency, the newly
installed lamps have been positioned using almost
all the existing spaces. A diversified use of luminous
fluxes gives a new visual experience, thanks to a
system that uses precision optics, filters, diffusers,
anti-glare wings and grilles. The latter, in particular,
thanks to a design specifically made to direct light
only where it is needed, make it possible to avoid
the unpleasant phenomenon of direct light that often
affect the eyes. The redevelopment has also provided
for the maintenance of the existing lanterns, both
arm mounted and suspended, now equipped with
new LED sources with high colour rendering and
with the colour temperature of 2,700k used for
the entire project, thus obtaining a uniform effect.
A diffused light welcomes the visitor in the entrance
avenue, leading him towards the small garden that
anticipates the marvellous external facades of the
Palace. The same light accompanies along the way,
emphasizing the elegance of the marble fountain
and of the well at the centre of the court. In the
internal entrance halls too, characterized by regal
barrel vaults, some direct light streams have been
positioned in order to indicate an ideal path towards
the “Chapel of Saint Carlo Borromeo” and the main
stairway leading to the noble floor. It is precisely
here that a significant luminous restyling has
been carried out: to the previous direct and
non-homogeneous lighting, an indirect lighting
that envelops the space of the barrel vaults has been
preferred, thanks to a system of minimally invasive
linear lighting bodies.
Finally, for the noble floor Enel X has designed
and installed a “re-lamping” project that guarantees
a high colour rendering. Integrated by specific
museum-type LED fixtures, this has allowed
a greater and rediscovered enhancement
of the architectural and artistic spaces.
LUCE 328
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