A new light for the
Duomo Cathedral in Milan
Lighting designers
are artists
T
he Duomo in Milan shines in a new light.
Today, thanks to the project designed by
Ferrara Palladino Lightscape, the interiors and
the exteriors of the Duomo can be admired like
never before. A meticulous work, carried out in
a short amount, thanks to a high level of
expertise and sensitivity that comes from the
experience in the field. When the technician
becomes an artist, there are no absolute values
and methodologies: light transforms into pure
poetry and evolves instinctively, with no need
for calculations but with the sole aid of the
eyes, a heart, and a cultural background built
over many decades. We talked about this and
much more with engineer Pietro Palladino.
What was the genesis of this project?
I was contacted by Veneranda Fabbrica del
Duomo di Milano in 2015, only two months prior
to the inauguration of the new lighting system
for the Duomo’s interiors, scheduled for May 1st,
in conjunction with the opening of EXPO. An
initial draft of the project had already been
presented, but not finalized. In a very short
time, we designed and installed the lighting
fixtures, and inaugurated inaugurating the area
from the entrance to the transept by the
scheduled date. Subsequently, we completed
the intervention in the apse area. Given the
good results that were obtained, we were also
called to illuminate the exterior, with a less
demanding deadline. The inauguration of the
architectural lighting took place in December
2018. We are now working on the new lighting
30
LUCE 330 / PROGETTARE LA LUCE
for the Duomo Museum, and I have become a
consultant of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo
di Milano.
Which were the greatest difficulties you
encountered?
It must be pointed out that for an intervention
like this, an ad hoc construction site is set up,
with scaffoldings, cranes, and specialized
workers. Both for the exterior and the interiors,
we had to precisely calculate the position and
orientation of the spotlights, because it was not
possible to go back to the same light source
more than once, as the costs would have
increased exponentially. Here is a practical
example: mounting a lighting unit at a height of
thirty meters requires the use of a crane with a
very long arm. Once the operator is in position,
with the help of lasers, the light beam is
directed with topmost precision, because at a
certain distance, a 2-3 mm error can shift the
light beam even 2-3 m away. For the exterior
lighting, it was also necessary to request
authorizations from the owners of the buildings
on which the spotlights were positioned (e.g. La
Rinascente, H&M, Museo del Novecento, ed.).
Works were always carried out at night, and it
must also be considered that we had to do it in
overlapping conditions. In order to install the
new one, we could not dismantle the old
lighting system, but we had to proceed step by
step because the Duomo could not remain in
the dark for any reason. The design was
rigorous, as much as the engineering in the
construction of a bridge can be: even the
smallest mistake could be fatal. Also, the choice
of the lighting units was a fundamental aspect.
We chose Erco because of the high quality of
their products; any malfunction or damage
would entail the closure of a large part of the
Cathedral to the public, and given the
continuous influx of visitors and worshippers
– in 2017, the admissions were 2,140,786 – it is
unthinkable to interrupt the inner paths. I
believe that the professionalism of a designer
can be seen in interventions of this size, where
responsibility is maximum and the margin of
error is down to zero. This work, characterized
by an exasperated complexity and size, has
been a point of arrival for me and Ferrara
Palladino Lightscape. A cornerstone in lighting
that can be used for didactic purposes.
Were there different approaches for the interiors
and the exterior?
Inside the Duomo we felt more at home, we
managed the companies and craftsmen directly.
For the exterior, we collaborated with A2A
Energia and connected directly to the public
electricity network. There was much more
bureaucracy, special authorizations were
required… The work was less linear and
certainly more segmented. It must be pointed
out that, perfectly in style with the Veneranda
Fabbrica, for the exterior parts of the Duomo
there will never be an “Instant Zero”, i.e. the
lighting system will never be totally turned on.
Currently, approximately 60-70 spotlights have
not yet been positioned, because the spire of
the Madonnina is undergoing restoration work.
When the scaffolding will be removed from this
spire, other construction sites will start and,
consequently, part of the lighting now in use
will be switched off, in a continuous cycle.
What are the positive effects of the new
lighting?
It was certainly useful in the requalification of
the place. The desire to make the Duomo the
“centre of Milan” once again is clear. A place
where citizens can spend their time, alive and
throbbing with activity. Thanks to the new
lighting, the general image of the cathedral was
not only re-launched, but it is now possible to
use its interior spaces for various types of
events. The flexibility of the lighting system and
the possibility to easily set different scenarios,
using an iPad app, designed accompany all
religious functions, but also cultural events such
as concerts and choral performances. This has
been a very high-level enhancement operation,
similar to what has been done on an urban
scale by the city of Lyon with the Fête des
Lumières. Furthermore, we must not forget that
the Duomo is one of the most visited
monuments in Italy. For this reason, we have
designed the lighting so that anyone who
enters, thanks to the balanced lighting, can take
photographs without the lens focussing on one
detail rather than another. The attention is
intentionally focussed on verticality, not only
highlighting the Gothic interiors, but helping
visitors to concentrate on the dimensions of
space and appreciate its magnificence. I strongly
wished for it to become once again a place for
the people, and I believe the desired outcome
has been achieved.