LUCE estratti LUCE 319_Frascarolo_Basilica di San Francesco | Page 7

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New light in the Basilica
of Saint Francis of Assisi
The new lighting system, a pilot project for the “Jubilee of light”
T
after the death of Saint Francis. Consecrated
in 1253 by Pope Innocent IV, it is one of the
most beautiful and contemplative temples
of Christianity, because of its exceptional
endowment of paintings and the wonderful
combination of architectural styles. The complex
of the Basilica is subdivided into three spaces,
one on top of the other, each one very different
from the other: the Crypt, the Lower Basilica in
the Romanic style and the Upper Basilica whose
interiors reflect the most typical characteristics
of the Italian Gothic style, with its low round
arches on enormous supporting pillars;
the Upper basilica rises ideally towards the sky
he new lighting in the Basilica of Saint Francis
of Assisi - UNESCO World Heritage Site because
of its most precious frescoes painted by some
of the most important artists in the history of art
(first of all Giotto), and considered the mother
church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor
Conventual as the body of Saint Francis lies there
since 1230 - has very ambitious aims: a very high
level of chromatic quality and uniformity of light
for the frescoes, calibrated to guarantee levels
of uniformity and optimum chiaroscuro contrast
effects, in order to see the details of the paintings
and also perceive the architectural space.
The construction of the Basilica began two years
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allowing natural light to filter into the interiors
and give life to the great cycles of frescoes.
The greatest challenge of the new lighting
design was to find a strong theme to illuminate
the three different parts in full respect of the
mystical role, of the morphology of the spaces,
of the religious communities and the faithful.
For this purpose, the common objectives of the
design of the three environments were defined:
to enhance the architecture and of the paintings,
for a visual comfort that would be suited to
all the foreseen activities, energy saving
and respect for the environment.
From a morphological point of view, the
main unifying element in the two basilicas
is the subdivision of the nave into 4 sections
with cross-vaults, a transept and a polygonal
apse: starting from this, together with the
guardian of the Sacred Convent Fr. Mauro
Gambetti and the conservator-restorer Sergio
Fusetti, we chose to maintain the existing
typological elements: a central lighting
system dedicated to each volumetric module

5 | Basilica Inferiore: particolare dei nuovi
lampadari / Lower Basilica: detail of the new
lighting system

6 | Schema di distribuzione della luce suddiviso in
3 sottosistemi: illuminazione della zona occupata
dal pubblico, delle superfici verticali,
delle volte / Light distribution layout, subdivided
into 3 subsystems : illumination of the area
occupied by the public, the vertical surfaces and
the vaults.
DESIGNING LIGHT / LUCE 319
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