New lighting for the centre of Bologna

In 2023, after four months of surveys and analyses, the project to upgrade the lighting system in Bologna's historic centre, which took an entire year, was launched. This involved replacing over 3,500 luminaires and installing 680 new light points. 

These are just some of the statistics involved in the lighting redevelopment project designed by I-DEA Luce Architettura. 
Commissioned by the Municipality of Bologna, developed in agreement with the Fine Arts, Landscape and Archaeology Heritage Authorities and financed by the National Operational Programme ‘Metropolitan Cities 2014 - 2020’, the project lasted for the whole of 2023 and focused on lighting 40 monumental sites. These include the city’s Saint Peter’s cathedral, two of its main squares - Santo Stefano and San Domenico - 16 km of porticoes with UNESCO World Heritage status, the 10 gates in the ancient city walls and some parks.  

The goal of the plan, laid down by the Municipality of Bologna, was to make the city's historic centre functional, stylish and energy efficient. And this objective was reached by achieving energy savings of 77% equivalent to 387 tonnes of CO2 per year.  

The project developed by I-DEA was based a meticulous analysis of the contexts, which differ in terms of architectural type, location, use, history and maintenance. This analysis was followed by a complete survey of all the luminaires and the electrical systems in use, an issue that is often overlooked. After this research that lasted about four months, a new lighting system was designed to enhance the spirit of each location by interpreting the dual - technical and emotional - character of the light required. I-DEA adopted simple, minimalist, energy-efficient, LED technology luminaires everywhere. It also maintained existing structures and systems wherever possible and restored any light points of particular historical and artistic value, like those under the arches of the Portico del Pavaglione.  

iGuzzini contributed to this important project by supplying luminaires for all 10 gates to the historic centre as well as other sites and, above all, by contributing to the development and production of a special luminaire. To meet the special lighting needs of the porticoes, which are a cornerstone of Bologna's urban identity, a new luminaire was specially designed, called Bird. Inspired by the natural scene of birds perching on the chains in the porticoes, a solution was born that exploits the existing cables and responds to the dual need to light both the portico and the street. The frame of the luminaire features two LED lamps, one at each end. The first, fitted with AL optics, faces upwards and reflects light off the ceiling to illuminate the portico with a 2700 K warm white light that emphasizes the space’s “domestic” dimension. The other, fitted with ST1 optics, faces downwards and illuminates the street directly with a 3000 K light that is less warm.  

In some sections of the porticoes, surface-mounted Lander luminaires have been used. 
Agorà floodlights evenly illuminate the façade of St. Peter's cathedral in the same way that Agorà Compacts have been used to highlight the gates inside the city.