Lighting for Heritage and Renewal – Reimagining Through Sensitive Illumination
Leicester Cathedral has stood for centuries as a symbol of continuity, culture, and community. In 2012, the discovery of King Richard III’s remains in a nearby car park and the decision to reinter him within the cathedral brought international attention and an extraordinary new chapter to its history.
When CBG Light Perceptions was first engaged over a decade ago, the aim was to create a lighting scheme that would support the cathedral’s evolving role as a place of worship, learning, reflection, and tourism, while remaining true to its historic character. The reinterment of the monarch required the lighting design to be sensitively adapted, with solutions that could honour this unique responsibility.
Designing for heritage spaces is never simply a technical exercise; it is as much about restraint as it is about illumination, with every element of illumination respecting the building fabric. At Leicester Cathedral, this meant working closely with conservation specialists, using existing fixing points wherever feasible, and ensuring cable runs and equipment placement were sympathetic to the architecture. Light levels were carefully modelled to protect delicate surfaces from over-illumination, avoiding glare that could detract from the visitor experience.
Intrusive spotlights and floodlights were replaced with custom-designed Arts and Crafts-style pendants, with their frosted glass shades diffusing light softly through the nave. Their suspension height and positioning were chosen to allow light to flow naturally through the arcades, eliminating harsh shadows and revealing the stonework and carvings in a gentle, balanced way. The fittings themselves recede into the architecture, allowing the building and Richard III’s tomb to remain the true focal points.
An adaptable, programmable control system was introduced, enabling staff to transition between different lighting scenes with ease, from candlelit services to large-scale concerts, private reflection, and educational tours. This flexibility ensures the space can serve both sacred and civic purposes without compromising either.
The work at the cathedral extended beyond the interior. As the new Heritage Learning Centre (HLC) took shape, a sensitive exterior lighting scheme was developed to connect the cathedral’s historic presence with the HLC’s contemporary architecture. The façade lighting will restore prominence to key features, ensuring the building remains a welcoming landmark from every approach after dark.
The Leicester Cathedral project is a reminder that historic buildings are not static artefacts; they are living environments. In heritage lighting, the designer’s task is not to compete with history but to serve it, finding ways to reveal and reinterpret without overwhelming. At CBG Consultants, we believe that to light a historic building well, you must first listen to it: to understand its story, its rhythms of use, and its emotional relevance. Only then can light truly become more than a functional necessity.
