Osram illuminates St Peter’s Square


24th October 2016

(Italy) – Following the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel lighting project, Osram provides 132-luminaire lighting experience on St Peter’s Square as part of large scale refurbishment.

Osram has lent St. Peter’s Square in Rome a new sense of radiance. Following refurbishment, some of its modern and energy-efficient outdoor LED luminaires now provide a unique lighting experience and also save energy of approximately 70%.

St Peter’s Square (‘Piazza San Pietro’ in Italian), located directly in front of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, consists of a trapezoid section and the actual elliptical forecourt with a total area of 48,000-m2, and up to 400,000 people gather on the extensive square for celebrations and special occasions, for example the election of a new Pope or at Easter time. Extensive renovation work of St Peter’s Square began in 2011, and at the beginning of the current year Osram, together with Direzione dei Servizi Tecnici del Governatorato SCV, created a new lighting concept based on modern LED technology that was installed and inaugurated in the evening on October 20, 2016.

The project concept by Direzione dei Servizi Tecnici del Governatorato dello Stato della Città del Vaticano was realised with support from Osram, the reference partner for global lighting expertise. The same level of cooperation with Servizi Tecnici del Governatorato was also fundamental for the success of the Sistine Chapel project, carried out in 2014. The new lighting system for the Sistine Chapel featured higher lumen-output and artwork-conserving LED lighting to protect and enhance Michelangelo’s renowned frescoes. It also served as a benchmark with regard to artistic, historical and preservative aspects.

‘‘We have gained recognition worldwide since October 2014 for our state-of-the-art LED lighting of the Sistine Chapel, and we’re exceedingly pleased once again to have demonstrated in Rome our strengths as a provider of complex lighting solutions with the illumination of St. Peter’s Square,’’ said Olaf Berlien, CEO of OSRAM Licht AG.

As with the Sistine Chapel project, the lighting solution for St Peter’s Square was planned and put into operation in close cooperation between Osram and the Direzione dei Servizi Tecnici del Governatorato SCV. ‘‘In addition to ideal lighting results the task also included visual aspects such as the discreet integration of luminaires into the architectural setting and incorporating a simple, unobtrusive electrical installation; saving energy and ecological sustainability was also important,’’ stated Eladia Pulido, CEO of the Osram Lighting Solutions (LS) business unit.

The Vatican specified an illuminance level of up to 120 lux at night to provide safety for visitors and to enable reading on the square during events and celebrations. 132 LED floodlights were installed, providing sufficient brightness and homogeneous illumination for the square. The new lighting lends the existing architecture and materials a visual upgrade – the light underlines the impressive columnar architecture and emphasises the innate colour of the marble. Ecological sustainability is simultaneously addressed, and for this reason the lighting concept focused on cutting power consumption and avoiding unwanted light immission. ‘‘Thanks to modern LED technology in combination with a DALI light management system, we achieve energy savings of around 70%,’’ added Carlo Bogani, Executive Project Director at Osram Italy.

The 132 LED luminaires installed are a customer-specific version of the Floodlight 20 LED with through-wiring and special plug connections that enable simple installation and easy interwiring of the luminaires. The luminaires are equipped with a DALI Professional control system and feature a 4,000K light colour (neutral white).

 

www.osram.com

Pic: Givernatorato S.C.V. - Direzione dei Musei