40 | ARCHITECTURAL
Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Borgo Nuovo -
Verona | Italy
Parish Complex | Varignano - Viareggio | Italy
ASSEMBLY
ALTAR
Lighting places of worship in past centuries were entrusted by natural light, which,
filtering through the windows, takes on a symbolic meaning, becoming an expression
of the divine, in opposition to the dark matter. A place of worship contains two
worlds: one linked to the celebration of the liturgy and one related to the exaltation
of architecture and works of art. There is no lighting regulation defined yet for sacred
sites, be they churches, mosques, synagogues, temples or sanctuaries. Important is to
preserve visual comfort, providing luminaires with correct colour rendering index and
not too cold light tones. In this way, the location looks at an intimate and enveloping
place suitable for the purpose.
PLACES OF WORSHIP
To properly illuminate the assembly of
devoted, it’s necessary to consider the
two phases of the liturgical function: the
liturgy of the word and the liturgy of the
Eucharist.
The light must be able to create a
comfortable environment, allowing at the
same time the reading of the passages
and the gathering of the devoted. It is
recommended to obtain between 150
and 200 lux on the horizontal plane and,
in proportion, between 30 and 50 lux on
the vertical surfaces, through the use of
zenith lighting and medium-light beams
opening (between 20 and 45 degrees).
Regulate the illumination to emphasise
more the two phases, creating more or
less sharp contrasts.
Leading role for the eucharistic
celebration, the focal point for the
devoted. In correspondence with this
area, both for horizontal and vertical
surfaces, it’s enough to reach from 300
to 400 average lux. Other elements to
highlight are the ancon, or the altarpiece
depicting the saint to whom the church is
dedicated, and the ambo, a raised tribune
used for reading sacred texts or preaching.
During the function, on the ancon keep
at least 200 lux average, paying attention
to the positioning of the luminaires to
avoid reflections on the pictorial surface,
while on the ambo 300 lux average are
recommended.
