The archaeological site of the ancient Roman city of Peltuinum was beautifully illuminated with exciting white light transitions under the talented artistic direction of architect and lighting designer Francesca Storaro
Founded by the Romans in the 1st century B.C., Peltuinum - now part of the municipality of Prata d'Ansidonia, in Central Italy - played a strategic role in controlling commercial traffic linked to transhumance routes. At the turn of the 1st century A.D., the urban area of Peltuinum was expanded through the construction of a city wall and a monumental area involving a temple, overlooking a large forensic area, and a theatre, testifying to the city's cultural liveliness.
Built along the edge of the plateau that bordered the urban area, the walls of Peltuinum, built with locally sourced material, stretched around the town following the irregular course of the terrain. In the 5th century A.D., a strong earthquake struck the city, causing its gradual abandonment and subsequent despoliation. Only 500 metres of the original city walls, from the west gate to the north side of the ancient fortification, have survived to the present day, testifying to the greatness of Roman civilisation in this area. Outside the fortifications, along the street that entered the city, a monumental sepulchre is visible, the current remains of which consist only of the concrete core.
As part of a wide-ranging programme of public works aimed at enhancing the area's cultural treasures, the municipality of Prata D'Ansidonia, led by the mayor Paolo Eusani, promoted a lighting project for the archaeological site of Peltuinum. The study and realisation of a lighting concept capable of emphasising the ancient charm of this site at night was therefore entrusted to the internationally renowned architect and lighting designer Francesca Storaro.
Francesca Storaro reveals her concept: "Established as a trading hub within the transhumance road network, Peltuinum was a compulsory route of the seasonal migration of flocks and shepherds from mountainous pastures in summer to plains in winter and viceversa. Transhumance symbolizes passage, path, and travelling. I aimed to convey this symbolism with a figurative journey through light, transitioning from the warmth of the sun to the coolness of the moon, from day to night, from summer to winter.”
She adds: "The lighting of the site is characterised by a double illumination: one architectural, which highlights the morphological and material structure of the ancient walls, and one more interpretative and dramatic, specific for events. Both of them can be obtained with the same luminaires in tunable white configuration allowing for easy variation of white light colour temperatures and luminous fluxvia a simple DALI DT8 management system.”
For the implementation of the conceived design, 73 Capital 100 in a custom tunable white configuration (from 2200K to 6500K) were used to allow the widest fluctuation of white light from intense amber tones to delicate cerulean hues. In order to illuminate areas of the site of different sizes and heights with a perfectly homogeneous and elegant light distribution in all its contexts, the Capital 100s were equipped with either extra-wide 61° standard optics or with 25°x60° custom optics. All luminaires are fitted with snoots and honeycomb anti-glare filters for safe, glare-free lighting and are controlled by a DALI DT8 control system for maximum flexibility in programming fixed or dynamic scenes. The devices have also been placed inside special metal housings, custom-made to guarantee maximum safety for visitors and to protect the integrity of the products.
The historic area of Peltuinum will from now on be visible at night from almost the entire Navelli Plain, becoming a significant cultural and tourist attraction within a splendid natural context. The work, which was carried out by the company Enrico Bergamotto Srl, was entirely financed by regional, municipal, Superintendency and Roman 'Muri sicuri' association funds. The overall lighting effect of the archaeological site is intense, evocative, dramatic, and involving, of great visual and emotional impact, perfectly capable of enhancing this splendid historical and cultural heritage through the excellence of Made in Italy.
Installed products: 52 x Capital 100 DW 2200-6500K DALI DT8 extra wide optics Ral 9006 21 x Capital 100 DW 2200-6500K DALI DT8 custom optics 25°x60° Ral 9006 73 x Snoot for Capital 100 73 x Bee-hive antiglare for Capital 100
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