City: Pisa
Country: Italy
undefined: Alessandro GrassiaThe lighting installation created by Targetti for the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) in Pisa was a real test in lighting design. The difficulty lay in the number of “architectural objects” involved: the Duomo, Baptistery, Monumental Camposanto (cemetery), and Museum of Sinopias.

To make sure each object was properly illuminated and highlighted, in-depth studies were required along with deep historical sensitivity and the ability to link the specific identities together through light. Targetti’s project for the Basilica – which also included lighting the interiors such as the Holy Altar, Choir Stalls and pulpit of Giovanni Pisano – required a “negative” lighting of the façade with compact projectors hidden near the columns, divided into four tiers, to highlight the upper portion.

The fixtures were all fitted with dichroic filters and diffusers for adding warmth to the light. Just a glow for the lower portion, illuminated at a distance with in-ground projectors housed in special protective cages. To reinforce the three-dimensional sense of the entire project, some important features were also identified and emphasised with accent lighting. The lighting of the Monumental Camposanto was also very challenging. The choice fell on fixtures with high technical performances capable of cutting maintenance costs and disappearing from sight as much as possible.

Fixtures capable of evenly illuminating the numerous cycles of frescoes without flattening out the effect achieved when viewing them through the large Gothic-style four-light windows in the internal courtyard. The three-dimensional aspect and appeal are guaranteed by the use of compact projectors with special blade-filters. Targetti also collaborated in the lighting of the Baptistery, based on a project by the architect Alessandro Grassia.