City: Florence
Country: Italy
undefined: Arch. Massimo Iarussi
Lighting Design: Arch. Massimo Iarussi
Photo: Gianni Biagi“A real milestone, in every sense of the word”, is how Antonio Natali, Director of the Uffizi Gallery has defined the restoration and re-organisation of the “Tribuna degli Uffizi”. Originally designed by Bernardo Buontalenti for Francesco de’ Medici, and built between 1581 and 1586, the “Sala delle Meraviglie” concentrates all the unmistakeable creative genius of its architect between octagonal walls and under a ceiling decorated with over 6000 mother-of-pearl shells. A jewel box inside the jewel box of the “world’s first ever universal museum” (as the gallery’s superintendent, Cristina Acidini, points out), the “Tribuna” has now been reopened to the public after years of restoration that have focused on both the room’s decorations and the artworks on display, which include a series of renowned ancient Roman masterpieces, like the statue of Venus, the Dancing Satyr and the Knife Grinder.
The entire operation has been financed by the generosity of the American Foundation, Friends of Florence. Designed by freelance lighting designer, Massimo Iarussi, the new lighting project consists entirely of Targetti LED fixtures and is the result of a meticulous study of the materials and atmospheres created by Buontalenti, who was a highly talented court set designer and a lover of complex light play.
As in the architectural genius’ original design that filled the Tribuna with filtered sunlight, “purged” by means of a series of processed glass windows (according to a literary source from the year 1590), lighting plays a decisive role in the new project too with a system that has succeeded in blending natural and artificial light in perfect harmony.
The luminaires used are incredibly compact thanks to their use of LED technology and they have been placed above the two cornices to hide their presence completely. The first line of fixtures consists of linear projectors that light the walls of the tambour and its beautifully inlaid marble decorations, whereas in the second line, a series of microprojectors highlights the crimson velvet wall hangings, the art works on the walls and the various sculptures, while other linear fixtures located along the cornice, light up the dome, illuminating the splendid mother-of-pearl glimmer of over 6000 shells. More luminaires are located in the lantern, some of which have a colder light to illuminate the pastel blue shades of the structure itself, while others further highlight the Venus placed in the Tribuna’s central observation point. It is the magic of light that has really renovated this space, a light that shimmers over the shells and mother-of-pearl decorations, animating every tiny detail.
Country: Italy
undefined: Arch. Massimo Iarussi
Lighting Design: Arch. Massimo Iarussi
Photo: Gianni Biagi“A real milestone, in every sense of the word”, is how Antonio Natali, Director of the Uffizi Gallery has defined the restoration and re-organisation of the “Tribuna degli Uffizi”. Originally designed by Bernardo Buontalenti for Francesco de’ Medici, and built between 1581 and 1586, the “Sala delle Meraviglie” concentrates all the unmistakeable creative genius of its architect between octagonal walls and under a ceiling decorated with over 6000 mother-of-pearl shells. A jewel box inside the jewel box of the “world’s first ever universal museum” (as the gallery’s superintendent, Cristina Acidini, points out), the “Tribuna” has now been reopened to the public after years of restoration that have focused on both the room’s decorations and the artworks on display, which include a series of renowned ancient Roman masterpieces, like the statue of Venus, the Dancing Satyr and the Knife Grinder.
The entire operation has been financed by the generosity of the American Foundation, Friends of Florence. Designed by freelance lighting designer, Massimo Iarussi, the new lighting project consists entirely of Targetti LED fixtures and is the result of a meticulous study of the materials and atmospheres created by Buontalenti, who was a highly talented court set designer and a lover of complex light play.
As in the architectural genius’ original design that filled the Tribuna with filtered sunlight, “purged” by means of a series of processed glass windows (according to a literary source from the year 1590), lighting plays a decisive role in the new project too with a system that has succeeded in blending natural and artificial light in perfect harmony.
The luminaires used are incredibly compact thanks to their use of LED technology and they have been placed above the two cornices to hide their presence completely. The first line of fixtures consists of linear projectors that light the walls of the tambour and its beautifully inlaid marble decorations, whereas in the second line, a series of microprojectors highlights the crimson velvet wall hangings, the art works on the walls and the various sculptures, while other linear fixtures located along the cornice, light up the dome, illuminating the splendid mother-of-pearl glimmer of over 6000 shells. More luminaires are located in the lantern, some of which have a colder light to illuminate the pastel blue shades of the structure itself, while others further highlight the Venus placed in the Tribuna’s central observation point. It is the magic of light that has really renovated this space, a light that shimmers over the shells and mother-of-pearl decorations, animating every tiny detail.
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