Pensare l'illuminazione artificiale per conservare l'architettura

Our perception of space and the living standards of people residing in built-up areas is considerably influenced by the quality of artificial lighting. In turn, this becomes an integral part of the landscape, depending both on the environment (on various environmental conditions, on the context) and the space and the way projects are managed by technicians and their clients. Despite the importance of this subject in daily life, artificial lighting has, instead, played a marginal role in the field of restoration and the history of architecture. A merely functionalist interpretation of lighting devices has led to (and continues to lead to) the removal and substitution of old lighting in preference for high-performance systems. Moreover, architectural disciplines – particularly restoration – have not concerned themselves with the subject of artificial lighting, actually delegating lighting design projects and tests to engineers, surveyors and technicians. In the absence of specific legislation, this process has contributed to the installation of inadequate solutions that are sometimes excessively theatrical. This paper describes the origin of a few of the current inconsistencies regarding the subject of artificial lighting in historic buildings, briefly analysing past and recent bibliography. In comparison with the lighting of urban areas and works of art, the lighting of buildings seems to play a secondary role. Even in recent lighting systems, design projects are mainly implemented on the basis of confused and often misused concepts, such as efficiency, saving energy and avoiding light pollution.