After a year and a half of work, the restoration of the wooden choir of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in the Upper Town of Bergamo was completed at the end of 2023, a place of identity for Bergamo and its citizens, and always enriched, over the centuries, with artistic treasures, of which the wooden choir is the most precious and best known.
Wanted by the Mia Foundation, which manages the Basilica, curated by the restorer Luciano Girtti with the supervision of the Superintendency of Bergamo and Brescia and supported by the Banca Popolare di Bergamo Foundation, the extensive restoration work was divided into two phases, which first concerned the Lay Choir (1553-55), the stalls for the members of the Congregation of Greater Mercy, to then move on to the restoration of the inlays of the wooden Choir of the Religious, created by Giovan Francesco Capoferri based on drawings by Lorenzo Lotto.
The restoration intervention has returned the artifact to its ancient splendor, highlighting how the Neoplatonic-themed inlays of the Ligneo choir are distinguished from each other by the treatment of shadows: the design of the building in the 14th century in fact already placed the work in perfect relationship both with the architecture of the Basilica and with the natural light, which comes from the windows positioned behind the presbytery.
With the goal to enhancing the restored work and restoring to the faithful and visitors the complexity and preciousness of the entire sequence of wooden inlays, Fondazione Mia has entrusted Telmotor, a big player in highly specialized solutions for the lighting, industrial automation and energy sectors, the lighting design, as well as the supply of lighting material. Developed by Telmotor, the lighting design studio interprets the spirit and preciousness of the place, combining quality of light, tailor-mad solutions and flexibility.
“Together with the request for a lighting system in harmony with natural light and respecting the needs of worship, the lighting project for the Choir had to enhance the newly restored artistic masterpiece without visually disturbing those who, on the occasion of religious ceremonies, occupy the seats for reading. Through the preventive mapping of the space and the study of positioning and pointing of the optics, we have developed a totally customized project characterized by light profiles: the installation above the seats makes in minimally invasive but capable of ensuring full valorisation of the inlays and maximum visual comfort for readers”, declares Alessandro Vaglietti, Energy&Lighting Solutions Manager at Telmotor.
The choice of lighting products with thin, dark-colored profiles, characterized by functional and accent light, guarantees aesthetic uniformity and is combined with the homogeneous light designed to illuminate the entire space and installed at full height on the side cornices.
The correct positioning of the light beams allows the details of the work to be highlighted. The quality parameters of the system help to enhance the emotionality of the space, enhancing inlays and materials.
About Telmotor SpA
Telmotor SpA was born in Bergamo in 1973 as a company specialized in electrical supplies and in in the distribution of quality products and brands for industrial automation. Telmotor has progressively expanded its skills to the energy distribution, lighting, building & home technology and renewable energy sectors over the years, managing wide-ranging integrated solutions for the world of industry, infrastructure and the tertiary sector.
Made up of two large Business Units – Industry Automation and Energy & Lighting Solutions – Telmotor has twelve different corporate offices and 330 collaborators today, reaching a turnover of 200 million of Euros. The high technical profile of the company, the qualified and constantly updated staff, the aptitude for problem solving, the careful selection of the brands and products managed, the speed of service, customer advice and the attention to the evolution of the sector are the distinctive features of the company philosophy that have made Telmotor a reference point at an international level.
In 2021, to continue the path of growth and enhancement of its distinctive trait devoted to innovation, Telmotor built a network of companies called “Digginova” to propose innovative digital solutions including Networks and Cybersecurity, Building solutions, Robotics, Virtual commissioning, artificial intelligence, etc. It is an holding company, 100% owned by Telmotor, set up with the aim of creating relationships and partnership capable of expanding skills and services for customers who are increasingly looking for integrated solutions.
Telmotor is the only Siemens Solution Partner distributor in the Digital Factory and Process Industries Divisions on the Italian and international market.